# N.J. Stat. § 9:17-42: Closed court; confidentiality of records

> New Jersey · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T9_C17_S17-42

## Section

- **Citation:** N.J. Stat. § 9:17-42
- **Heading:** Closed court; confidentiality of records
- **Jurisdiction:** New Jersey
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** NJ Code / Title 9 / Chapter 17 / Section 17-42

## Text

5. Notwithstanding any other law concerning public hearings and records, any action or proceeding held under this act shall be held in closed court without admittance of any person other than those necessary to the action or proceeding. All papers and records and any information pertaining to an action or proceeding held under this act which may reveal the identity of any party in an action, other than the final judgment or the birth certificate, whether part of the permanent record of the court or of a file with the State registrar of vital statistics or elsewhere, are confidential and are subject to inspection only upon consent of the court and all parties to the action who are still living, or in exceptional cases only upon an order of the court for compelling reason clearly and convincingly shown. L.1983, c. 17, s. 5.

## Nearby sections

- [N.J. Stat. § 9:17-4 Warrants directed to whom](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T9_C17_S17-4.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 9:17-5 Reputed father out of county; serving warrant upon](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T9_C17_S17-5.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 9:17-6 Bond to be taken; discharge thereon; proceedings when no bond is taken](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T9_C17_S17-6.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 9:17-38 Short title](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T9_C17_S17-38.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 9:17-39 Parent and child relationship defined.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T9_C17_S17-39.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 9:17-40 Extent of parent and child relationship](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T9_C17_S17-40.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 9:17-41 Parent-child relationship established.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T9_C17_S17-41.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 9:17-42 Closed court; confidentiality of records](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T9_C17_S17-42.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 9:17-43 Presumptions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T9_C17_S17-43.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 9:17-44 Artificial insemination.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T9_C17_S17-44.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 9:17-45 Action to determine existence of parent-child relationship.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T9_C17_S17-45.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 9:17-46 Jurisdiction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T9_C17_S17-46.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 9:17-47 Parties; guardian ad litem](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T9_C17_S17-47.md)
- [N.J. Stat. § 9:17-48 Consent conference; settlement; contested cases, testing; presumptions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T9_C17_S17-48.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NJ_T9_C17_S17-42. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.