§ 48-2-100. Jurisdiction. - North Carolina Statutes

Article 2.

General AdoptionProcedure.

Part 1. Jurisdiction and Venue.

§ 48‑2‑100. Jurisdiction.

(a)        Adoption shall beby a special proceeding before the clerk of superior court.

(b)        Except as providedin subsection (c) of this section, jurisdiction over adoption proceedingscommenced under this Chapter exists if, at the commencement of the proceeding:

(1)        The adoptee haslived in this State for at least the six consecutive months immediatelypreceding the filing of the petition or from birth;

(2)        The prospectiveadoptive parent has lived in or been domiciled in this State for at least thesix consecutive months immediately preceding the filing of the petition; or

(3)        An agency licensedby this State or a county department of social services in this State has legalcustody of the adoptee.

(c)        The courts of thisState shall not exercise jurisdiction under this Chapter if at the time thepetition for adoption is filed, a court of any other state is exercisingjurisdiction substantially in conformity with the Uniform Child‑CustodyJurisdiction and Enforcement Act, Article 2 of Chapter 50A of the GeneralStatutes. However, this subsection shall not apply if within 60 days after thedate the petition for adoption is filed, the court of the other state dismissesits proceeding or releases its exclusive, continuing jurisdiction. (1949, c. 300; 1963, c. 699;1967, c. 619, ss. 1‑3; c. 693; c. 880, s. 3; 1969, c. 21, ss. 3‑6;1971, c. 233, s. 1; c. 395; c. 1231, s. 1; 1973, c. 849, s. 3; c. 1354, ss. 1‑4;1975, c. 91; 1979, c. 107, s. 6; 1981, c. 657; 1983, c. 454, s. 6; 1989, c.208; c. 727, s. 219(4); 1993, c. 553, s. 14; 1995, c. 88, ss. 3, 4; c. 457, s.2; 1999‑223, s. 8; 2007‑151, s. 2.)