Rule 17 - Confidentiality of Social Security NumbersSection 17.1 Omission or redaction of social security numberUnless otherwise required by law or directed by the court, oras required on a form published by the probate court administrator or DRS, a person shall not file a document with the court that includes a social security number or employer identification number. A person may redact a social security number or employer identification number from a document if necessary to comply with this rule. The responsibility for omitting or redacting a social security number or employer identification number rests solely with the person filing the document. The court need not review any filed document for compliance with this rule.
Section 17.2 When social security number required(a) Ifa social security number or employer identification number is required in connection with a proceeding, the number shall be reported on a separate page.(b) The separate page containing the social security number or employer identification number shall be confidential. The court shall not include the separate page in the permanent official record for the matter and shall not disclose the number to any person, including a party, except that the court may disclose the number if the court determines that a person requires the number for a proper purpose related to the proceeding. Section 17.3 When social security number not required(a) If a person files a document that includes a social security number or employer identification number in a proceeding in which the number is not required, the court may:(1) return the document and direct the person to resubmit the document without the number; or(b) Nothing in this rule shall require a court to return a document that contains a social security number or employer identification number or to redact the number. Section 17.4 Original documentsIf necessary to avoid modification of an original document containing a social security number or employer identification number, the court may redact the number from a copy of the document and seal the original.
Section 17.5 Disclosure to state and federal agenciesNotwithstanding the provisions of this rule, the court may disclose a social security number or employer identification number to an agency of this state or the federal government or any law enforcement agency.
HISTORY: Rule 17 adopted effective July 1, 2013. Section 17.2 amended effective July 1, 2017.
Adopted November 7, 2012, effective 7/1/2013; amended November 8, 2016, effective 7/1/2017.