Guardian access to juvenile case files
Q: A mother has lost her children to the state and all 4 are separated. One child is now a legal adult. The mother does not know how to get all the paperwork and court records she had years back while the case was open. She needs the case number and the reports in juvenile records. How does she acquire these court records or a copy of the case?
A: Under California Welfare & Institutions Code section 827(a)(1)(D), the parents or guardians of the juvenile who was the subject of the juvenile proceedings are entitled to access the juvenile case file. No court order is needed in order for the parents or guardians to access the case file. The mother referenced in your query below can go to the Superior Court in which the proceedings were held, explain that she is the mother of the children involved in the proceedings, and ask to see the file. At a minimum, she will need to provide the names of the children and dates of birth in order for the court to locate the pertinent case numbers. She will also likely have to prove that she is the mother of the children (i.e., through a birth certificate or other means).