Public access to sealed court records requires what?

Study for the Arizona Family Law and Paralegal Certification Exam. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions, complemented by hints and explanations for each question. Prepare confidently for your exam!

A court order is the formal instrument that grants access to records that have been sealed. Sealed documents stay private unless a judge signs an order allowing someone to view them or unsealing the record. Court rules set the procedures for requesting access and the standards a court will consider, but they do not by themselves authorize access in a specific case. A court decision may address whether sealing is appropriate, but it’s the court order that actually changes the record’s status. Private agreements cannot override the court’s sealing authority because access to sealed records is governed by statutory and procedural rules, not private arrangements.