Bill > SB018

This bill, titled "Legal Protections for Dignity of Minors," mandates that court records related to a name change petition for individuals under 18 years old will be "suppressed," meaning they will be kept private and only accessible to judges, court staff, parties involved in the case, authorized judicial department staff, or individuals with a court order or a specific affidavit. This suppression applies unless the minor has a prior felony conviction. While the court can use these suppressed records for administrative purposes, it is strictly prohibited from publishing the minor's name or their new name online. The bill also allows individuals to access a suppressed court record without a court order if they obtain verbal consent from a party to the case and submit an affidavit to the court, swearing under penalty of perjury that they have received this consent. Furthermore, when courts are determining parenting time and decision-making responsibilities for children, they must now consider whether the parents or guardians acknowledge the child's identity as it relates to a protected class, such as race, religion, or gender identity. This provision aims to ensure that a child's identity is respected within family legal matters.

Justice

https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-018