Laws

The laws referenced throughout this web site are grouped below for specific practice areas.  It is always important to speak with an experienced attorney regarding our courts’ interpretation and application of these laws.  North Carolina's laws frequently change and Hatcher Law Group strives to update these changes on a timely basis.  To view the full text of the law, click on the title listed below.

• - § 48-1-100. Legislative findings and intent; construction of Chapter.
• - § 48-1-101. Definitions.
• - § 48-1-102. Parent includes adoptive parent.
• - § 48-1-103. Who may adopt.
• - § 48-1-104. Who may be adopted.
• - § 48-1-105. Name of adoptee after adoption.
• - § 48-1-106. Legal effect of decree of adoption.
• - § 48-1-107. Other rights of adoptee.
• - § 48-1-108. Adoptees subject to Indian Child Welfare Act.
• - § 48-1-109. Which agencies may prepare assessments and reports to the court.
• - § 48-10-101. Prohibited activities in placement.
• - § 48-10-102. Unlawful payments related to adoption.
• - § 48-10-103. Lawful payments related to adoption.
• - § 48-10-104. Failure to disclose nonidentifying information.
• - § 48-10-105. Unauthorized disclosure of information.
• - § 48-2-100. Jurisdiction.
• - § 48-2-101. Venue.
• - § 48-2-102. Transfer, stay, or dismissal.
• - § 48-2-201. Appointment of attorney or guardian ad litem.
• - § 48-2-202. No right to jury.
• - § 48-2-203. Confidentiality of proceedings under Chapter.
• - § 48-2-204. Death of a joint petitioner pending final decree.
• - § 48-2-205. Recognition of adoption decrees from other jurisdictions.
• - § 48-2-206. Prebirth determination of right to consent.
• - § 48-2-301. Petition for adoption; who may file.
• - § 48-2-302. Time for filing petition.
• - § 48-2-303. Caption of petition for adoption.
• - § 48-2-304. Petition for adoption; content.
• - § 48-2-305. Petition for adoption; additional documents.
• - § 48-2-306. Omission of required information.
• - § 48-2-401. Notice by petitioner.
• - § 48-2-402. Manner of service.
• - § 48-2-403. Notice of proceedings by clerk.
• - § 48-2-404. Notice of proceedings by court to alleged father.
• - § 48-2-405. Rights of persons entitled to notice.
• - § 48-2-406. Waiver of notice; effect.
• - § 48-2-407. Filing proof of service.
• - § 48-2-501. Report to the court during proceeding for adoption of a minor.
• - § 48-2-502. Preparation and content of report.
• - § 48-2-503. Timing and filing of report.
• - § 48-2-504. Fee for report.
• - § 48-2-601. Hearing on, or disposition of, adoption petition; transfer of adoption proceeding; timing.
• - § 48-2-602. Disclosure of fees and charges.
• - § 48-2-603. Hearing on, or disposition of, petition to adopt a minor.
• - § 48-2-604. Denying petition to adopt a minor.
• - § 48-2-605. Hearing on petition to adopt an adult.
• - § 48-2-606. Decree of adoption.
• - § 48-2-607. Appeals.
• - § 48-3-100. Application of Article.
• - § 48-3-201. Who may place minors for adoption.
• - § 48-3-202. Direct placement for adoption.
• - § 48-3-203. Agency placement adoption.
• - § 48-3-204. Recruitment of adoptive parents.
• - § 48-3-205. Disclosure of background information.
• - § 48-3-206. Affidavit of parentage.
• - § 48-3-207. Interstate placements.
• - § 48-3-301. Preplacement assessment required.
• - § 48-3-302. Request for preplacement assessment.
• - § 48-3-303. Content and timing of preplacement assessment.
• - § 48-3-304. Fees for preplacement assessment.
• - § 48-3-305. Agency disposition of preplacement assessments.
• - § 48-3-306. Favorable preplacement assessments.
• - § 48-3-307. Assessments completed after placement.
• - § 48-3-308. Response to unfavorable preplacement assessment.
• - § 48-3-309. Mandatory preplacement criminal checks of prospective adoptive parents seeking to adopt a minor who is in the custody or placement responsibility of a county department of social services.
• - § 48-3-401. "Health care facility" and "attending practitioner" defined.
• - § 48-3-402. Authorization required to transfer physical custody.
• - § 48-3-501. Petitioner entitled to custody in direct placement adoptions.
• - § 48-3-502. Agency entitled to custody in placement by agency.
• - § 48-3-601. Persons whose consent to adoption is required.
• § 48-3-602. Consent of incompetent parents. - § 48-3-602. Consent of incompetent parents.
• - § 48-3-603. Persons whose consent is not required.
• - § 48-3-604. Execution of consent: timing.
• - § 48-3-605. Execution of consent: procedures.
• - § 48-3-606. Content of consent; mandatory provisions.
• - § 48-3-607. Consequences of consent.
• - § 48-3-608. Revocation of consent.
• - § 48-3-609. Challenges to validity of consent.
• - § 48-3-610. Collateral agreements.
• - § 48-3-701. Individuals who may relinquish minor; timing.
• - § 48-3-702. Procedures for relinquishment
• - § 48-3-703. Content of relinquishment; mandatory provisions.
• - § 48-3-704. Content of relinquishment; optional provisions.
• - § 48-3-705. Consequences of relinquishment.
• - § 48-3-706. Revocation of relinquishments.
• - § 48-3-707. Challenges to validity of relinquishments.
• - § 48-4-100. Application of Article.
• - § 48-4-101. Who may file a petition to adopt a minor stepchild.
• - § 48-4-102. Consent to adoption of stepchild.
• - § 48-4-103. Execution and content of consent to adoption by stepparent.
• - § 48-4-104: Repealed by Session Laws 1997-215, s. 12(b).
• - § 48-4-105. Visitation awards to grandparents pursuant to Chapter 50 of the General Statutes.
• - § 48-5-100. Application of Article.
• - § 48-5-101. Who may file for a petition to adopt an adult.
• - § 48-5-102. Consent to adoption.
• - § 48-5-103. Adoption of incompetent adults.
• - § 48-6-100. Application of Article.
• - § 48-6-101. Readoption under other Articles.
• - § 48-6-102. Readoption after a stepparent adoption.
• - § 48-9-101. Certain terms defined.
• - § 48-9-102. Records confidential and sealed.
• - § 48-9-103. Release of nonidentifying information.
• - § 48-9-104. Release of identifying information.
• - § 48-9-105. Action for release of identifying and other nonidentifying information.
• - § 48-9-106. Release of original certificate of birth.
• - § 48-9-107. New birth certificates.
• - § 48-9-108. Restoration of original birth certificates if a decree of adoption is set aside.
• - § 48-9-109. Certain disclosures authorized.

• - § 52-10. Contracts between husband and wife generally; releases.
• - § 52-10.1. Separation agreements.
• - § 52-10.2. Resumption of marital relations defined.
• - § 52B-1. Short title.
• - § 52B-10. Application and construction.
• - § 52B-11. Severability.
• - § 52B-2. Definitions.
• - § 52B-3. Formalities.
• - § 52B-4. Content.
• - § 52B-5. Effect of marriage.
• - § 52B-6. Amendment, revocation.
• - § 52B-7. Enforcement.
• - § 52B-8. Enforcement: void marriage.
• - § 52B-9. Limitation of actions.

• - § 50-11.1. Children born of voidable marriage legitimate.
• - § 50-11.2. Judgment provisions pertaining to care, custody, tuition and maintenance of minor children.
• - § 50-13.1. Action or proceeding for custody of minor child.
• - § 50-13.2. Who entitled to custody; terms of custody; visitation rights of grandparents; taking child out of State.
• - § 50-13.2A. Action for visitation of an adopted grandchild.
• - § 50-13.3. Enforcement of order for custody.
• - § 50-13.5. Procedure in actions for custody or support of minor children.
• - § 50-13.6. Counsel fees in actions for custody and support of minor children.
• - § 50-13.7. Modification of order for child support or custody.
• - § 50-13.8. Custody of persons incapable of self-support upon reaching majority.
• - § 50A-101. Short title.
• - § 50A-102. Definitions.
• - § 50A-103. Proceedings governed by other law.
• - § 50A-104. Application to Indian tribes.
• - § 50A-105. International application of Article.
• - § 50A-106. Effect of child-custody determination.
• - § 50A-107. Priority.
• - § 50A-108. Notice to persons outside State.
• - § 50A-109. Appearance and limited immunity.
• - § 50A-110. Communication between courts.
• - § 50A-111. Taking testimony in another state.
• - § 50A-112. Cooperation between courts; preservation of records.
• - § 50A-201. Initial child-custody jurisdiction.
• - § 50A-202. Exclusive, continuing jurisdiction.
• - § 50A-203. Jurisdiction to modify determination.
• - § 50A-204. Temporary emergency jurisdiction.
• - § 50A-205. Notice; opportunity to be heard; joinder.
• - § 50A-206. Simultaneous proceedings.
• - § 50A-207. Inconvenient forum.
• - § 50A-208. Jurisdiction declined by reason of conduct.
• - § 50A-209. Information to be submitted to court.
• - § 50A-210. Appearance of parties and child.
• - § 50A-301. Definitions.
• - § 50A-302. Enforcement under Hague Convention.
• - § 50A-303. Duty to enforce.
• - § 50A-304. Temporary visitation.
• - § 50A-305. Registration of child-custody determination.
• - § 50A-306. Enforcement of registered determination.
• - § 50A-307. Simultaneous proceedings.
• - § 50A-308. Expedited enforcement of child-custody determination.
• - § 50A-309. Service of petition and order.
• - § 50A-310. Hearing and order.
• - § 50A-311. Warrant to take physical custody of child.
• - § 50A-312. Costs, fees, and expenses.
• - § 50A-313. Recognition and enforcement.
• - § 50A-314. Appeals.
• - § 50A-315. Role of prosecutor or public official.
• - § 50A-316. Role of law enforcement.
• - § 50A-317. Costs and expenses.
• - 228 USC § 1738A. Full faith and credit given to child custody determinations

• - § 50-13.10. Past due child support vested; not subject to retroactive modification; entitled to full faith and credit.
• - § 50-13.11. Orders and agreements regarding medical support and health insurance coverage for minor children.
• - § 50-13.12. Forfeiture of licensing privileges for failure to pay child support or for failure to comply with subpoena issued pursuant to child support or paternity establishment proceedings.
• - § 50-13.4. Action for support of minor child.
• - § 50-13.9. Procedure to insure payment of child support.
• - 28 USC§ 1738B. Full faith and credit for child support orders

• - § 50-70. Collaborative law.
• - § 50-71. Definitions.
• - § 50-72. Agreement requirements.
• - § 50-73. Tolling of time periods.
• - § 50-74. Notice of collaborative law agreement.
• - § 50-75. Judgment on collaborative law settlement agreement.
• - § 50-76. Failure to reach settlement; disposition by court; duty of attorney to withdraw.
• - § 50-77. Privileged and inadmissible evidence.
• - § 50-78. Alternate dispute resolution permitted.
• - § 50-79. Collaborative law procedures surviving death.

• - § 50B-1. Domestic violence; definition.
• - § 50B-2. Institution of civil action; motion for emergency relief; temporary orders; temporary custody.
• - § 50B-3. Relief.
• - § 50B-4. Enforcement of orders.
• - § 50B-4.1. Violation of valid protective order.
• - § 50B-4.2. False statement regarding protective order a misdemeanor.
• - § 50B-5. Emergency assistance.
• - § 50B-6. Construction of Chapter.
• - § 50B-7. Remedies not exclusive.
• - § 50B-8. Effect upon prosecution for violation of § 14-184 or other offense against public morals.
• - § 50B-9. Domestic Violence Center Fund.
• - § 50C-1. Definitions.
• - § 50C-10. Violation.
• - § 50C-11. Remedies not exclusive.
• - § 50C-2. Commencement of action; filing fees not permitted; assistance.
• - § 50C-3. Process for action for no-contact order.
• - § 50C-4. Hearsay exception.
• - § 50C-5. Civil no-contact order; remedy.
• - § 50C-6. Temporary civil no-contact order; court holidays and evenings.
• - § 50C-7. Permanent civil no-contact order.
• - § 50C-8. Duration; extension of orders.
• - § 50C-9. Notice of orders.

• - § 50-16.1A. Definitions.
• - § 50-16.2A. Postseparation support.
• - § 50-16.3A. Alimony.
• - § 50-16.4. Counsel fees in actions for alimony, postseparation support.
• - § 50-16.6. When alimony, postseparation support, counsel fees not payable.
• - § 50-16.7. How alimony and postseparation support paid; enforcement of decree.
• - § 50-16.8. Procedure in actions for postseparation support.
• - § 50-16.9. Modification of order.
• - § 50-17. Alimony in real estate, writ of possession issued.

• - § 50-20. Distribution by court of marital and divisible property.
• - § 50-20.1. Pension and retirement benefits.
• - § 50-21. Procedures in actions for equitable distribution of property; sanctions for purposeful and prejudicial delay.
• - § 50-47. Hearing.

• - § 50-10. Material facts found by judge or jury in divorce or annulment proceedings; when notice of trial not required; procedure same as ordinary civil actions.
• - § 50-11. Effects of absolute divorce.
• - § 50-12. Resumption of maiden or premarriage surname.
• - § 50-5.1. Grounds for absolute divorce in cases of incurable insanity.
• - § 50-6. Divorce after separation of one year on application of either party.
• - § 50-7. Grounds for divorce from bed and board.
• - § 50-8. Contents of complaint; verification; venue and service in action by nonresident; certain divorces validated.
• - § 50-9. Effect of answer of summons by defendant.