Public Divorce Records California

In limiting access to public divorce records, California protects certain classes of individuals and records to preserve privacy. In particular, children, obligors, and putative parents are subject to special restrictions. According to section 17212 of the Family Code, section (d), access to public divorce records, California defines these parties as follows:

• "Administration and implementation of the child and spousal support enforcement program," as used in this division, means the carrying out of the state and local plans for establishing, modifying, and enforcing child support obligations, enforcing spousal support orders, and determining paternity pursuant to Part D (commencing with Section 651) of Subchapter IV of Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United States Code and this article.
• For purposes of this division, "obligor" means any person owing a duty of support.
• As used in this division, "putative parent" shall refer to any person reasonably believed to be the parent of a child for whom the local child support agency is attempting to establish paternity or establish, modify, or enforce support pursuant to Section 17400.

Public Divorce Records California - Civil Liability

Any person who willfully, knowingly, and intentionally violates the privacy of children by disseminating public divorce records, or California divorce records protected by court order, California imposes criminal misdemeanor liability. Further, regarding the availability of public divorce records, California does not compel the disclosure of information relating to a deserting parent who is a recipient of aid under a public assistance program for which federal aid is paid to the state, if information in California divorce records is required to be kept confidential by the federal law or regulations relating to the program.

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