Sealing Files or Limiting Dis-

closure of Documents in Family Matters (a) Except as otherwise provided by law, there shall be a presumption that documents filed with the court shall be available to the public. (b) Except as provided in this section and except as otherwise provided by law, including Section 13-5, the judicial authority shall not order that any files, affidavits, documents, or other materials on file with the court or filed in connec- tion with a court proceeding be sealed or their disclosure limited. (c) Upon written motion of any party, or upon its own motion, the judicial authority may order that files, affidavits, documents, or other materials on file or lodged with the court or in connection with a court proceeding be sealed or their disclo- sure limited only if the judicial authority concludes that such order is necessary to preserve an inter- est which is determined to override the public’s interest in viewing such materials. The judicial authority shall first consider reasonable alterna- tives to any such order and any such order shall be no broader than necessary to protect such overriding interest. An agreement of the parties to seal or limit the disclosure of documents on file with the court or filed in connection with a court proceeding shall not constitute a sufficient basis for the issuance of such an order. (d) In connection with any order issued pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, the judicial authority shall articulate the overriding interest being protected and shall specify its findings underlying such order and the duration of such order. If any findings would reveal information entitled to remain confidential, those findings may be set forth in a sealed portion of the record. The time, date, scope and duration of any such order shall be set forth in a writing signed by the judicial authority which upon issuance the court clerk shall immediately enter in the court file. The judicial authority shall order that a transcript of its decision be included in the file or prepare a memorandum setting forth the reasons for its order. (e) Except as otherwise ordered by the judicial authority, a motion to seal or limit the disclosure of affidavits, documents, or other materials on file or lodged with the court or filed in connection with a court proceeding shall be calendared so that notice to the public is given of the time and place of the hearing on the motion and to afford the public an opportunity to be heard on the motion under consideration. The procedures set forth in Sections 7-4B and 7-4C shall be followed in con- nection with a motion to file affidavits, documents or other materials under seal or to limit their dis- closure. (f) (1) A motion to seal the contents of an entire court file shall be placed on the short calendar to be held not less than fifteen days following the filing of the motion, unless the judicial authority otherwise directs, so that notice to the public is given of the time and place of the hearing on the motion and to afford the public an opportunity to be heard on the motion under consideration. The 316 © Copyrighted by the Secretary of the State of the State of Connecticut SUPERIOR COURT—PROCEDURE IN FAMILY MATTERS