§ 48-3-205. Disclosure of background information.

481 words·~2 min read·/nc/chapter-48/48-3-205

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(a)Before placing a minor for adoption, an individual or agency placing the minor, or the individual's agent, shall compile and provide to the prospective adoptive parent a written document containing all of the following information:

(1)The date of the birth of the minor and the minor's weight at birth and any other reasonably available nonidentifying information about the minor that is relevant to the adoption decision or to the minor's development and well-being.

(2)Age of the biological parents in years at the time of the minor's birth.

(3)Heritage of the biological parents, consisting of nationality, ethnic background, and race.

(4)Education of the biological parents, consisting of the number of years of school completed by the biological parents at the time of the minor's birth.

(5)General physical appearance of the biological parents.

In addition, the written document shall also include all reasonably available nonidentifying information about the health of the minor, the biological parents, and other members of the biological parents' families that is relevant to the adoption decision or to the minor's health and development. This health-related information shall include each individual's present state of physical and mental health, health and genetic histories, and information concerning any history of emotional, physical, sexual, or substance abuse.

This health-related information shall also include an account of the prenatal and postnatal care received by the minor. The information described in this subsection, if known, shall, upon written request of the minor, be made available to the minor upon the minor reaching age 18 or upon the minor's marriage or emancipation.

(b)Information provided under this section, or any information directly or indirectly derived from the information, shall not be used against the provider or against an individual described in subsection

(a)of this section who is the subject of the information in any criminal action or any civil action for damages. In addition, information provided under this section shall not be admitted in evidence against the provider or against an individual described in subsection

(a)of this section who is the subject of the information in any other action or proceeding.

(c)The agency placing the minor shall receive and preserve any additional health-related information obtained after the preparation of the document described in subsection

(a)of this section.

(d)The Division shall develop and make available forms designed to collect the information described in subsection

(a)of this section. However, forms reasonably equivalent to those provided by the Division may be substituted. (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; 2012-16, s. 4; 2025-25, s. 46(b).)