NC General Statutes

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-403 (2026)

Receipt of reports; filing of petition

✓ current as of July 2026

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(a) (Effective until April 1, 2026 - see note) All reports concerning a juvenile alleged to be abused, neglected, or dependent shall be referred to the director of the department of social services for screening. Thereafter, if it is determined by the director that a report should be filed as a petition, the petition shall be drawn by the director, verified before an official authorized to administer oaths, and filed by the clerk, recording the date of filing.

(a) (Effective April 1, 2026 - see note) All reports concerning a juvenile alleged to be abused, neglected, or dependent shall be referred to the director of the department of social services for screening. Thereafter, if it is determined by the director that a report should be filed as a petition, the petition shall be reviewed by the legal counsel for the department, signed by the director, and verified before an official authorized to administer oaths, and filed by the clerk, recording the date of filing. If the legal counsel for the department has not also signed the petition, the director shall attest that the petition has been reviewed by the legal counsel for the department.

(b) A decision of the director of social services not to file a report as a petition shall be reviewed by the prosecutor or Division pursuant to G.S. 7B-306. (1979, c. 815, s. 1; 1981, c. 469, ss. 10, 11; 1998-202, s. 6; 1999-456, s. 60; 2025-16, ss. 1.3(f), 1.10(f).)

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 39 cases (9 in the last 5 years), 2005–2026 · leading case: In re T.R.P., 636 S.E.2d 787 (N.C. 2006).

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In re T.R.P., 636 S.E.2d 787 (N.C. 2006). · cites it 41× “§ 7B-402, verification of the petition in an abuse, neglect, or dependency action as required by N.C.G.S. § 7B-403 is a vital link in the chain of proceedings carefully designed to protect children at risk on one hand while avoiding undue interference with family rights on the…”

In Re Dj. L., 646 S.E.2d 134 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 10× “2d - (2007) (concluding that a purported verification did not satisfy N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-403 when the principal did not appear before the notary, sign the record in question, or certify the truth of the matters stated therein by oath or affirmation).”

In re D.D.F., 654 S.E.2d 1 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 35× “Background On 22 August 2000, petitioner Maureen Geier ("Geier"), a Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services ("DSS") caseworker, filed a juvenile petition pursuant to N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-403 alleging that D.D.”

In Re Trp, 636 S.E.2d 787 (N.C. 2006). · cites it 41× “§ 7B-402, verification of the petition in an abuse, neglect, or dependency action as required by N.C.G.S. § 7B-403 is a vital link in the chain of proceedings carefully designed to protect children at risk on one hand while avoiding undue interference with family rights on the…”

In re N.T., 782 S.E.2d 502 (N.C. 2016). · cites it 6× ““[Verification of the petition in an abuse, neglect, or dependency action as required by N.C.G.S. § 7B-403 is a vital link in the chain of proceedings carefully designed to protect children at risk on one hand while avoiding undue interference with family rights on the other.”

In Re A.j.h-r., 645 S.E.2d 791 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 11× “The Court noted that “verification of the petition in an abuse, neglect, or dependency action as required by N.C.G.S. § 7B-403 is a *179 vital link in the chain of proceedings carefully designed to protect children at risk on one hand while avoiding undue interference with…”

In re L.B., 639 S.E.2d 23 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 4× “Therefore, under N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-403, N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-405, Green , and T.”

In re A.R.G., 646 S.E.2d 349 (N.C. 2007). · cites it 3× “, when the question presented was whether DSS’s failure to verify a petition upon filing it with the clerk of superior court, as required by N.C.G.S. § 7B-403(a), prevented the trial court from acquiring subject matter jurisdiction over the juvenile action.”

In re S.F., 660 S.E.2d 924 (N.C. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 3× “Indeed, we observe that the General Assembly has established by statute two means by which proceedings to terminate an individual's parental rights may be initiated: (1) by filing a petition to initiate a new action concerning the juvenile; or (2) in a pending child abuse,…”

In re T.R.P., 619 S.E.2d 525 (N.C. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 4× “Thus, the Petition requesting the juvenile be adjudicated neglected was not in compliance with the statute requiring that all Petitions be verified pursuant to N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-403, and the trial court, therefore, lacked subject matter jurisdiction to adjudicate this matter.”

In re S.E.P., 646 S.E.2d 617 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 3× “"[V]erification of the petition in an abuse, neglect, or dependency action as required by N.C.G.S. § 7B-403 is a vital link in the chain of proceedings carefully designed to protect children at risk on one hand while avoiding undue interference with family rights on the other.”

Rinna v. Steven B., 687 S.E.2d 496 (N.C. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 3× “Instead, “verification of the petition in an abuse, neglect, or dependency action as required by N.C.G.S. § 7B-403 is a vital link in the chain of proceedings carefully designed to protect children at risk on one hand while avoiding undue interference with family rights on the…”

Show all 39 citing cases →

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-403(a) — 27 cases

In re T.R.P., 636 S.E.2d 787 (N.C. 2006). “§ 7B-402, verification of the petition in an abuse, neglect, or dependency action as required by N.C.G.S. § 7B-403 is a vital link in the chain of proceedings carefully designed to protect children at risk on one hand while avoiding undue interference with family rights on the…”

In Re Dj. L., 646 S.E.2d 134 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007). “2d - (2007) (concluding that a purported verification did not satisfy N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-403 when the principal did not appear before the notary, sign the record in question, or certify the truth of the matters stated therein by oath or affirmation).”

In re D.D.F., 654 S.E.2d 1 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007). “Background On 22 August 2000, petitioner Maureen Geier ("Geier"), a Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services ("DSS") caseworker, filed a juvenile petition pursuant to N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-403 alleging that D.D.”

In re N.T., 782 S.E.2d 502 (N.C. 2016). ““[Verification of the petition in an abuse, neglect, or dependency action as required by N.C.G.S. § 7B-403 is a vital link in the chain of proceedings carefully designed to protect children at risk on one hand while avoiding undue interference with family rights on the other.”

In Re A.j.h-r., 645 S.E.2d 791 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007). “The Court noted that “verification of the petition in an abuse, neglect, or dependency action as required by N.C.G.S. § 7B-403 is a *179 vital link in the chain of proceedings carefully designed to protect children at risk on one hand while avoiding undue interference with…”

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