Grays Harbor County Superior Court Sealing & Redaction Procedures

CRITICAL

After a final parentage order, the order and subsequent filings become publicly accessible through a new public cause number, subject to applicable rules or court orders, while the original confidential file remains the official record of earlier filings.

However, pursuant to RCW 26.26A.500(2), a final order in a proceeding to determine parentage under RCW 26.26A.400 through RCW 26.26A.515 is available for public inspection. Except as otherwise provided by applicable court rules or Court order, records entered after the entry of a final order determining parentage are publicly accessible. Therefore, after a final order determining parentage is entered, the Clerk is directed to issue a new public cause number for purposes of publicly accessible filings. The final order determining parentage shall be filed in the original confidential cause number and in the new public cause number. The confidential file remains the official record for filings before entry of the final order; the public file contains the final order and subsequent filings unless otherwise ordered.

CRITICAL

A grievance dismissed for lack of adequate cause must be kept as a confidential, sealed record for six years after dismissal, unless the judicial officer directs otherwise.

(C) If the initial determination is that the grievance is without adequate cause, the matter will be closed and all parties will be so notified. The grievance shall be held as a confidential, sealed record in the files of the Court Administrator for six years following dismissal of the grievance unless specifically directed otherwise by the judicial officer making the initial determination.

CRITICAL

Parentage proceedings under the specified statutes must be filed as confidential cases.

Proceedings to adjudicate parentage under RCW 26.26A.400 through RCW 26.26A.515 shall be filed as a confidential case type in this county.

CRITICAL

The rule does not unseal records sealed under GR 15 or alter confidentiality required by statute, court rule, or court order.

Nothing in this rule unseals records sealed under GR 15 or changes confidentiality required by statute, court rule, or court order.

CRITICAL

The Court Administrator must maintain the confidential grievance file for at least six years.

The confidential file of the grievance shall include the original grievance, the guardian ad litem's response, and the written initial and final dispositions of the matter and shall be maintained by the Court Administrator for a period for no less than six years.

WARNING

Filers remain responsible for complying with applicable confidentiality, sealing, and redaction requirements under GR 15 or other law.

Nothing in this rule alters confidentiality, sealing, or redaction requirements under GR 15 or other law; filers remain responsible for complying with those requirements.