As a result of Session Law 2017-7, Session Law 2017-41, and Session Law 2017-102, litigants will soon appeal directly to the Supreme Court of North Carolina orders that terminate parental rights or deny a petition or motion to terminate parental rights. This change in the law is effective for all appeals filed on or after 1 January 2019.

These appeals will be calendared in the Supreme Court according to North Carolina Rule of Appellate Procedure 29. The calendar published by the Supreme Court Clerk will indicate whether the appeal will be disposed of on the record and briefs according to North Carolina Rule of Appellate Procedure 30(f).

The Supreme Court has amended the North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure to accommodate these changes. The amendments, however, affect more than termination-of-parental-rights cases. All appellate practitioners should take notice of these amendments.