(a) (1) All court records under this subtitle pertaining to a child shall be confidential and their contents may not be divulged, by subpoena or otherwise, except by order of the court on good cause shown.
(2) This subsection does not prohibit review of a court record by:
(i) Personnel of the court;
(ii) A party;
(iii) Counsel for a party;
(iv) A Court–Appointed Special Advocate for the child;
(v) Authorized personnel of the Social Services Administration and local departments in order to conduct a child abuse or neglect investigation or to comply with requirements imposed under Title IV–E of the Social Security Act; or
(vi) The Department of Juvenile Services if the Department is providing treatment, services, or care to a child who is the subject of the record.
(3) Information obtained from a court record is subject to the provisions of §§ 1–201, 1–202, 1–204, and 1–205 of the Human Services Article.
(b) (1) On its own motion or on petition, and for good cause shown, the court:
(i) May order the court records of a child sealed; and
(ii) Shall order them sealed after the child has reached the age of 21.
(2) If sealed, the court records of a child may not be opened, for any purpose, except by order of the court on good cause shown.
Structure Maryland Statutes
Courts and Judicial Proceedings
Title 3 - Courts of General Jurisdiction -- Jurisdiction/special Causes of Action
Subtitle 8 - Juvenile Causes -- Children in Need of Assistance
Section 3-802 - Purposes and Construction of Subtitle
Section 3-803 - Jurisdiction of Court
Section 3-804 - Continuing Jurisdiction; Termination of Jurisdiction
Section 3-806 - Assignment of Judges; Qualifications
Section 3-807 - Magistrate for Juvenile Causes
Section 3-808 - Cases to Be Tried Without Jury
Section 3-809 - Filing of Petition; Notice for Decision Not to File; Request for Review
Section 3-810 - Form of Pleadings; Procedures; Confidentiality
Section 3-811 - Content of Petition
Section 3-813 - Right to Counsel
Section 3-814 - Taking Child Into Custody
Section 3-815 - Shelter Care for Child Alleged to Be in Need of Assistance
Section 3-816 - Study Concerning Matters Relevant to Case
Section 3-816.1 - Findings in Certain Hearings
Section 3-816.2 - Review Hearings
Section 3-816.3 - Rights of Preadoptive Parents, Foster Parents, and Caregivers of Child
Section 3-816.4 - Educational Stability
Section 3-817 - Adjudicatory Hearing
Section 3-818 - Presumption That Child Is Not Receiving Proper Care and Attention
Section 3-819 - Disposition Hearing
Section 3-819.1 - Voluntary Placement Hearing
Section 3-819.2 - Custody and Guardianship to Individual
Section 3-820 - Removal of Child From Court-Ordered Placement
Section 3-821 - Order Controlling Conduct of Person Before Court
Section 3-822 - Address and Identity of Parents
Section 3-823 - Permanency Plan for Out-of-Home Placement
Section 3-825 - Limitations Regarding Commitment Facilities
Section 3-826 - Reports Prior to Hearings; Custodian Progress Reports
Section 3-827 - Confidentiality of Records