Who may obtain copies of the family case record, and which papers need the presiding judge's permission before a court officer will issue them?
General information · Not legal advice
Material to check
For this exercise we read the application asking for a certified copy of a document in the record, any paper by which a third party sets out its connection to the case, and the copy as issued, which should record whether it is a certified copy, transcript or abstract and bear the court officer's signature and seal.
These are types of material to look for, not evidence already verified by PRO SE.
Where readings differ
One reading separates the two lists: a party, or a third party that has shown its interest, may apply to the court officer for certified copies, transcripts or abstracts of a judgment and for a certificate on matters of the litigation, while copies of hearing records and inspection or copying of the record require the presiding judge's permission; either way a fee set by Supreme Court rule must be paid.
Another reading notes that copies of a judgment or hearing record issued on such an application must state their purport, in the wording of the provision, and bear the court officer's signature and seal, while a certificate on matters of the litigation carries no such requirement in this provision, and the standard for the third party's shown interest and the grounds for the presiding judge's permission are left unstated.
Your judgment
When a third party applies to inspect the record, what in the file would show the interest the court officer or the presiding judge relied on?
PRO SE does not make this decision or keep a case record on this public site.When to reconsider
We look at this again if the provision is amended to add documents to the lists or to set out grounds for refusing inspection, or if a court decision explains what a third party must show to establish its interest.