Absent statutory authority, no document may be sealed without leave of Court. If you are a pro se filer who wishes for only your Complaint to be sealed (that is, the case as a whole will be PUBLIC), please submit the following documents to initiate your civil case:

1. Redacted Complaint. (Note: This will be a public docket entry; the complaint must not include anything you wish to be sealed).
2. Motion to Seal Complaint with a Sealed/Unredacted version of your Complaint as an exhibit. (Note: This docket entry will be public, but the documents attached will be sealed and not available to the public or other case participants).
3. $405 filing fee or Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepayment of Fees or Costs (i.e., IFP).
4. Any other case opening documents, as needed or required.

All new case documents must be submitted in paper. Sealed documents must not be filed in the speedy drop box at the entrance of the courthouse, left with a Court Security Office, nor emailed to the court. [LCvR 5.1(h)(2) and (3) and Standing Order 25-49]

Whether you submit your Complaint with the filing fee or an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis, the Motion to Seal Complaint must first be determined by the Chief Judge.

If your motion is denied:

1. You will have 14 days from the entry date of the order to notify the Clerk whether you wish to proceed with your complaint on the public docket; this must be done in writing by filing a Notice. 
2. If you wish to proceed with your complaint on the public docket, your previously filed unredacted/sealed Complaint will be unsealed and filed on the public docket. If you did not provide an unredacted/sealed Complaint when initiating your case as outlined above, you will also need to provide the full version of it when you file your notice with the Court.
3. If you do not wish to continue with the case with your complaint on the public docket, or, if the Clerk receives no response within 14 days, your case will be terminated and will not proceed further. Your complaint will remain sealed.

Note: If you wish to file a complaint with only your address under seal, a motion is not required, nor does the entire complaint need to be filed under seal. Simply omit the address and simultaneously file under seal a Notice containing your full address. The Notice will be filed under seal and your address will not be entered on the public docket. [LCvR 5.1(c)(1)]

This information is for procedural guidance only and should not be viewed or used as legal advice.