New Hampshire § 170-C-14 - Section 170-C:14 Confidentiality of Records.

§ 170-C-14. Section 170-C:14 Confidentiality of Records.

I. All hearings held in termination proceedings shall be in closed court without admittance of any person other than essential officers of the court, the parties, their witnesses, counsel, and representatives of the agencies present to perform their official duties. II. All papers and records, including birth certificates, pertaining to the termination, whether part of the permanent record of the court or of a file in the department, in an agency or office of the town clerk, or in the division of vital records administration are subject to inspection only upon written consent of the court for good cause shown. III. Notwithstanding paragraph II, if the New Hampshire department of health and human services has petitioned for termination of parental rights under this chapter and the child named in the petition resides with a foster parent who intends to adopt the child, the department may share information regarding the status of the case with the child's foster parent. IV. If any person shall violate any of the provisions of this section, he or she shall be subject to the following penalty: (a) If the offense occurs prior to November 1, 1973, he or she shall be fined $500 or be imprisoned for 6 months, or both. (b) If the offense occurs on or after November 1, 1973, he or she shall if a natural person be guilty of a misdemeanor, and any other person shall be guilty of a felony.