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If you are planning to search court records, it is natural to ask whether you will get access to all the information that you need or just to a portion of it. The reality is that all such records are public, meaning that they can viewed and read by members of the public who are also entitled to obtaining copies. However, in some cases a specific access process applies. Find out more on this matter now.
General Access and Special Access
Usually, you can go to the court’s website or to the courthouse itself and search the database to find the court records that you need. You will be able to access the case file which contains documents, forms and even exhibits used in the case. After viewing them, you will have the opportunity to obtain a copy, if you need one. In some cases, however, this simple process becomes more complex and time-consuming because of sensitive details on record.
It is worth looking at the types of court records containing sensitive information in greater detail. These typically include records of adoption and of guardianship cases involving the termination of parental rights. Juvenile delinquency records cannot be accessed directly either. The same applies to emergency mental health evaluations and reports on the medical condition of an adult who has received allegation. It is important to note that when a judge has granted permission for a case to be sealed, it cannot be accessed directly either. Such permission is granted only in special circumstances.
The next logical question to ask is how you can access the court records containing sensitive information. In some cases, there are special provisions of the law that you have to comply with in order to view the documents which you need. In other cases, you will need a court order to gain access.
Taking the Required Steps
You can easily find out if the information which you are looking for is sealed by running a general search of the public court records. Once you conform this, you will have to check the requirements that you need to meet in order to gain access to the sealed documents. In some cases, only certain parties such as relatives may be able to view them. If you do not go into the category of people who have access, you may have to request a court order to perform your search.
Finally, you should now that each search covering court records which involve sensitive information is different. That is why you should study the individual circumstances affecting your access in advance.