AMENDMENT OF RULE
Uniform Rules for the Supreme and County Courts
Pursuant to the authority vested in me, and with the advice and consent of the Administrative Board of the Courts, I hereby amend section 202.16(m) of the Uniform Rules for the Supreme and County Courts, addressing the omission or redaction of confidential personal information from matrimonial decisions, to read as follows, effective immediately:
§ 202.16. Matrimonial actions; calendar control of financial disclosure in actions and proceedings involving alimony, maintenance, child support and equitable distribution; motions for alimony, counsel fees pendente lite, and child support; special rules.
(m) Omission or Redaction of Confidential Personal Information from Matrimonial Decisions.
(1) Except as otherwise provided by rule or law or court order, and whether or not a sealing order is or has been sought, prior to submitting anv decision, order, judgment, or combined decision and order or judgment in a matrimonial action for publication, the court shall redact the following confidential personal information: [in issuing written decisions-in matrimonial matters-subject to this section.]
i. the taxpayer identification number of an individual or an entity, including a social security number, an employer identification number, and an individual taxpayer identification number, except the last four digits thereof;
ii. the actual home address of the parties to the matrimonial action and their children;
iii. the full name of an individual known to be a minor under the age of eighteen (18) years of age, except the minor's initials or the first name of the minor with the first initial of the minor’s last name: provided that nothing herein shall prevent the court from granting a request to use only the minor’s initials or only the word “Anonymous;”[;]
iv. the date of an individual’s birth (including the date of birth of minor children), except the year of birth;
v. the full name of either party where there are allegations of domestic violence, neglect, abuse, juvenile delinquency or mental health issues, except the party’s initials or the first name of the party with the first initial of the party’s last name; provided that nothing herein shall prevent the court from granting a request to use only the party’s initials or only the word “Anonymous;”[;] and
vi. a financial account number, including a credit and/or debit card number, a bank account number, an investment account number, and/or an insurance account number (including a health insurance account number), except the last four digits or letters thereof.
(2) Nothing herein shall require parties to omit or redact personal confidential information as described herein or 22NYCRR § 202.5(e) in papers submitted to the court for filing[; nor shall this rule apply to judgments or orders entered by the court].
(3) Nothing herein shall prevent the court from omitting or redacting more personal confidential information [from-a written decision] than is required by this rule, either upon the request of a party [on motion] or sua sponte.
