§ 45a-754 — (Formerly Sec. 45-68m). Records related to termination of parental rights, removal of parent as guardian, appointment of statutory parent, adoption matters, temporary guardianship and emancipation of minors. Confidentiality. Exceptions.

Connecticut § 45a-754

• Jurisdiction: Connecticut
• Title 45a: Probate Courts and Procedure
• Ch. 803: Termination of Parental Rights and Adoption

Text

(a) All records of cases related to termination of parental rights, removal of a parent as guardian, appointment of a statutory parent, adoption matters, temporary guardianship and emancipation of a minor shall be confidential and shall not be open to inspection by or disclosed to any third party, except that (1) such records shall be available to (A) the parties in any such case and their counsel; (B) the Department of Children and Families; (C) any licensed child-placing agency involved in any such case; (D) any judge or employee of a court of this state who, in the performance of his or her duties, requires access to such records; (E) the Office of the Probate Court Administrator; and (F) courts of other states under the provisions of sections 46b-115a to 46b-115gg, inclusive; and (2) access to and disclosure of adoption records shall be in accordance with subsection (b) of this section. (b) Access to adoption records shall be in accordance with sections 45a-743 to 45a-753 , inclusive. The records may also be disclosed upon order of the judge of probate to a petitioner who requires such information for the health or medical treatment of any adopted person. If such information is so required and is not within the records, the biological parent or parents or blood relatives may be contacted in accordance with the procedures in section 45a-753 .

Legislative History

(1949 Rev., S. 6870; 1953, S. 2906d; 1972, P.A. 127, S. 67; P.A. 74-164, S. 19, 20; P.A. 75-201; P.A. 77-246, S. 9; 77-604, S. 80, 84; P.A. 80-476, S. 169; P.A. 87-555, S. 12; P.A. 96-130, S. 34; P.A. 11-128, S. 8; P.A. 21-100, S. 27.) History: 1972 act changed age of majority from 21 to 18, amending section accordingly; P.A. 74-164 rephrased provision re access to envelopes containing adoption material, specifying that parent or child over eighteen “may for cause shown, either ex parte or with such notice the court deems advisable” have access; P.A. 75-201 specified applicability of provisions to decrees for termination of parental rights, removal of parent as guardian or appointment of statutory guardian, adding provisions necessary to reflect broadened applicability; P.A. 77-246 added reference to affidavits, rephrased provision re parents' or child's access to records, requiring access to information under Sec. 45-68e be granted and authorizing petition of court for information under Sec. 45-68i, added provisions authorizing disclosure of information necessary for health care or medical treatment and contact of natural parents or blood relatives to learn medical information if necessary; P.A. 77-604 made technical grammatical correction; Sec. 45-66 transferred to Sec. 45-68m in 1979; P.A. 80-476 divided section into Subsecs. and rephrased provisions; P.A. 87-555 deleted provisions in Subsec. (d) re access to information under Sec. 45-68e and petition to court and inserted “access to such records shall be in accordance with sections 45-68a to 45-68 l , inclusive”, and changed “section” to “chapter” in Subsec. (e); Sec. 45-68m transferred to Sec. 45a-754 in 1991; P.A. 96-130 amended Subsec. (d) by changing “genetic” to “biological”; P.A. 11-128 substantially revised Subsec. (a) to replace provisions re furnishing each court with index and book for recording enumerated matters with requirement that all records of enumerated cases be confidential, except as provided in Subdivs. (1) and (2), and to make Subsec. applicable to records in cases related to temporary guardianship and emancipation of minor, deleted former Subsecs. (b) and (c) re locked files, sealed envelopes and marking of envelopes, redesignated existing Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (b) and amended same to substitute “adoption records” for “such records” and make a technical change, and deleted former Subsec. (e) re penalty for unauthorized disclosure; P.A. 21-100 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2021. Annotation to former section 45-68m: Cited. 138 C. 599. Annotation to present section: Cited. 45 CS 33.