DE SB235

Changes family court proceedings from presumptively closed to presumptively open to the public for paternity, divorce, property division, and alimony hearings.

Allows courts to close proceedings for good cause including safety concerns, parties' positions on access, effects on the proceeding, professional opinions, and other overriding interests.

Maintains adoption, custody, visitation, termination of parental rights, and guardianship hearings as private, but permits courts to open them to the public under specified criteria.

Applies the same discretionary closure standards across multiple family court chapters, including child welfare proceedings and property disputes.

Implements recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Task Force on the feasibility of opening family court proceedings to public access.