CRC 2.551 — Procedures for Filing Records Under Seal

Type: California Rules of Court (Title 2 — Trial Court Rules)

Summary

Procedural framework for sealing motions. A record must not be filed under seal absent a court order. The court must not permit a record to be filed under seal based solely on the parties’ agreement or stipulation. A party seeking sealing must file a motion or application supported by a memorandum and a declaration containing facts sufficient to justify the sealing under the CRC 2.550 - Sealed Records (Substantive Standard) findings.

When to use

The procedural companion rule to CRC 2.550. Operationalizes how to ask the court to seal portions of a filing. Critical to remember: stipulated sealing is not enough; the moving party must produce facts that satisfy each of the five §2.550 findings.

Rule text (verbatim — operative procedural provisions)

A record must not be filed under seal without a court order. The court must not permit a record to be filed under seal based solely on the agreement or stipulation of the parties.

A party requesting that a record be filed under seal must file a motion or an application for an order sealing the record. The motion or application must be accompanied by a memorandum and a declaration containing facts sufficient to justify the sealing.

Linked exhibits

Transclude of Exhibits-by-Statute.base