When Child Protection Comes
G.S. 7B-302 — an assessment begun within 24 hours for abuse and 72 for neglect, and limits on entering a home
When it starts. The director initiates the assessment immediately, and no later than 24 hours after receipt, when abuse is alleged, and within 72 hours when neglect or dependency is alleged.
Entering the home. The director or a representative may not enter a private residence for assessment purposes without a reasonable belief that a juvenile is in imminent danger of death or serious physical injury, the permission of the parent or person responsible for the juvenile's care, the accompaniment of a law enforcement officer with legal authority to enter, or a court order.
The reporter. Within five working days after receipt, and again after the assessment, the director gives the person who made the report written notice of what was done, and that person may request a review.
Removal of a child, emergency custody, and the court hearings that follow are set out in other parts of the law that are not on this page. What a particular investigation means for a family is a question for a licensed North Carolina attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- G.S. 7B-302 — Assessment by director
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed North Carolina attorney.