{"data":{"id":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-48-3-301","jurisdiction":"us-nc","citation":"N.C. Gen. Stat. § 48-3-301","heading":"Preplacement assessment required.","body":"(a)\tExcept as provided in subsection (b) of this section, placement of a minor may occur only if a written preplacement assessment:\n(1)\tHas been completed or updated within the 18 months immediately preceding the placement; and\n(2)\tContains a finding that the individual who is the subject of the assessment is suitable to be an adoptive parent, either in general or for a specific minor.\n(b)\tA preplacement assessment is not required in an independent adoption when a prospective adoptive parent is a grandparent, full or half sibling, first cousin, aunt, uncle, great-aunt, great-uncle, or great-grandparent of the minor.\n(c)\tIf a direct placement is made in violation of this section:\n(1)\tThe prospective adoptive parent shall request any preplacement assessment already commenced to be expedited, and if none has been commenced, shall obtain a preplacement assessment from an agency as authorized by G.S. 48-1-109; in either case, the assessment shall include the fact and date of placement;\n(2)\tThe court may not enter a decree of adoption until both a favorable preplacement assessment and a report to the court have been completed and filed, and the court may not order a report to the court for at least 30 days after the preplacement assessment has been completed; and\n(3)\tIf the person who placed the minor executes a consent before receiving a copy of the preplacement assessment, G.S. 48-3-608 shall determine the time within which that person may revoke. (1949, c. 300; 1957, c. 778, s. 2; 1967, c. 880, s. 2; 1987, c. 716, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 410; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1995, c. 457, s. 2; 1997-215, s. 19(a); 2015-54, s. 7.)","path":["Chapter 48. Adoptions.","Article 3. Adoption of Minors.","Part 3. Preplacement Assessment."],"source_url":"https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_48/GS_48-3-301.html","current_through":"S.L. 2026-30","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T18:04:02Z","sha256":"d4cab81c6c9483384bfff311f76bc8c156b27bb065667830343f451b596db1c9","source_id":"us-nc","stale":false,"prev":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-48-3-239","next":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-48-3-302"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}