NC General Statutes

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-904 (2026)

Authority over parents of juvenile adjudicated as abused, neglected, or dependent

✓ current as of July 2026

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(a) If the court orders medical, surgical, psychiatric, psychological, or other treatment pursuant to G.S. 7B-903, the court may order the parent or other responsible parties to pay the cost of the treatment or care ordered.

(b) At the dispositional hearing or a subsequent hearing if the court finds that it is in the best interests of the juvenile for the parent, guardian, custodian, stepparent, adult member of the juvenile's household, or adult entrusted with the juvenile's care to be directly involved in the juvenile's treatment, the court may order the parent, guardian, custodian, stepparent, adult member of the juvenile's household, or adult entrusted with the juvenile's care to participate in medical, psychiatric, psychological, or other treatment of the juvenile. The cost of the treatment shall be paid pursuant to G.S. 7B-903.

(c) At the dispositional hearing or a subsequent hearing the court may determine whether the best interests of the juvenile require that the parent, guardian, custodian, stepparent, adult member of the juvenile's household, or adult entrusted with the juvenile's care undergo psychiatric, psychological, or other treatment or counseling directed toward remediating or remedying behaviors or conditions that led to or contributed to the juvenile's adjudication or to the court's decision to remove custody of the juvenile from the parent, guardian, custodian, stepparent, adult member of the juvenile's household, or adult entrusted with the juvenile's care. If the court finds that the best interests of the juvenile require the parent, guardian, custodian, stepparent, adult member of the juvenile's household, or adult entrusted with the juvenile's care undergo treatment, it may order that individual to comply with a plan of treatment approved by the court or condition legal custody or physical placement of the juvenile with the parent, guardian, custodian, stepparent, adult member of the juvenile's household, or adult entrusted with the juvenile's care upon that individual's compliance with the plan of treatment. The court may order the parent, guardian, custodian, stepparent, adult member of the juvenile's household, or adult entrusted with the juvenile's care to pay the cost of treatment ordered pursuant to this subsection. In cases in which the court has conditioned legal custody or physical placement of the juvenile with the parent, guardian, custodian, stepparent, adult member of the juvenile's household, or adult entrusted with the juvenile's care upon compliance with a plan of treatment, the court may charge the cost of the treatment to the county of the juvenile's residence if the court finds the parent, guardian, custodian, stepparent, adult member of the juvenile's household, or adult entrusted with the juvenile's care is unable to pay the cost of the treatment. In all other cases, if the court finds the parent, guardian, custodian, stepparent, adult member of the juvenile's household, or adult entrusted with the juvenile's care is unable to pay the cost of the treatment ordered pursuant to this subsection, the court may order that individual to receive treatment currently available from the area mental health program that serves the parent's catchment area.

(c1) If the court has ordered an individual to comply with a plan of treatment for substance use disorder, including opioid dependency, that individual shall not be in violation of the terms or conditions of that part of the court's order if he or she is compliant with medication-assisted treatment. For the purposes of this subsection, "medication-assisted treatment" means the use of pharmacological medications administered, dispensed, and prescribed in a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) accredited and certified opioid treatment program (OTP) or by a certified practitioner licensed in this State to practice medicine, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a whole patient approach to the treatment of substance use disorders.

(d) At the dispositional hearing or a subsequent hearing, when legal custody of a juvenile is vested in someone other than the juvenile's parent, if the court finds that the parent is able to do so and that payment would be in the best interest of the child, the court may order that the parent pay a reasonable sum that will cover, in whole or in part, the support of the juvenile after the order is entered. If the court requires the payment of child support, the amount of the payments shall be determined as provided in G.S. 50-13.4(c). If the court places a juvenile in the custody of a county department of social services and if the court finds that the parent is unable to pay the cost of the support required by the juvenile, the cost shall be paid by the county department of social services in whose custody the juvenile is placed, provided the juvenile is not receiving care in an institution owned or operated by the State or federal government or any subdivision thereof.

(d1) At the dispositional hearing or a subsequent hearing, the court may order the parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker over whom the court has personal jurisdiction do any of the following:

(1) Attend and participate in parental responsibility classes if those classes are available in the judicial district in which the parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker resides.

(2) Provide, to the extent that person is able to do so, transportation for the juvenile to keep appointments for medical, psychiatric, psychological, or other treatment ordered by the court if the juvenile remains in or is returned to the home.

(3) Take appropriate steps to remedy conditions in the home that led to or contributed to the juvenile's adjudication or to the court's decision to remove custody of the juvenile from the parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker.

(e) Upon motion of a party or upon the court's own motion, the court may issue an order directing the parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker over whom the court has personal jurisdiction to appear and show cause why the parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker should not be found or held in civil or criminal contempt for willfully failing to comply with an order of the court. Chapter 5A of the General Statutes shall govern contempt proceedings initiated pursuant to this section. (1979, c. 815, s. 1; 1983, c. 837, ss. 2, 3; 1987, c. 598, s. 2; 1989, c. 218; c. 529, s. 7; 1995, c. 328, s. 2; 1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 609, s. 4; 1997-456, s. 1; 1998-202, s. 6; 1999-318, s. 7; 1999-456, s. 60; 2001-208, s. 3; 2001-487, s. 101; 2021-100, s. 7; 2025-16, s. 1.14(a).)

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 65 cases (25 in the last 5 years), 2000–2026 · leading case: In re B.O.A., 831 S.E.2d 305 (N.C. 2019).

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In re B.O.A., 831 S.E.2d 305 (N.C. 2019). · cites it 21× “Finally, while acknowledging that a trial judge is authorized by N.C.G.S. § 7B-904(d1)(3) to adopt case plans aimed at addressing the possible causes of a juvenile's removal from the family home and the particular needs of the juvenile's family, respondent-mother argues that a…”

In Re Wv, 693 S.E.2d 383 (N.C. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 23× “A "trial court may not order a parent to undergo any course of conduct not provided for in [N.C. Gen Stat. § 7B-904]." In re Cogdill, 137 N.”

In re W.V., 204 N.C. App. 290 (N.C. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 23× “A “trial court may not order a parent to undergo any course of conduct not provided for in [N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-904].” In re Cogdill, 137 N.”

In re D.L.W., 788 S.E.2d 162 (N.C. 2016). · cites it 4× “*842 In addition, the Court of Appeals concluded that the trial court had no authority pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 7B-904 to order respondent to make reasonable progress to comply with several aspects of her case plan, including creating a budgeting plan and obtaining treatment for…”

In re: M.P.M., 776 S.E.2d 687 (N.C. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 16× “” The trial court’s authority over the parents of juveniles adjudicated as abused, neglected or dependent is set forth in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-904 (2013). Under the statute, the court may order the parent to take the necessary steps to remedy the conditions which led to the…”

In re A.S., 640 S.E.2d 817 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 8× “] N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-904(c). In the instant case, the trial court was within its discretion.”

In re D.L.W., 773 S.E.2d 504 (N.C. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 19× “" She further contends that the court exceeded its statutory authority in imposing certain requirements for reunification, and finding lack of progress to terminate her parental rights because they were "unrelated to the conditions that led to the children's removal or…”

In re A.G.M., 773 S.E.2d 123 (N.C. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 12× “; see also N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-904 (2013) ; In re K.”

In Re: C.N. & A.N., 831 S.E.2d 878 (N.C. Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 4× “Respondent-mother's case plan does not and cannot require that she alone be responsible for providing her housing and transportation. Evidence in the record also shows Respondent-mother was employed at the time of the hearing.”

In re A.R., 742 S.E.2d 629 (N.C. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 4× “North Carolina General Statute § 7B-904 provides that (c) At the dispositional hearing or a subsequent hearing the court may determine whether the best interests of the juvenile require that the parent.”

In re J.C., 760 S.E.2d 778 (N.C. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 7× “§ 7B-904 and N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-13.4 , to support her argument.”

In re J.A.G., 617 S.E.2d 325 (N.C. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 2× “See N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-904(d1)(3) (2003) (granting the trial court authority to order that a parent of an abused, neglected or dependent child "[t]ake appropriate steps to remedy conditions in the home that led to or contributed to the juvenile's adjudication").”

Show all 65 citing cases →

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-904(c) — 21 cases

In re: M.P.M., 776 S.E.2d 687 (N.C. Ct. App. 2015). “” The trial court’s authority over the parents of juveniles adjudicated as abused, neglected or dependent is set forth in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-904 (2013). Under the statute, the court may order the parent to take the necessary steps to remedy the conditions which led to the…”

In re A.R., 742 S.E.2d 629 (N.C. Ct. App. 2013). “North Carolina General Statute § 7B-904 provides that (c) At the dispositional hearing or a subsequent hearing the court may determine whether the best interests of the juvenile require that the parent.”

In re L.B., 639 S.E.2d 23 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007).

In re A.S., 640 S.E.2d 817 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007). “] N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-904(c). In the instant case, the trial court was within its discretion.”

In re A.L.T., 774 S.E.2d 316 (N.C. Ct. App. 2015).

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-904(d) — 9 cases

In Re Wv, 693 S.E.2d 383 (N.C. Ct. App. 2010). “A "trial court may not order a parent to undergo any course of conduct not provided for in [N.C. Gen Stat. § 7B-904]." In re Cogdill, 137 N.”

In re W.V., 204 N.C. App. 290 (N.C. Ct. App. 2010). “A “trial court may not order a parent to undergo any course of conduct not provided for in [N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-904].” In re Cogdill, 137 N.”

In re A.S., 640 S.E.2d 817 (N.C. Ct. App. 2007). “] N.C. Gen.Stat. § 7B-904(c). In the instant case, the trial court was within its discretion.”

In Re: A.M. & E.R., 786 S.E.2d 772 (N.C. Ct. App. 2016).

In re J.C., 760 S.E.2d 778 (N.C. Ct. App. 2014). “§ 7B-904 and N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-13.4 , to support her argument.”

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-904(d1) — 6 cases

In re B.J.H. & J.E.H. (N.C. 2021).

In re B.J.H. (N.C. 2021).

In Re: W.c.t., W.J.A.T. (N.C. Ct. App. 2021).

In re: J.C. (N.C. Ct. App. 2022).

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-904(d1)(3) — 30 cases

In re B.O.A., 831 S.E.2d 305 (N.C. 2019). “Finally, while acknowledging that a trial judge is authorized by N.C.G.S. § 7B-904(d1)(3) to adopt case plans aimed at addressing the possible causes of a juvenile's removal from the family home and the particular needs of the juvenile's family, respondent-mother argues that a…”

In Re Wv, 693 S.E.2d 383 (N.C. Ct. App. 2010). “A "trial court may not order a parent to undergo any course of conduct not provided for in [N.C. Gen Stat. § 7B-904]." In re Cogdill, 137 N.”

In Re: C.N. & A.N., 831 S.E.2d 878 (N.C. Ct. App. 2019). “Respondent-mother's case plan does not and cannot require that she alone be responsible for providing her housing and transportation. Evidence in the record also shows Respondent-mother was employed at the time of the hearing.”

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-904(dl)(3) — 1 case

In re D.L.W., 788 S.E.2d 162 (N.C. 2016). “*842 In addition, the Court of Appeals concluded that the trial court had no authority pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 7B-904 to order respondent to make reasonable progress to comply with several aspects of her case plan, including creating a budgeting plan and obtaining treatment for…”

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-904(e) — 1 case

In Re: K.b., A.m.h., M.S.H. (N.C. 2024).

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