Tex. Parent. Noti. R. And. Form. 1.4

As amended through August 27, 2024

Rule 1.4 - Confidentiality of Proceedings Required; Exceptions

(a)Generally. All officials and court personnel involved in the proceedings must ensure that the minor's contact with the clerk and court is confidential and expeditious. Except as permitted by law, no officials or court personnel involved in the proceedings may ever disclose to anyone outside the proceedings - including the minor's parent, managing conservator, or legal guardian - that the minor is or has ever been pregnant, or that she wants or has ever wanted an abortion.

(b)Documents and information pertaining to the proceeding. As required by Chapter 33, Family Code, the application and all other court documents and information pertaining to the proceedings are confidential and privileged and are not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code, or to discovery, subpoena, or other legal process. But documents and information may be disclosed when expressly authorized by these rules, and an order, ruling, opinion, or clerk's certificate may be released to:

(1) the minor;

(2) the minor's guardian ad litem;

(3) the minor's attorney;

(4) a person designated in writing by the minor to receive the order, ruling, opinion, or certificate;

(5) a governmental agency or governmental attorney, in connection with a criminal or administrative action seeking to assert or protect the minor's interests; or

(6) another court, judge, or clerk in the same or related proceedings.

(c)Filing of court reporter's notes permitted. To assure confidentiality, court reporter notes, in whatever form, may be filed with other court documents in the proceeding.

(d)Duty to report possible sexual abuse. A court, guardian ad litem, or attorney ad litem who reasonably believes, based on information obtained in the proceeding, that a violation of Section 22.011, 22.021, or 25.02, Penal Code, has occurred must report the information to the appropriate officials or agencies as required by Section 33.009, Family Code.

(e)Department of Protective and Regulatory Services to disclose certain information in proceeding. The Department of Protective and Regulatory Services may disclose to the court, the attorney ad litem, and the guardian ad litem any information obtained under Section 33.008, Family Code, without being ordered to do so. The trial court may order the Department to disclose such information to such persons, and the Department must comply.

Tex. Parent. Noti. R. And. Form. 1.4

Amended effective 3/1/2007.