§ 48-3-605. Execution of consent: procedures.
§48‑3‑605. Execution of consent: procedures.
(a) A consent executedby a parent or guardian or by a minor to be adopted who is 12 years of age orolder must conform substantially to the requirements in G.S. 48‑3‑606and must be signed and acknowledged under oath before an individual authorizedto administer oaths or take acknowledgments.
(b) A parent who hasnot reached the age of 18 years shall have legal capacity to give consent toadoption and to release that parent's rights in a child, and shall be as fullybound as if the parent had attained 18 years of age.
(c) An individualbefore whom a consent is signed and acknowledged under subsection (a) of thissection shall certify in writing that to the best of the individual's knowledgeor belief, the parent, guardian, or minor to be adopted executing the consent:
(1) Read, or had read tohim or her, and understood the consent;
(2) Signed the consentvoluntarily;
(3) Received or wasoffered a copy of the consent; and
(4) Was advised thatcounselling services may be available through county departments of socialservices or licensed child‑placing agencies.
(d) A consent by anagency must be executed by the executive head or another authorized employeeand must be signed and acknowledged under oath in the presence of an individualauthorized to administer oaths or take acknowledgments.
(e) A consent signed inanother state or in another country in accord with the procedure of that stateor country shall not be invalid solely because of failure to comply with theformalities set out in this Chapter.
(f) A consent to theadoption of an Indian child, as that term is defined in the Indian ChildWelfare Act, 25 U.S.C. § 1901 et seq., must meet the requirements of that Act. (1949,c. 300; 1971, c. 1231, s. 1; 1995, c. 457, s. 2.)