(a) As used in this section, âchange of name or gender and sex identifier, or bothâ means a proceeding for a change of gender and sex identifier pursuant to Section 103430, for a combined change of the petitionerâs name and recognition of the change to the petitionerâs gender and sex identifier pursuant to Section 103435, or for a change of name to conform the petitionerâs name to the petitionerâs gender identity pursuant to Title 8 (commencing with Section 1275) of Part 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure. (b) Subject to subdivision (c), all of the following apply: (1) The court records, including the index, register of actions, and any other case information available through court systems used to provide the public with electronic access to court records, associated with a proceeding for a change of name or gender and sex identifier, or both, shall be kept confidential by the court. (2) Until the court orders a change of name or gender and sex identifier, or both, the court shall limit access to the court records in the proceeding, including the index, register of actions, and any other case information available through court systems used to provide the public with electronic access to court records. Prior to those orders, the court shall not provide access to anyone other than the petitioner, any other person who signed the petition, an individual who is subject to service of an order to show cause related to the petition, any attorney representing those individuals, and any agents acting pursuant to written authorization from those individuals or their attorneys. For a petition brought on behalf of a minor, the court shall limit access prior to an order changing the minorâs name or gender and sex identifier, or both, to the minor subject of the petition, the minorâs parents, guardians, and guardians ad litem, an individual subject to service of an order to show cause related to the petition, any attorney representing those individuals, and any agents acting pursuant to written authorization from those individuals or their attorneys. (3) Upon the court ordering a change of name or gender and sex identifier, or both, the court shall limit access to the court records in the proceeding, including the index, register of actions, and any other case information available through court systems used to provide the public with electronic access to court records, to the petitioner, a minor who received a change of name or gender and sex identifier, or both, an adult who signed the petition, any attorney representing those individuals, and any agents acting pursuant to written authorization from those individuals or their attorneys. (c) The requirements set forth in subdivision (b) apply if any of the following conditions are met: (1) The petition for change of name or gender and sex identifier, or both, is filed on or after July 1, 2026. (2) The court orders the records in the proceeding to be kept confidential. The court shall enter that order if the petitioner in a proceeding for a change of name or gender and sex identifier, or both, in which the petition was filed before July 1, 2026, files a request to keep the records in the proceeding confidential. The petitioner may make this request ex parte and without paying a filing fee. The court shall make the request and all associated records confidential. (3) The records in the proceeding were previously made confidential by statute or otherwise. (d) If the petitioner discovers that court records in their proceeding for a change of name or gender and sex identifier, or both, are not being kept confidential by the court pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c), the petitioner may apply ex parte for that order, without paying a filing fee, and the court shall enter an order making the records confidential. The court shall make the application and all associated records confidential. (e) Other than the petitioner, a person or private entity shall not publicly post a confidentia
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