When Child Welfare Is Not Involved
NC Legal Permanency Options:
Informal Agreement
A private and informal temporary caretaking arrangement between you and the child’s parents. It does not involve DSS or the courts.
Power of Attorney
A written agreement signed by you and both parents passing physical custody of the child to you along with certain parental rights, such as the right to decide about the child’s medical care, schooling and other day-to-day care decisions.
Civil Custody Order
A custody order obtained in a civil district court gives you legal custody and the right to physically care for the child and make decisions about that child’s welfare. It does not terminate the child’s parents’ parental rights, but in order to regain custody, the parents have to go back to court.
Guardianship
You cannot become a guardian in NC without child welfare involvement unless there is no legal living parent. DSS can file for guardianship on your behalf if the child is in foster care.
Adoption
Adoption is a legal process that creates a parent-child relationship between people who are not parent and child by birth. Once a child is adopted, that child has the same legal rights as a child born to the family and the adoptive parent has the same legal duties as a birthparent to care for and raise the child.