Rule 15A.24 Private Information

When you file documents electronically in court, you need to protect people's private information. This means you cannot include full social security numbers, driver's license numbers, passport numbers, bank account numbers, credit or debit card numbers, PIN codes, or passwords in any document that becomes part of the public court record. If this kind of information needs to be in a document, you must black it out or remove it completely before filing.

It is your job, not the court's, to make sure private information is properly removed. The court clerk and the judge will not check your documents for this kind of sensitive information before they become public. If you forget to redact something, that mistake falls on you.

This rule exists to prevent identity theft and financial fraud. Court records are often open to the public, so anyone could potentially view what you file. Before you submit any document electronically, take time to review it carefully and remove any of the private details listed above, unless a specific law requires you to include them.