Conn. Gen. Stat. » Title 46b — FAMILY LAW · Chapter 815 — Court Proceedings in Family Relations Matters
Connecticut General Statutes

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-11 (2026)

(Formerly Sec. 51-335). Closed hearings and records

✓ current as of May 2026
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Any case which is a family relations matter may be heard in chambers or, if a jury case, in a courtroom from which the public and press have been excluded, if the judge hearing the case determines that the welfare of any children involved or the nature of the case so requires. The records and other papers in any family relations matter may be ordered by the court to be kept confidential and not to be open to inspection except upon order of the court or judge thereof for cause shown.

(1959, P.A. 531, S. 8; P.A. 76-436, S. 93, 681; P.A. 78-280, S. 95, 127.)

History: P.A. 76-436 applied provisions specifically to family relations matters, deleted references to appeals from juvenile court and added exception, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 78-280 referred to cases which are family relations matters rather than to cases on docket of family relations sessions; Sec. 51-182h temporarily renumbered as Sec. 51-335 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-11 in 1979.

See Sec. 46b-49 re private hearings.

See Sec. 46b-122 re exclusion from hearing room of persons whose presence is unnecessary in actions concerning juvenile matters.

Cited. 2 CA 132; Id., 472.

Cited. 36 CS 352. Protecting stability of leading Fortune 500 corporation's shares of stock outweighed public's and media's right to access files and hearings in divorce proceedings of high ranking executive of such corporation. 45 CS 208.

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1984–2023 · leading case: Rosado v. Bridgeport Roman Catholic Diocesan Corp., 884 A.2d 981 (Conn. 2005).
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Rosado v. Bridgeport Roman Catholic Diocesan Corp., 884 A.2d 981 (Conn. 2005). · cites it 2× “) § 11-20(e) provides: "With the exception of orders concerning the confidentiality of records and other papers, issued pursuant to General Statutes § 46b-11 or any other provision of the general statutes under which the court is authorized to seal or limit the disclosure of…”
Bank of New York v. Bell, 993 A.2d 1022 (Conn. App. Ct. 2010). · cites it 4× “See General Statutes § 51-164x (a) (enumerating as exceptions court sessions conducted pursuant to *1031 General Statutes §§ 46b-11, 46b-49, 46b-122 and 54-76h).”
State v. Gault, 39 A.3d 1105 (Conn. 2012). · cites it 2× “tutes § 51-164x provides in relevant part: "(a) Any person affected by a court order which prohibits any person from attending any session of court, except any session of court conducted pursuant to section 46b-11, 46b-49, 46b-122 or 54-76h or any other provision of the general…”
Gennarini v. Gennarini, 477 A.2d 674 (Conn. App. Ct. 1984). · cites it 2× “See General Statutes §§ 46b-11 and 46b-49; Practice Book § 478.”
Burkle v. Burkle, 37 Cal. Rptr. 3d 805 (Cal. Ct. App. 2006). “(See Conn.Gen.Stat. § 46b-11 [allowing exclusion of public and press from family relations matters “if the judge hearing the case determines that the welfare of any children involved or the nature of the case so requires”; records and other papers “may be ordered by the court to…”
Valvo v. Freedom of Info. Comm'n, 985 A.2d 1052 (Conn. 2010). · cites it 2× “In addition, the chief court administrator relied on a prior case in which the commission had determined that documents that are subject to a sealing order pursuant to General Statutes § 46b-11 4 are exempt from the act under Gen *539 eral Statutes § 1-210 (a), 5 and that “it…”
Welch v. Welch, 828 A.2d 707 (Conn. Super. Ct. 2003). · cites it 3× “General Statutes § 46b-11 provides in relevant part that any “family relations matter may be heard in chambers .”
State v. Patel, 166 A.3d 727 (Conn. App. Ct. 2017). “General Statutes § 51-164x provides in relevant part: "(c) Any person affected by a court order that seals or limits the disclosure of any files, affidavits, documents or other material on file with the court or filed in connection with a court proceeding, except (1) any order…”
State v. Boutwell, 558 A.2d 244 (Conn. App. Ct. 1989). “appeal of order prohibiting attendance at court session, (a) Any person affected by a court order which prohibits any person from attending any session of court, except any session of court conducted pursuant to section 46b-11, 46b-49, 46b-122 or 54-76h or any other provision of…”
Schoenhorn v. Moss (Conn. 2023). · cites it 2× “, General Statutes § 46b-1 (a) (family relations matters, including marital dissolution actions, are within jurisdiction of trial court); General Statutes § 46b-11 (‘‘Any case which is a family relations matter may be heard in chambers or, if a jury case, in a courtroom from…”
Greenan v. Greenan (Conn. App. Ct. 2014). · cites it 2× “4 General Statutes § 46b-11 provides: ‘‘Any case which is a family relations matter may be heard in chambers or, if a jury case, in a courtroom from which the public and press have been excluded, if the judge hearing the case determines that the welfare of any children involved…”
State v. Patel (Conn. App. Ct. 2017). “1 General Statutes § 51-164x provides in relevant part: ‘‘(c) Any person affected by a court order that seals or limits the disclosure of any files, affidavits, documents or other material on file with the court or filed in connection with a court proceeding, except (1) any…”
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