25 Records and transcripts

When a judge talks with a child during a family court case, that conversation is recorded, either by an audio recording or by a court reporter typing it out. This includes private conversations the judge has with the child in chambers, away from the parents and lawyers. That recording is not just handed out to anyone. It gets filed with the court clerk and sealed, meaning it's kept private and protected.

If a parent or their lawyer wants to see or hear that recording, they can't just ask for it directly. They have to file a formal request with the court, called a motion, and a judge has to approve it in writing before they get access. This protects the child's privacy and makes sure these sensitive conversations aren't shared without good reason.

If the court handles cases from more than one county, there's an extra step. Say the judge talks with the child in a county different from where the actual case was filed. That recording still needs to end up with the clerk in the county where the case is being handled, not the county where the conversation happened. The court that ordered the interview is responsible for making sure the recording gets sent to the right place.