District of Columbia Statutes
§ 16-311 — Sealing and inspection of records and papers.
District of Columbia § 16-311
JurisdictionDistrict of Columbia
Title 16Particular Actions, Proceedings and Matters. [Enacted title]
Ch. 3Adoption.
This text of District of Columbia § 16-311 (Sealing and inspection of records and papers.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District of Columbia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Bluebook
D.C. Code § 16-311 (2026).
Text
From and after the filing of the petition, records and papers in adoption proceedings shall be sealed. They may not be inspected by any person, including the parties to the proceeding, except upon order of the court, and only then when the court is satisfied that the welfare of the child will thereby be promoted or protected. Such records and papers shall, upon written application to the court, be unsealed and provided to the Child Fatality Review Committee or the Violence Fatality Review Committee for inspection if the adoptee is deceased and inspection of the records and papers is necessary for the discharge of the relevant Committee's official duties. The clerk of the court shall keep a separate docket for adoption proceedings.
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Related
Archie Bradsher Davis v. Peerless Insurance Co.
255 F.2d 534 (D.C. Circuit, 1958)
In re J.D.W.
711 A.2d 826 (District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 1998)
IN RE PETITION OF D.B. D.B.
133 A.3d 561 (District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 2016)
In Re DED
672 A.2d 582 (District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 1996)
In Re G.D.L
(District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 2020)
Drysdale Design Associates v. Frist
23 F. App'x 6 (D.C. Circuit, 2001)
Legislative History
Dec. 23, 1963, 77 Stat. 541, Pub. L. 88-241, § 1; Oct. 3, 2001, D.C. Law 14-28, § 4620(a), 48 DCR 6981
Nearby Sections
15
§ 16-1001
Definitions.§ 16-1002
Complaint of criminal conduct.§ 16-1005
Hearing; evidence; protection order.§ 16-1006
Jurisdiction.§ 16-1007
Notice to parties.§ 16-101
Parties.§ 16-1021
Definitions.§ 16-1022
Prohibited acts.§ 16-1024
Penalties.§ 16-1025
Prosecution by Attorney General.§ 16-1026
Expungement.§ 16-1031
Arrests.Cite This Page — Counsel Stack
Bluebook (online)
District of Columbia § 16-311, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/statute/dc/16-311.