The 2025 edition of this Manual, by Sara DePasquale and Caitlin Little, provides easily accessible information about the law, procedures, and concepts that apply to abuse, neglect, dependency, and related termination of parental rights proceedings in North Carolina. This Manual is meant to be a useful and reliable reference manual and training tool, with an intended primary audience of district court judges, social services attorneys, parents’ attorneys, and guardian ad litem attorney advocates who are involved in this important and challenging work. This 2025 edition includes opinions published by the North Carolina appellate courts through December 31, 2025, and legislative changes made through that same time period by the North Carolina General Assembly. Although the online version of this Manual is available at no charge, a soft-cover book is available for purchase from the School’s online bookstore. Production of this Manual was made possible with funding provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Administration for Children and Families, and the Court Improvement Program of the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts. This Manual is copyrighted to the UNC School of Government.
To supplement the information in this Manual, see the School’s other resources related to abuse, neglect, dependency and termination of parental rights.
- On the Civil Side, a North Carolina civil law blog (child welfare category)
- Child Welfare Case Compendium
- Stages of Abuse, Neglect, and Dependency Cases: From Report to Disposition (2025 ed) (a.k.a. "Candyland) (a primer and flowchart by Sara DePasquale, UNC School of Government, 2025)
- Fathers and Paternity: Applying the Law in North Carolina Child Welfare Cases (a book by Sara DePasquale, UNC School of Government, 2016)
- Rule 17 Guardians ad Litem for Respondents in Abuse, Neglect, Dependency, and Termination of Parental Rights Proceedings: Frequently Asked Questions (a bulletin by Timothy Heinle and Sara DePasquale, UNC School of Government, Juvenile Law Bulletin, 2026/01)
- For other bulletins and publications discussing issues in child welfare, see the School's Publications page.
The School maintains a Juvenile Law Listserv, which is open to anyone who wants to join. It distributes summaries of recent appellate court decisions, legislative updates, and occasional announcements relating to juvenile law. Subscribe to sogjuvenile if interested.
For the different professionals working in this field in North Carolina, see the following microsites on the School's website.
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