{"data":{"id":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-48-4-101","jurisdiction":"us-nc","citation":"N.C. Gen. Stat. § 48-4-101","heading":"Who may file a petition to adopt a minor stepchild.","body":"A stepparent may file a petition under this Article to adopt a minor who is the child of the stepparent's spouse if:\n(1)\tThe parent who is the spouse has legal and physical custody of the child, and the child has resided primarily with this parent and the stepparent during the six months immediately preceding the filing of the petition;\n(2)\tThe spouse is deceased or incompetent but, before dying or being adjudicated incompetent, had legal and physical custody of the child, and the child has resided primarily with the stepparent during the six months immediately preceding the filing of the petition; or\n(3)\tFor cause, the court permits a stepparent who does not meet the requirements of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this section to file a petition. (1995, c. 457, s. 2.)","path":["Chapter 48. Adoptions.","Article 4. Adoption of a Minor Stepchild by Stepparent."],"source_url":"https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_48/GS_48-4-101.html","current_through":"S.L. 2026-30","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T18:04:02Z","sha256":"b5238d7d5506c3547e962c86488e9267dcf3ed5248e701a41109bca49f4e56ec","source_id":"us-nc","stale":false,"prev":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-48-4-100","next":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-48-4-102"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}