North Carolina Child Abandonment Laws

Child abandonment refers to when a guardian or parent does not voluntarily provide their children with the necessary care and resources required to live a healthy and safe life. From not providing your child with proper shelter or clothing to deserting your child entirely, there are many ways for a parent not to provide the necessary care. With so many types of abandonment and negligence, each child abandonment case is different and requires thorough investigation. Some of the ways you can be charged with child abandonment are if you act in any of the following:

• Abandoning your child for six or more months
• Refusing or failing to provide support during that time period, you are gone 
• Attempting to conceal your whereabouts with the intent to escape your child support obligation

Some individuals are unaware of the seriousness of child abandonment and how it can affect their career, parental rights, and relationship with their child. If you are in a situation where the non-custodial or other parent abandons your child either physically or financially, contacting a reliable attorney is essential.

The severe consequences of abandoning or neglecting your child can have a devastating effect on your life. You may lose custody of your child and become subject to an investigation by the Division of Social Services (DSS). Some individuals may be unsure what qualifies as child abandonment or whether leaving your child or not paying child support are the only ways to be suspected.  

Neglect can also be a form of child abandonment and is also unique to every case. The North Carolina General Statute (NCGS) §7B-101(15) defines a neglected juvenile as one who:

• Lives in a harmful environment
• Is not receiving proper care from their caretaker
• Has been abandoned or unattended for an extended period
• Is not receiving the necessary and proper medical care
• Placed up for adoption in violation of the law
• Their custody was illegally transferred

If you know that the other parent has severely neglected your child or your child has experienced any of the above symptoms of negligence, immediately contact an experienced attorney. It’s stressful knowing that you are unable to depend on the other parent to take proper care of your child, but a reliable lawyer can help you through the process of holding them accountable.

When a parent neglects their child, one of the consequences can be losing your child’s parental rights. There are many ways a negligent parent can lose their right as a parent; some of the reasons include: 

• A juvenile court deemed your child was abused or neglected by the other parent.
• The other parent left their child in foster care or somewhere outside the home for more than 12 months.
• The child was placed in foster care, DSS custody, or an institution for six months.
• The other parent failed to pay for your portion of the child’s care
• The other parent has not provided financial support for one year, and the other parent granted custody of the child. 
• The other parent abandoned the child for six consecutive months.
• If the child was an infant, the parent abandoned them for at least 60 days.

An experienced attorney in North Carolina can help prepare you for the process and information you need for the case. They can also help gather evidence and support for your case.