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 for inspection if the adoptee is deceased and inspection of the records and papers is necessary for the discharge of the Committee's official duties. The clerk of the court shall keep a separate docket for adoption proceedings.
CREDIT(S)
(Dec. 23, 1963, 77 Stat. 541, Pub. L. 88-241, § 1; Oct. 3, 2001, D.C. Law 14-28, § 4620(a), 48 DCR 6981.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 16-311.
1973 Ed., § 16-311.
Effect of Amendments
D.C. Law 14-28 inserted “Such records and papers shall, upon written application to the court, be unsealed and provided to the Child Fatality Review Committee for inspection if the adoptee is deceased and inspection of the records and papers is necessary for the discharge of the Committee's official duties.” after “promoted and protected.“
Temporary Amendments of Section
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 20(a) of Child Fatality Review Committee Establishment Temporary Act of 2001 (D.C. Law 14-20, September 6, 2001, law notification 48 DCR 9090).
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 20(a) of Child Fatality Review Committee Establishment Emergency Act of 2001 (D.C. Act 14-40, April 25, 2001, 48 DCR 5917).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 20(a) of Child Fatality Review Committee Establishment Legislative Review Emergency Act of 2001 (D.C. Act 14-82, July 9, 2001, 48 DCR 6355).
Legislative History of Laws
Law 14-28, the “Fiscal Year 2002 Budget Support Act of 2001”, was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 14-144, which was referred to the Committee Of the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on May 1, 2001, and June 5, 2001, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on June 29, 2001, it was assigned Act No. 14-85 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 14-28 became effective on October 3, 2001.