Fannin County District Court Sealing & Redaction Procedures

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Criminal cases

An electronic or paper document containing sensitive data may not be filed unless the sensitive data is redacted.

An electronic or paper document containing sensitive data may not be filed with a court unless the sensitive data is redacted.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Criminal cases

Sensitive data must be redacted with an "X" or by visibly removing the data, and the filing party must retain the unredacted document for the case and any related appellate proceedings filed within three years after judgment.

Sensitive data must be redacted by using the letter "X" in place of each omitted digit or character or by removing the sensitive data in a manner indicating that the data has been redacted. The filing party must retain an unredacted version of the filed document during the pendency of the case and any related appellate proceedings filed within three years of the date the judgment is signed.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Public access to pleadings, orders, and documents in DFPS suits under Chapters 261, 262, and 264 of the Texas Family Code is restricted and maintained by the District Clerk of Fannin County.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that public access to pleadings, orders, and documents filed in a suit brought by DFPS pursuant to Chapters 261, 262, and 264 of the Texas Family Code are to be restricted and shall be maintained by the District Clerk of Fannin County as such.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

The Clerk may not provide public access to the restricted pleadings, orders, and documents except to DFPS, the parties, their attorneys, the attorney ad litem, and the guardian ad litem, unless the Court specifically permits and orders access.

The Clerk of the Court shall not allow public access to these pleadings, orders, and documents other than to ===== PAGE 2 ===== DFPS, the parties, their attorneys, the attorney ad litem and the guardian ad litem unless specifically permitted and ordered by this Court.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Records of alleged child abuse or neglect may not be publicly released without a court order based on an in-camera inspection and a finding of necessity.

By its plain language, it deems all records of alleged child abuse or neglect confidential and not subject to public release absent a court order following an in-camera inspection and a finding of necessity.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

In suits under the Texas Family Code requiring compliance with Section 102.008(c-1), the Fannin County District Clerk must seal all birth certificates or alternate/other proof of the child's parents' identity.

IT IS ORDERED THAT, in any suit filed pursuant to the Texas Family Code and in which compliance with Texas Family Code Section 102.008(c-1) is required, the Fannin County District Clerk shall seal all birth certificates or alternate/other proof of the identity of the child's parents.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

The Section 30.015 notice must be maintained by the clerk outside public disclosure and must not be filed in the case papers.

This notice required by Section 30.015 shall be maintained by the clerk of the court in a location not subject to public disclosure and is not a document filed in the papers of the cause.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

The Section 30.015 current-address notice must be maintained by the clerk outside public disclosure and must not be filed in the case papers.

This notice required by Section 30.015 shall be maintained by the clerk of the court in a location not subject to public disclosure and is not a document filed in the papers of the cause.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Attorneys and parties may not file documents containing unredacted sensitive data and must redact that data.

Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21c defines “Sensitive Data” and prohibits attorneys and parties from filing documents containing unredacted sensitive data. TRCP 21c requires sensitive data to be redacted.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

If a filing contains improperly unredacted sensitive data, the clerk may require or permit the party to resubmit a redacted substitute document that may be posted online.

If a filed document contains unredacted sensitive data in violation of the Rule, the clerk may require or allow the party to resubmit a redacted, substitute document pursuant to Rule 21c(e), which may be posted on the internet.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

The District Clerk may restrict the listed categories from internet posting without a further court order, but the documents remain unsealed unless a party obtains a sealing order.

The District Clerk may, without further order of the Court, restrict the above-listed documents from being posted on the internet. However, these documents are not sealed unless a party obtains a court order sealing the document.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

The District Clerk may restrict a document bearing the sensitive-data notice from internet posting without a further court order, but the document remains unsealed unless a party obtains a sealing order.

The District Clerk may, without further order of the court, restrict any document so marked from being posted on the internet. However, these documents are not sealed unless a party obtains a court order sealing the document.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026INFO

Criminal cases

Sensitive data includes government-issued identification numbers, financial account numbers, birth dates, home addresses, and the name of a person who was a minor when the suit was filed.

Rule 5.1 Sensitive Data Defined Sensitive data consists of: (1) a driver's license number, passport number, social security number, tax identification number, or similar government-issued personal identification number; (2) a bank account number, credit card number, or other financial account number; and (3) a birth date, home address, and the name of any person who was a minor when the underlying suit was filed.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?

Civil cases

The undersigned judges further ORDER and EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZE that all information, including the party's name and current residence or business address, contained in the pleadings, motions, and documents filed with the clerk of the court in the papers of the cause are not confidential under Section 30.015 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code and may be disclosed to the public as otherwise allowed by law.

Summary: Party names and current residence or business addresses in filed pleadings, motions, and documents are not confidential under Section 30.015 and may be publicly disclosed as otherwise allowed by law.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?

Civil cases

The undersigned judges further ORDER and EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZE that all information, including the party's name and current residence or business address, contained in the pleadings, motions, and documents filed with the clerk of the court in the papers of the cause are not confidential under Section 30.015 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code and may be disclosed to the public as otherwise allowed by law.

Summary: A party's name and current residence or business address contained in pleadings, motions, and other filed documents is not confidential under Section 30.015 and may be publicly disclosed as otherwise allowed by law.