North Carolina

Who may adopt?
Any adult may adopt.
Spouses may not adopt each other.

Consent for adoption to be executed?
A man may consent any time before or after the child's birth.
A mother may only consent after the child's birth.
A guardian may consent at any time.
An agency with custody shall execute its consent no later than 30 days after being served notice of a proceeding for adoption.

Revocation of consent?
Consent is generally final and irrevocable.
Consent to an infant in utero or any other minor may be revoked within 7 days following execution.
In a direct placement, consent may be revoked in 5 business days.
Consent may be revoked if there is fraud, duress, or mutual agreement.
If a parent revokes consent, and later consents again, the second consent is irrevocable.

Who may place a child for adoption?
A guardian.
Both parents if married and living together.
A parent with legal and physical custody of the child.

Advertising?
No one other than a county department of social services, an adoption facilitator, or a licensed agency may advertise in any periodical or newspaper, or by radio, television, or other public medium, that any person or entity will place or accept a child for adoption.
This article shall not prohibit a person from advertising that the person desires to adopt. This section shall apply only to a person with a current completed preplacement assessment that finds the person suitable to be an adoptive parent.
The advertisement may be published only in a periodical or newspaper or on radio, television, cable television, or the Internet. The advertisement shall include a statement that:

Indicates that the person has a completed preplacement assessment
Identifies the name of the agency that completed the preplacement assessment
Identifies the date the preplacement assessment was completed
States whether the person is willing to provide lawful expenses

Facilitators?
No one other than a parent, guardian, or agency may place a minor for adoption. No one other than a parent, guardian, agency, or an adoption facilitator may solicit potential adoptive parents for children in need of adoption. No one other than an agency or an adoption facilitator, or an individual with a completed preplacement assessment that contains a finding that the individual is suitable to be an adoptive parent or that individual's immediate family, may solicit for adoption a potential adoptee.
An ''adoption facilitator'' is an individual or a nonprofit entity that assists birth parents in locating and evaluating prospective adoptive parents without charge.
In a direct placement, a parent or guardian must personally select a prospective adoptive parent, but a parent or guardian may obtain assistance from another person or entity, or an adoption facilitator, in locating or evaluating a prospective adoptive parent.

Putative Father's Registry?
No. The putative father:

Must file within 15 days of receiving notice of the mother's intent to place the child for adoption.
Is not entitled to further notice of adoption proceedings if he fails to respond.
Must file a response to an adoption petition within 30 days after service of notice.

Expenses?
Birth parent –
Medical, hospital, pharmaceutical, and nursing costs.
Travel expenses.
Counseling services.
Ordinary living expenses up to 6 weeks after the birth.
Legal and court costs.

Department/Agency –
An agency may charge a reasonable fee for services, including for preparation of reports and pre-placement assessments.
Fees based on ability to pay.

Information provided in part by the Child Welfare Information Gateway.

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Credits: Sandra Hanks Benoiton