Under what conditions can the court seal the record of a child's interview?

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!

In family court, protecting a child’s sensitive information is a priority. A record of a child’s interview may be sealed only when there is good cause and after weighing the child’s best interests. This means the judge must find a legitimate reason tied to safety, privacy, or the child’s welfare, and then determine that sealing would meaningfully support the child’s well-being in the case. The party seeking sealing bears the burden to show specific harms that disclosure could cause—such as risk of harm, harassment, stigma, or ongoing trauma—and the court will narrowly tailor any order to protect confidentiality while considering the needs of the case. The child’s best interests standard requires the court to assess how sealing would promote the child’s welfare, not merely for efficiency or other unrelated reasons. Sealing is not justified by political considerations, nor is there a blanket requirement that records stay open; sealing can be appropriate when it serves the child’s protection and privacy.