Rev.: 12/06
11th Cir. R. 25-5 Maintaining Privacy of Personal Data. In order to promote electronic access to
case files while also protecting personal privacy and other legitimate interests, parties shall
refrain from including, or shall partially redact where inclusion is necessary, the following
personal data identifiers from all pleadings filed with the court, including exhibits thereto,
whether filed electronically or in paper, unless otherwise ordered by the court.
a. Social Security numbers. If an individual’s social security number must be
included in a pleading, only the last four digits of that number should be used.
b. Names of minor children. If the involvement of a minor child must be
mentioned, only the initials of that child should be used. For purposes of this rule,
a minor child is any person under the age of eighteen years, unless otherwise
provided by statute or court order.
c. Dates of birth. If an individual’s date of birth must be included in a pleading,
only the year should be used.
d. Financial account numbers. If financial account numbers are relevant, only the
last four digits of these numbers should be used.
e. Home addresses. If a home address must be included, only the city and state should be
used.
A party filing a document containing the personal data identifiers listed above shall file a
redacted document for the public file and either:
(1) a reference list under seal. The reference list shall contain the complete personal data
identifier and the redacted identifier used in its place in the redacted filing. All references in the
filing to the redacted identifiers included in the reference list will be construed to refer to the
corresponding complete personal data identifiers. The reference list must be filed under seal,
may be amended as of right, and shall be retained by the court as part of the record. A motion to
file the reference list under seal is not required. Or
(2) an unredacted document under seal, along with a motion to file the unredacted
document under seal