§ 48-9-104. Release of identifying information. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 48‑9‑104. Release of identifying information.

(a)        Except as providedin G.S. 48‑9‑109(2) or (3), no person or entity shall release fromany records retained and sealed under this Article the name, address, or otherinformation that reasonably could be expected to lead directly to the identityof an adoptee, an adoptive parent of an adoptee, an adoptee's parent at birth,or an individual who, but for the adoption, would be the adoptee's sibling orgrandparent, except upon order of the court for cause pursuant to G.S. 48‑9‑105.

(b)        A child placingagency licensed by the Department or a county department of social services mayagree to act as a confidential intermediary for a biological parent or adultadoptee or adult lineal descendant of a deceased adoptee, without appointmentby the court pursuant to G.S. 48‑9‑105, in order to obtain andshare nonidentifying birth family health information or facilitate contact orshare identifying information with adult adoptees, adult lineal descendants ofdeceased adoptees, and biological parents with the written consent of allparties to the contact or the sharing of information. Further, a child placingagency licensed by the Department or a county department of social services mayagree to act as a confidential intermediary for the adoptive parents of a minoradoptee, without appointment by the court pursuant to G.S. 48‑9‑105,to obtain and share nonidentifying birth family health information. An agencythat agrees to provide confidential intermediary services may charge areasonable fee for doing so, which fee must be pursuant to written agreementsigned by the individual to be charged. The Division shall establish guidelinesfor confidential intermediary services. (1949, c. 300; 1957, c. 778, s. 7; 1961, c. 186; 1969,c. 982; 1973, c. 476, s. 138; 1979, c. 739, ss. 1, 2; 1981, c. 924, ss. 2, 3;1983, c. 454, s. 6; 1993, c. 539, s. 411; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c);1995, c. 457, s. 2; 2001‑150, s. 12; 2007‑262, s. 3.)