Section § 980

Explanation

This law states that a person has the right to keep conversations private that took place during their marriage or domestic partnership. This applies even after the relationship ends, as long as the conversation was confidential and the person claims this privilege. This rule is subject to specific exceptions and another section (Section 912) of the law.

Subject to Section 912 and except as otherwise provided in this article, a spouse (or his or her guardian or conservator when he or she has a guardian or conservator), whether or not a party, has a privilege during the marital or domestic partnership relationship and afterwards to refuse to disclose, and to prevent another from disclosing, a communication if he or she claims the privilege and the communication was made in confidence between him or her and the other spouse while they were spouses.

Section § 981

Explanation

This law states that if a communication is intended to help someone commit or plan a crime or fraud, any privilege protecting that communication does not apply. In simpler terms, if you're using a conversation to assist in illegal activities, it's not protected by confidentiality rules.

There is no privilege under this article if the communication was made, in whole or in part, to enable or aid anyone to commit or plan to commit a crime or a fraud.

Section § 982

Explanation

This law says that in a legal case aiming to commit a spouse or take control of their property due to their mental or physical condition, the usual privileges that protect communication between spouses do not apply. Essentially, conversations between spouses can't be kept secret in these specific cases.

There is no privilege under this article in a proceeding to commit either spouse or otherwise place him or his property, or both, under the control of another because of his alleged mental or physical condition.

Section § 983

Explanation

This law section states that in legal proceedings to determine a spouse’s competence, there’s no confidentiality protection or privilege. This means that usual privacy rights between spouses are not applicable when one is trying to prove another's mental or competency status in court.

There is no privilege under this article in a proceeding brought by or on behalf of either spouse to establish his competence.

Section § 984

Explanation

This law states that in certain legal proceedings between spouses, there is no protection or privilege to withhold information. Specifically, this applies to cases where one spouse sues the other. It also applies to disputes between a surviving spouse and someone making a claim through the deceased spouse, whether the claim is based on a will, inheritance without a will, or a transaction made before death.

There is no privilege under this article in:
(a)CA Evidence Code § 984(a) A proceeding brought by or on behalf of one spouse against the other spouse.
(b)CA Evidence Code § 984(b) A proceeding between a surviving spouse and a person who claims through the deceased spouse, regardless of whether such claim is by testate or intestate succession or by inter vivos transaction.

Section § 985

Explanation

In a criminal trial, if one spouse is accused of a crime against the other spouse or their child, they can't claim spousal privilege—that's a legal right to refuse to testify against each other. This rule also applies if the crime involves harming a third person while committing a crime against the spouse, cases of bigamy, or crimes related to family neglect as outlined in certain Penal Code sections.

There is no privilege under this article in a criminal proceeding in which one spouse is charged with:
(a)CA Evidence Code § 985(a) A crime committed at any time against the person or property of the other spouse or of a child of either.
(b)CA Evidence Code § 985(b) A crime committed at any time against the person or property of a third person committed in the course of committing a crime against the person or property of the other spouse.
(c)CA Evidence Code § 985(c) Bigamy.
(d)CA Evidence Code § 985(d) A crime defined by Section 270 or 270a of the Penal Code.

Section § 986

Explanation

This law states that in cases related to the Juvenile Court Law, which deals with proceedings concerning minors under the Welfare and Institutions Code, there is no privilege. This means that the usual protections that might apply to keeping certain information private do not apply in these specific juvenile legal proceedings.

There is no privilege under this article in a proceeding under the Juvenile Court Law, Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 200) of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

Section § 987

Explanation

If a defendant in a criminal case wants to present evidence of a communication made between spouses, this law states that there is no privilege to prevent that evidence from being used. In simpler terms, the usual rule where spouses don't have to testify against each other doesn't apply in this situation.

There is no privilege under this article in a criminal proceeding in which the communication is offered in evidence by a defendant who is one of the spouses between whom the communication was made.