New York Supreme Court, New York County Sealing & Redaction Procedures
45 rules from official source documents
26 of 45 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 New York Supreme Court, New York County; use the court rules overview to switch categories without leaving this court.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL
An infant's compromise order containing confidential personal information must be uploaded under seal.
Where an infant’s compromise order contains confidential personal information, it will be uploaded under seal.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL
Counsel and parties must comply with rules restricting disclosure of confidential personal information.
Regarding confidential personal information, see Uniform Rule 202.5 (e). It is the responsibility of counsel and parties to comply with rules restricting disclosure of confidential personal information.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL
Counsel seeking to seal documents in NYSCEF must follow the specified procedures and obtain an order under Uniform Rule Part 216.
If counsel for a party seeks to have documents sealed in NYSCEF, specific steps, set forth below, must be taken and an order pursuant to Part 216 of the Uniform Rules obtained.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL
The party seeking sealing is responsible for uploading the documents for which sealing is sought.
As indicated below, the uploading of documents sought to be sealed shall be the responsibility of the party.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL
In a pending e-filed case, counsel must move for a sealing order before sealing a document, portion of a document, or the case file.
To seal a document or the case file in a pending e-filed case or to file a document or portion thereof under seal in such a case, counsel must move for a sealing order.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL
Civil cases
Attorneys filing documents with the County Clerk or Court must omit or redact confidential personal information covered by Uniform Rule 202.5(e).
Attorneys filing documents with the County Clerk or the Court, including those that fall within a category of document that is, as explained in the Court’s Notice to the Bar on the Public Access Project, included in the Scroll (Supreme Court Records On-Line Library) Public Access Project system or that shall hereafter be so included, shall omit or redact from such documents confidential personal information as provided in Uniform Rule 202.5 (e).
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL
Except in the specified proceedings or as otherwise authorized by rule, law, or court order, parties must omit or redact confidential personal information from papers submitted for filing, regardless of whether a sealing order has been sought.
(1) Except in a matrimonial action, or a proceeding in surrogate's court, or a proceeding pursuant to article 81 of the mental hygiene law, or as otherwise provided by rule or law or court order, and whether or not a sealing order is or has been sought, the parties shall omit or redact confidential personal information in papers submitted to the court for filing.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL
The parties may not stipulate to sealing or redaction, and sealing or redaction must be requested by an Order to Show Cause.
A. General: The parties may not stipulate to seal or redact documents or information. Motions to seal and/or redact must be made by Order to Show Cause.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL
Before filing a motion to seal, the movant must confer with opposing counsel and state in the memorandum of law whether the motion is opposed or unopposed.
Prior to filing a motion to seal, the movant must meet and confer with opposing counsel and indicate in its memorandum of law whether the motion is opposed or unopposed.
Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL
An Order to Show Cause seeking an extension of temporary sealing should request interim relief directing the Clerk to keep the identified NYSCEF document temporarily sealed and accessible only to the parties, counsel, and court personnel.
To extend the period of temporary sealing beyond fourteen days, the Order to Show Cause should include a request for interim relief as follows: “ORDERED that pending the determination on this Order to Show Cause, the Clerk of the Court is directed to maintain NYSCEF Doc. No. [Insert] temporarily under seal, accessible only to the parties, their counsel, and court personnel.”
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL
The movant bears the burden of demonstrating compelling circumstances to justify restricting public access.
Under applicable law, “the party seeking to seal court records has the burden to demonstrate compelling circumstances to justify restricting public access.”
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL
A confidentiality agreement or stipulation does not itself justify sealing or redaction; the Court independently determines whether sealing is appropriate.
The fact that the parties have a confidentiality agreement or otherwise stipulate to sealing is not sufficient to warrant sealing or redaction of specific documents. The Court has an independent obligation to determine whether sealing is appropriate.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL
Counsel must also e-file a public copy on NYSCEF with proposed redactions in place, or a slip sheet when seeking to seal an entire document.
counsel must also e-file a public copy of each document on NYSCEF with the proposed redactions in place, or a slip sheet if seeking to seal an entire document
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL
Any request to seal records must be made specifically and on a showing of good cause.
Any request for the sealing of records must be made with specificity and good cause
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL
Civil cases
All reports and exhibits must redact full social security numbers, finance account identifiers, and other sensitive personal information.
Redact sensitive personal information such as full social security numbers and finance account identifiers from all reports and exhibits.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL
A generic assertion that information is confidential is insufficient; the party seeking sealing must demonstrate compelling circumstances justifying restricted public access.
General assertions that information contained in documents is “confidential” are not sufficient. Under applicable law, “the party seeking to seal court records has the burden to demonstrate compelling circumstances to justify restricting public access”
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL
A confidentiality agreement or stipulation to sealing does not itself justify sealing or redaction, and the court independently determines whether sealing is appropriate.
The fact that the parties have a confidentiality agreement or otherwise stipulate to sealing is not sufficient to warrant sealing or redaction of specific documents. The court has an independent obligation to determine whether sealing is appropriate
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL
A motion to seal or redact must be made by order to show cause, include a NYSCEF-number spreadsheet, a memorandum explaining the good cause and supporting law, and a knowledgeable affiant; an attorney affirmation alone is inadequate.
Motions to seal and/or redact shall be made by order to show cause and shall include a spreadsheet identifying each document by New York State Court Electronic Filing (NYSCEF) document number. Movant’s memorandum of law shall set forth the basis of the purported good cause to seal or redact each document or piece of information and any applicable law or authority supporting movant’s good cause to seal/redact the document/information. The movant’s papers must also include an affidavit from a person with knowledge setting forth the grounds to seal or redact the document/information. An attorney affirmation, standing alone, is not adequate.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL
When additional redactions or sealing are permitted, counsel must electronically file a public redacted copy and an unredacted copy under seal.
If the court permits additional redactions or sealing of a document in whole or in part, counsel shall e-file both the redacted copy publicly and the unredacted copy of the document under seal.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING
Civil cases
An interested party may apply by letter to remove a posted Scroll document containing sensitive information whose accessibility causes harm.
An interested party or person may apply by letter to remove a document from the Scroll database if, notwithstanding these rules, a document is posted on the Public Access Project system that contains sensitive information access to which in this form causes harm to that party or person.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING
Civil cases
A court order restricting Scroll access directs court staff not to add the document to Scroll or, if already posted, to delete it from the database.
Where the Court grants a request to limit access to a document in the Scroll Public Access Project system or issues a directive sua sponte, the directive shall take the form of an administrative direction to the staff of the Court that the document in question not be included in the Scroll system or, if already included therein, that it be deleted from the database.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING
A filer who believes full confidential personal information is material and necessary may seek leave to file the information in abbreviated form together with a confidential affidavit or affirmation containing the unabbreviated information and appropriate page references.
(3) Where a person submitting a paper to a court for filing believes in good faith that the inclusion of the full confidential personal information described in subparagraphs (i) to (iv) of paragraph (1) of this subdivision is material and necessary to the adjudication of the action or proceeding before the court, he or she may apply to the court for leave to serve and file together with a paper in which such information has been set forth in abbreviated form a confidential affidavit or affirmation setting forth the same information in unabbreviated form, appropriately referenced to the page or pages of the paper at which the abbreviated form appears.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING
If the defendant appears in the consumer-credit action and denies responsibility for the identified account, the plaintiff may amend without leave of court to add the full account number or other confidential personal information by submitting the amended pleading with written notice for in camera review or filing it under seal under the chief administrator's rules.
In the event the defendant appears in such an action and denies responsibility for the identified account, the plaintiff may without leave of court amend his or her pleading to add full account or CPI by (i) submitting such amended paper to the court on written notice to defendant for in camera review or (ii) filing such full account or other CPI under seal in accordance with rules promulgated by the chief administrator of the courts.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING
Additional sealing or redactions beyond those permitted by the Redaction Rules are discouraged and must be requested under 22 NYCRR 216.1.
Sealing (including redactions beyond those permitted by the Redaction Rules) is discouraged. Any request for additional redactions or sealing shall be made according to the Uniform Rules for Trial Courts 22 NYCRR 216.1.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026INFO
Previously filed documents with secure status retain that status unless the court directs otherwise.
Documents filed in the past in “secure status” under a procedure no longer in place will retain that status unless otherwise directed by the court
Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026INFO
The Court strongly encourages narrowly tailored redactions rather than sealing an entire document.
The Court strongly encourages the parties to consider narrowly tailored redactions instead of the sealing of an entire document.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
If a document that has been filed electronically is subsequently found to contain confidential data or otherwise to have been filed in error, the filer, another party, or an affected person may seek to correct the filing. Any filer, other party, or affected person, as the case may be, who wishes to seek correction must follow this procedure: (i) Notify the parties and any non-party filers of the confidentiality issue or other error raised by the filing and of his or her intention to seek judicial relief to correct the filing. A Notification of Confidentiality Issue or Error in Filing and Intent to Seek Judicial Relief (NYSCEF Form EF-24) may be used for this notification; and (ii) Following such notification, file with the County Clerk through NYSCEF a Request for Restricted Status (NYSCEF Form EF-25), asking that the County Clerk, in the exercise of his administrative discretion, place the document at issue in “Restricted” status on the NYSCEF site, meaning that the document shall be made available for viewing by court staff and the parties, but not by the general public. Such a restriction may only be effectuated by the County Clerk when able to do so during County Clerk business hours; and (iii) Within five (5) business days of the notification referred to in subparagraph (i), file by order to show cause, which must include a request for temporary relief limiting interim disclosure of the document, an application to correct the filing. (iv) Any document placed in restricted status in response to a request shall be returned to public view upon expiration of the five-day period, unless, upon the signing of the order to show cause, with TRO, a Notification of Order Extending Restriction (NYSCEF Form EF-26) is filed with a copy of the order to show cause, signed or conformed, attached.
Summary: To correct an electronically filed document containing confidential data or filed in error, notify the parties and non-party filers, request restricted status through NYSCEF, and file an order to show cause within five business days seeking temporary relief and correction; restricted status expires after five days unless extended by the required notification and order.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
If the application to correct the filing results in an order granting relief, that order must be brought to the attention of the County Clerk for action by means of a completed Notice to the County Clerk - CPLR § 8019 (c) (NYSCEF Form EF-22, available on the NYSCEF site), or, in the case of a sealing order, by e-filing a Notification for Sealing in Electronically Filed Case (NYSCEF Form EF-7) along with a copy of the order.
Summary: An order granting relief to correct a filing must be submitted to the County Clerk using the applicable notice form, with the sealing-order procedure using the NYSCEF sealing notification and a copy of the order.
We could not find this wording in the court's document. Open the source before relying on it.CRITICAL?
In the case of an infant’s compromise application, the papers shall be filed with NYSCEF in redacted form. An unredacted copy of the papers shall be submitted for action by the Justice.
Machine summary
An infant's compromise application must be filed through NYSCEF in redacted form, with an unredacted copy submitted for the Justice's action.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
Failure to do so will subject any filings to public viewing.
Summary: Failure to deliver the signed TRO and commencement documents to the County Clerk before e-filing will result in public viewing of the filings.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
The same process should be followed if the applicant wishes an anonymous caption and/or a sealing order.
Summary: The temporary hard-copy and TRO process also applies when the applicant seeks an anonymous caption, a sealing order, or both.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
B. Successive motions: The Court will not entertain successive motions to seal documents/information that the Court previously permitted (by final order) to be redacted or sealed; instead, the parties shall submit a proposed sealing order to the Court pursuant to Section VII generally and Section VII.D.4 (proposed order), citing to the relevant order permitting the documents/information in question to be redacted or sealed.
Summary: The Court will not entertain successive sealing or redaction motions concerning material previously permitted to be sealed or redacted by final order; the parties must submit a proposed sealing order citing the prior order.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
Unredacted versions of putatively confidential documents must be filed on NYSCEF for the Court’s consideration in reviewing the Order to Show Cause. When filing the unredacted document on NYSCEF, choose the “Request to Seal” option when selecting the “Document Type.”
Summary: Unredacted versions of putatively confidential documents must be filed on NYSCEF under the “Request to Seal” option for consideration of the Order to Show Cause.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
The temporary sealing expires, absent court order, after fourteen days.
Summary: Temporary sealing expires after fourteen days unless the Court orders otherwise.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
counsel must file every document sought to be sealed or redacted on NYSCEF under temporary seal in completely unredacted form with all proposed redactions highlighted in yellow, and corresponding to the sealing/redacting spreadsheet
Summary: Every document sought to be sealed or redacted must be filed on NYSCEF under temporary seal in completely unredacted form, with proposed redactions highlighted in yellow and corresponding to the spreadsheet.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
Chambers will not accept documents by hard copy or e-mail.
Summary: Chambers will not accept sealed or redacted documents by hard copy or email.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
If provisional sealing status was employed the OSC should include a TRO maintaining such status pending a decision on the motion. Since sealing of entire documents is rarely permitted, the moving papers shall include narrowly tailored proposed redactions and the movant shall email the court and opposing counsel a version of the documents with highlighted proposed redactions.
Summary: A party seeking to file a redacted or sealed document must move by OSC; if provisional sealing was used, the OSC should request a TRO, and the moving papers must include narrowly tailored proposed redactions with a highlighted version emailed to the court and opposing counsel.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?
Nevertheless, NYSCEF screens filings and endeavors to identify any that contain social security numbers. When such numbers are discovered through this process, NYSCEF will restrict portions of or all of such documents from public view.
Summary: NYSCEF screens filings for social security numbers and may restrict the affected portion or all of a document from public view.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?
Where NYSCEF has redacted what it believes to be a social security number, it will transmit to the filer a notice advising of the action taken and requesting that the filer review the matter and provide notification as set forth in the notice if the redaction has been made in error.
Summary: A filer notified of a NYSCEF social-security-number redaction must review it and report an erroneous reaction as directed in the notice.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?
An RJI should then be submitted by counsel and the matter will be referred to an IAS Justice for action on the full application.
Summary: After the temporary sealing process, counsel should submit an RJI so the full sealing application can be referred to an IAS Justice.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?
Civil cases
A party may sometimes wish to obtain an order permitting a case to begin under an anonymous caption, or to file initiating papers under seal pending a ruling by a Justice directing the sealing of a file.
Summary: A party may seek an order for an anonymous caption or for initiating papers to be filed under seal pending a Justice's ruling.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?
Civil cases
Counsel should not file documents for which they wish to obtain such confidential status without first carefully reviewing the cited information.
Summary: Counsel should carefully review the relevant procedures before filing documents for which confidential or sealed status is sought.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?
Civil cases
A party or person who claims that the availability of a document in the Scroll Public Access Project system may cause harm to that party or person or who seeks to limit access in compliance with Rule A-1 may apply to the Court for a directive restricting access. Any such application shall be made as follows. If the case has been assigned to a Justice, a request shall be made to the Justice by letter describing the document as to which a restriction on access is sought and explaining the reasons why such a restriction is appropriate. If the case has not been assigned to a Justice, the party shall direct such a request to the Administrative Judge.
Summary: A party may request restricted Scroll access by a letter to the assigned Justice describing the document and reasons, or by directing the request to the Administrative Judge when no Justice is assigned.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?
(2) The court sua sponte or on motion by any person may order a party to remove CPI from papers or to resubmit a paper with such information redacted; order the clerk to seal the papers or a portion thereof containing CPI in accordance with the requirement of 22NYCRR §216.1 that any sealing be no broader than necessary to protect the CPI; for good cause permit the inclusion of CPI in papers; order a party to file an unredacted copy under seal for in camera review; or determine that information in a particular action is not confidential.
Summary: The court may sua sponte or on any person's motion require removal or redaction of confidential personal information, narrowly seal affected papers, permit inclusion for good cause, require an unredacted sealed copy for in camera review, or determine that the information is not confidential.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?
(4) The redaction requirement does not apply to the last four digits of the relevant account numbers, if any, in an action arising out of a consumer credit transaction, as defined in subdivision (f) of section one hundred five of the civil practice law and rules.
Summary: The last four digits of relevant account numbers need not be redacted in actions arising from consumer credit transactions as defined by CPLR 105(f).
How does New York Supreme Court, New York County handle sealed or redacted filings?
New York Supreme Court, New York County rules set procedures for sealed or redacted filings. An infant's compromise order containing confidential personal information must be uploaded under seal.
Judge Lisa A. Sokoloff's rules set procedures for sealed or redacted filings. All reports and exhibits must redact full social security numbers, finance account identifiers, and other sensitive personal information.
Judge J. Machelle Sweeting's rules set procedures for sealed or redacted filings. Any request to seal records must be made specifically and on a showing of good cause.
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