§48-10-102. Unlawful payments related to adoption

(a)        Except as provided in G.S. 48-10-103, a person or entity may not pay or give, offer to pay or give, or request, receive or accept any money or anything of value, directly or indirectly, for:

(1)        The placement of a minor for adoption;

(2)        The consent of a parent, a guardian, or an agency to the adoption of a minor;

(3)        The relinquishment of a minor to an agency for purposes of adoption; or

(4)        Assisting a parent or guardian in locating or evaluating a potential adoptive parent or in transferring custody of a minor to the adoptive parent.

(b)        A person who violates this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. For each subsequent violation, a person is guilty of a Class H felony which may include a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

(c)        The district court may enjoin any person or entity from violating this section.

(1975, c. 335, s. 1; 1991, c. 335, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, ss. 412, 1264; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1995, c. 457, s. 2.)