Rule 2.6.Privacy protection for filings made with the court

Title I: General Administration · Last amended July 1, 2019 · Last verified July 14, 2026

In one sentenceRule 2.6 makes the filer responsible for redacting Social Security numbers, minors' names, birth dates, and other personal data identifiers from court filings, and sets out the limited ways to get unredacted information before the court when it is truly needed.

Full Text of Rule 2.6

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h)

(a) Responsibility of filer. It is the responsibility of the filer to ensure that protected personal data identifiers are omitted or redacted from documents before the documents are filed. This responsibility exists whether the documents are filed electronically or conventionally, and even if the filer did not create the document. The responsibility to redact also applies to documents that are initially exempt from disclosure but later become public pursuant to court rule. The clerk of the court will not review filings to determine whether appropriate omissions or redactions have been made.

(b) Personal data identifiers to be redacted. Personal data identifiers should not be included in any document filed with the court unless such inclusion is required by the court, by statute or court rule, or is material to the proceedings. If the identifiers must be included, then the following personal data identifiers must be partially redacted from the document, including exhibits:

(1) Social Security Numbers. If an individual's social security number must be included, only the last four (4) digits of that number are used.

(2) Names of minor children. If the involvement of a minor child must be mentioned, only the initials of that child are used.

(3) Dates of birth. If an individual's date of birth must be included, only the year is to be used, and the date specified in the following format: XX/XX/1998.

(4) Financial account numbers. If financial account numbers are relevant, only the last four digits of these numbers are to be used, and the number specified in substantially the following format: XXXXX1234.

(5) Driver's license numbers and state-issued personal identification card numbers. If an individual's driver's license number or state issued personal identification card number must be referenced, only the last four digits of that number are to be used and the number specified in substantially the following format: XXXXX350F.

(6) Employer or taxpayer identification number. If an employer identification number of business' taxpayer identification number must be included, only the last four (4) digits of that number are used.

(1) The redaction requirement does not apply to the record of a court, tribunal, administrative or agency proceeding if that record was filed before the effective date of this rule.

(2) The redaction requirement does not apply to documents that are exempt from disclosure pursuant to Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32.

(3) The redaction requirement of a minor's full name does not apply to documents related to a name change for the minor.

(d) Options when personal data identifiers are necessary. A party filing a redacted document need not also file an unredacted version of the document; however, where inclusion of the unredacted personal data identifiers is required by the court, by statute or court rule, or is material to the proceedings in a document that is open to the public the party must choose the most appropriate option below:

(1) File the redacted document together with a reference list that identifies each item of redacted information and specifies an appropriate identifier that uniquely corresponds to each item listed. The list must be clearly identified as a reference list filed pursuant to this rule and may be amended as of right. Any reference in the case to a listed identifier will be construed to refer to the corresponding item of information. The reference list is exempt from disclosure pursuant to Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32; however, courts will share the reference list with other government agencies as required or allowed by law without court order or application for purposes of the business of those agencies.

(2) File the redacted document together with an unredacted copy of the document. The unredacted copy must be clearly identified as an unredacted copy filed pursuant to this rule. The unredacted copy is exempt from disclosure pursuant to Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32; however, courts will share the unredacted copy with other government agencies as required or allowed by law without court order or application for purposes of the business of those agencies.

(e) Unredacted document inadvertently submitted. If an unredacted document is inadvertently submitted without a reference list or redacted copy, then the filer must submit a redacted copy as soon as possible. The filer must also identify the original unredacted document, the date it was submitted, and request that the original unredacted document be marked as exempt from disclosure.

(f) Parties to use caution. Parties should exercise caution when filing papers that contain private or confidential information, including, but not limited to, the information covered above and listed below:

(1) Medical records, treatment and diagnosis;

(2) Employment history;

(3) Individual financial information;

(4) Insurance information;

(5) Proprietary or trade secret information;

(6) Information regarding an individual's cooperation with the government; and

(7) Personal information regarding the victim of any criminal activity.

(g) Sanctions. Failure to comply with this rule is grounds for contempt. If a party knowingly publicly files documents that contain or disclose confidential information in violation of these rules, the court may, upon its own motion or that of any other party or affected person, impose sanctions against the filing party.

(h) Privacy protections in orders, judgments, and decrees.

(1) If possible, the court must refrain from including in a court order, judgment, or decree the personal data identifiers set forth in subsection (b) of this rule. If unredacted personal data identifiers are required by statute or court rule, or are material to the proceedings and must be included in an order, judgment, or decree that is open to the public then the unredacted document will be protected from public access. Copies of the unredacted document must be served on the parties and must be available to the parties and other government agencies without court order for purposes of the business of those agencies. A redacted copy of the order, judgment or decree must be available to the public; however, no redacted copy of any order or judgment must be prepared until there is a specific request for the document, in which case the document must be redacted in the manner specified in subsection (b) of this rule.

(2) Exceptions. The court may include unredacted personal data identifiers in documents that are exempt from disclosure pursuant to Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32.

End

Amendment History

(Adopted May 14, 2019, effective July 1, 2019.)

Plain-English Summary

Court files are public records, and Rule 2.6 protects sensitive personal information from ending up in them by accident. The duty falls on whoever files the document, not the clerk. The clerk does not screen filings for compliance, and the obligation to redact applies whether the document was filed electronically or on paper, and even if someone else drafted it. Unless a court, statute, or court rule requires full disclosure, or the information is material to the case, personal data identifiers should be left out of filings altogether. When they must appear, the rule requires partial redaction: only the last four digits of a Social Security number, financial account number, driver's license number, or tax identification number; only the year of a birth date; and only a minor child's initials rather than a full name.

Sometimes the unredacted version of a number or date matters to the case. Rule 2.6 gives filers two options: file the redacted document with a separate reference list matching each redacted item to an identifier, or file the redacted document along with a full unredacted copy. Either way, the reference list or unredacted copy is exempt from public disclosure, though courts can still share it with other government agencies as their work requires. If someone files an unredacted document by mistake, the rule requires prompt correction: submit a redacted version, flag the original filing, and ask that it be marked exempt from disclosure. Courts have the same redaction obligation for their own orders, judgments, and decrees, and a party who knowingly files confidential information in violation of the rule faces possible sanctions, including contempt.

Frequently Asked Questions

What personal information must be redacted from Idaho court filings?

Rule 2.6 requires partial redaction of Social Security numbers, minor children's names, dates of birth, financial account numbers, driver's license and state ID numbers, and employer or taxpayer identification numbers, unless disclosure is required or the information is material to the case.

Does the court clerk check whether I redacted my filing correctly?

No. Rule 2.6 places that responsibility entirely on the filer and states expressly that the clerk will not review filings to determine whether appropriate redactions were made.

What if the case truly requires the unredacted number or date?

The filer must choose one of two options: file the redacted document along with a reference list identifying each redacted item, or file it along with a separate unredacted copy. Both the reference list and the unredacted copy are exempt from public disclosure.

What happens if I accidentally file an unredacted document?

Rule 2.6 requires the filer to submit a redacted copy as soon as possible, identify the original unredacted filing and when it was submitted, and ask the court to mark that original as exempt from disclosure.

What happens if someone knowingly files unredacted confidential information?

Failure to comply with Rule 2.6 can be treated as contempt, and if a party knowingly files documents disclosing confidential information in violation of the rule, the court may impose sanctions on its own motion or on a party's or affected person's request.

Source & verification. Rule text are reproduced verbatim from the Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the Supreme Court of Idaho. Last verified July 14, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: redact social security number court filing idahoprotect personal information court documentsminor initials court filing idahoidaho privacy rule filingsunredacted document filed by mistake