{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-16-925","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 16-925","heading":"Privacy protection for victims of domestic violence.","body":"(a)\nThe Mayor shall promulgate rules and establish procedures to implement safeguards, applicable to all confidential information handled by the IV-D agency or executive branch agencies in cooperative agreements with the IV-D agency, to protect the privacy rights of parties in IV-D agency proceedings. These safeguards shall include the following:\n(1)\nProhibitions against the unauthorized use or disclosure of information relating to paternity, support, or custody actions in IV-D agency proceedings;\n(2)\nProhibitions against the release of information concerning the whereabouts of one party or a child to another party, if a protection order has been entered (in the District or in another jurisdiction) to protect the party or the child whose whereabouts are being sought from the party seeking disclosure;\n(3)\nProhibitions against release of information concerning the whereabouts of one party or a child to another party if the Mayor has reason to believe that the release of the information may result in physical or emotional harm to the party or the child whose whereabouts are being sought;\n(4)\nRequirements to notify the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services when:\n(A)\nThe Mayor has reasonable evidence of domestic violence or child abuse against a party or a child; or\n(B)\nThe disclosure of information concerning the whereabouts of the party or the child could be harmful to the party or the child; and\n(5)\nIn cases where the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“Department”) has informed the IV-D agency that the Department has been notified that there is reasonable evidence of domestic violence or child abuse, requirements to determine whether disclosure of information concerning a party’s or child’s whereabouts to any other person would be harmful to a party or the child, and if so, to prohibit the disclosure.\n\n(b)\nThe Superior Court shall establish procedures to implement safeguards, applicable to all confidential information possessed by the Superior Court, to protect the privacy rights of parties in paternity or support proceedings. These safeguards shall include:\n(1)\nProhibitions against unauthorized use or disclosure of information relating to paternity, support, or custody actions in Superior Court proceedings;\n(2)\nProhibitions against the release of information concerning the whereabouts of one party or a child to another party, if a protection order has been entered (in the District or in another jurisdiction) to protect the party or the child whose whereabouts are being sought from the party seeking disclosure;\n(3)\nProhibitions against release of information concerning the whereabouts of one party or a child to another party if the Superior Court has reason to believe that the release of information may result in physical or emotional harm to the party or the child whose whereabouts are being sought;\n(4)\nRequirements to notify the Secretary of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services when:\n(A)\nThe Superior Court has reasonable evidence of domestic violence or child abuse against a party or a child; or\n(B)\nThe disclosure of information concerning the whereabouts of the party or the child could be harmful to the party or the child; and\n(5)\nIn cases where the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“Department”) has informed the Superior Court that the Department has been notified that there is reasonable evidence of domestic violence or child abuse, requirements to determine whether disclosure of information concerning a party’s or child’s whereabouts to any other person would be harmful to a party or the child, and if so, to prohibit the disclosure.","path":["Title 16. Particular Actions, Proceedings and Matters. [Enacted title]","Chapter 9. Divorce, Annulment, Separation, Support, Etc."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/16-925","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"67770cf953cd7550a49fe5fc2eacc66703e2420dcba6b645e2f4521c3374b9db","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-16-924","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-16-1001"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}