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§ 3-827. Confidentiality of court records

West's Annotated Code of MarylandCourts and Judicial ProceedingsEffective: October 1, 2020

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Courts and Judicial Proceedings
Title 3. Courts of General Jurisdiction--Jurisdiction/Special Causes of Action (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle 8. Juvenile Causes--Children in Need of Assistance (Refs & Annos)
Effective: October 1, 2020
MD Code, Courts and Judicial Proceedings, § 3-827
§ 3-827. Confidentiality of court records
Currentness
Court records kept confidential
(a)(1) All court records under this subtitle pertaining to a child shall be confidential and their contents may not be divulged, by subpoena or otherwise, except by order of the court on good cause shown.
(2) This subsection does not prohibit review of a court record by:
(i) Personnel of the court;
(ii) A party;
(iii) Counsel for a party;
(iv) A Court-Appointed Special Advocate for the child;
(v) Authorized personnel of the Social Services Administration and local departments in order to conduct a child abuse or neglect investigation or to comply with requirements imposed under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act;1 or
(vi) The Department of Juvenile Services if the Department is providing treatment, services, or care to a child who is the subject of the record.
(3) Information obtained from a court record is subject to the provisions of §§ 1-201, 1-202, 1-204, and 1-205 of the Human Services Article.
Motion or petition to seal court records
(b)(1) On its own motion or on petition, and for good cause shown, the court:
(i) May order the court records of a child sealed; and
(ii) Shall order them sealed after the child has reached the age of 21.
(2) If sealed, the court records of a child may not be opened, for any purpose, except by order of the court on good cause shown.

Credits

Added by Acts 2001, c. 415, § 3, eff. Oct. 1, 2001. Amended by Acts 2006, c. 10, § 1, eff. Feb. 18, 2006; Acts 2007, c. 8, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2007; Acts 2008, c. 602, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2008; Acts 2008, c. 603, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2008; Acts 2013, c. 474, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2013; Acts 2020, c. 419, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2020.

Footnotes

1
Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620, codified at 42 U.S.C.A. § 301 et seq.
MD Code, Courts and Judicial Proceedings, § 3-827, MD CTS & JUD PRO § 3-827
Current through legislation effective through April 9, 2023, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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