San Mateo Superior Court Sealing & Redaction Procedures
15 rules from official source documents
12 of 15 checked against the court's document. Each rule says how far it was checked. A value with a question mark is not in the court's wording on its card.
Procedures for filing sealed or redacted documents, including required motions and formats. This page is scoped to San Mateo Superior Court; use the court rules overview to switch categories without leaving this court.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL
The Guardianship Declaration and Confidential Guardian Screening Form remain confidential unless the court orders otherwise, while the other guardianship documents become part of the public record.
All documents will become part of the public record, with the exception of the Guardianship Declaration (PR-18) and the Confidential Guardian Screening Form (JC-GC 212) (confidential except by court order – see California Rules of Court, Rule 7.1001).
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL
A party seeking to file or present juvenile case files or child welfare agency records in Family Court must first request permission to file them under seal.
Any party who seeks to file with or present to the Family Court any juvenile case file or child welfare agency document or record must first present a request to file such documents under seal pursuant to Cal. Rules, Rules 2.550 and 2.551.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL
Law-enforcement, arrest, and investigative reports containing confidential witness or victim information must be sealed when filed or lodged to support criminal charges or a search or arrest warrant.
Law Enforcement, arrest or investigative reports that contain confidential personal information regarding a witness or victim are to be sealed pursuant to Penal Code section 964(a). These reports will be sealed once they are filed or lodged with the Court if they are submitted for the following purposes: a) If the report is being submitted by a prosecutor in support of a criminal complaint, indictment, or information, or b) If the report is submitted by the prosecutor or law enforcement officer in support of a search or arrest warrant.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL
Civil cases
A sealing motion or application must be decided before any motion relying on the materials, and after denial the moving party must either identify the materials for unsealed filing or refrain from relying on them.
Motions or applications to seal must be heard no later than any motion relying on the materials sought to be sealed. Upon denial of a motion or application to seal, the moving party must notify the Court that the materials are to be filed unsealed (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.551(b)) or refrain from relying on the materials, which will not be part of the record.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL
Civil cases
A motion or application to seal must be heard no later than a motion that relies on the materials sought to be sealed.
Motions or applications to seal must be heard no later than any motion relying on the materials for which sealing is sought.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL
Civil cases
After denial of sealing, the moving party must either notify the Court that the materials will be filed unsealed or decline to rely on them, in which case they will not become part of the record.
Upon denial of a motion or applicat ion to seal, the moving party must notify the Court that the materials are to be filed unsealed (CRC 2.551(b)) or refrain from relying on the materials, which will not be part of the record.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL
Civil cases
For medical, personal, or consumer records, the parties must delete agreed information that should not be introduced, including insurance information, and the proponent must prepare clean copies for evidence submission.
If medical, personal, or consumer records are involved, the parties are to delete any information that the parties agree should not come into evidence, including insurance information. The proponent must then prepare clean copies of the records for submission into evidence.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL
Civil cases
A motion or application to seal must be decided before any motion relying on the materials sought to be sealed.
Motions or applications to seal must be heard before any motion relying on the materials sought to be sealed.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL
Civil cases
After denial of sealing, the moving party must either notify the Court that the materials will be filed unsealed or refrain from relying on materials that will not become part of the record.
Upon denial of a motion or application to seal, the moving party must notify the Court that the materials are to be filed unsealed (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.551(b)) or refrain from relying on the materials, which will not be part of the record.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL
Civil cases
A sealing motion or application must be decided no later than a motion that relies on the materials sought to be sealed.
Motions or applications to seal must be heard no later than any motion relying on the materials sought to be sealed.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026CRITICAL
Civil cases
After a sealing request is denied, the movant must either notify the court that the materials will be filed unsealed or refrain from relying on materials excluded from the record.
Upon denial of a motion or application to seal, the moving party must notify the Court that the materials are to be filed unsealed (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.551(b)) or refrain from relying on the materials, which will not be part of the record.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 1, 2026WARNING
A petitioner may request that estate planning documents be filed confidentially through an ex parte request.
F. Confidential Filings: Petitioner may requests that estate planning documents be filed as confidential documents. The request may be made on an ex parte basis.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
Civil cases
Redaction of Exhibits. If medical, personal, or consumer records are involved, the parties are to delete any information that the parties agree should not come into evidence, including insurance information, so that such information is not received by the jury. The proponent must then prepare clean copies of the records for submission into evidence.
Summary: Parties must redact agreed non-evidentiary information, including insurance information, from medical, personal, or consumer records offered as exhibits, and the proponent must prepare clean copies for evidence.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?
Pursuant to Penal Code §964(c), this procedure will not be construed to impair or affect any of the following: a) Provisions of Chapter 10 of Title 6 of Part 2 (commencing with Penal Code §1054); b) Procedures regarding informant disclosure provided by Evidence Code §§ 1040 to 1042 inclusive, or as altering procedures regarding sealed search warrant affidavits as provided by People vs. Hobbs (1994) 7 Cal4th 948; or c) A criminal defense counsel’s access to unredacted reports otherwise authorized by law, or the submission of documents in support of a civil complaint.
Summary: The victim-or-witness confidentiality sealing procedure preserves specified disclosure provisions, informant and search-warrant procedures, authorized defense access to unredacted reports, and documents submitted in support of civil complaints.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?
Because such documents are exempt from California Rules of Court, rules 2.550 and 2.551, they will not be sealed, but will be destroyed if
Summary: Confidential discovery documents lodged under Rule 2.1.9 will not be sealed because they are exempt from the sealing rules.
How does San Mateo Superior Court handle sealed or redacted filings?
San Mateo Superior Court rules set procedures for sealed or redacted filings. The Guardianship Declaration and Confidential Guardian Screening Form remain confidential unless the court orders otherwise, while the other guardianship documents become part of the public record.
Judge Mark A. McCannon's rules set procedures for sealed or redacted filings. A motion or application to seal must be heard no later than a motion that relies on the materials sought to be sealed.
Judge Michael L. Mau's rules set procedures for sealed or redacted filings. A motion or application to seal must be decided before any motion relying on the materials sought to be sealed.
12 more rules answer this question in the list above.
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