Motion to Seal Records Template: Confidential Filing Request

MOTION TO SEAL RECORDS TEMPLATE FAQ

What is a motion to seal records?

A motion to seal records is a court filing asking the court to keep specific documents, exhibits, or portions of the record from public view. In federal practice, sealed filing can be permitted by court order, and Rule 5.2 also addresses privacy protection and sealed filing for certain information.

Why do you need a motion to seal records?

You need a motion to seal records when documents contain information that should not be publicly available, such as personal identifiers, confidential business information, sensitive medical information, protected third-party information, or other material the court may allow to be sealed. Many courts also recognize a strong presumption of public access, so the motion usually needs to explain exactly why sealing is necessary.

When should you use a motion to seal records?

Use a motion to seal records when you need to file confidential material with the court and no rule, prior sealing order, or automatic protection already fully covers the filing. In many courts, the motion must be filed at the same time as, or immediately after, the sealed document, but the exact process depends on local procedure.

How to write a motion to seal records?

Start with the court caption, case number, and the party making the request. Then identify the exact documents or portions of documents to be sealed, explain the specific reason sealing is necessary, and state why redaction or another narrower alternative would not adequately protect the information. It is also common to request a limited sealing period or identify who should have access.

Can AI Lawyer help if counsel, clients, and court staff all need to review?

AI Lawyer can help by organizing the motion into clear sections so each reviewer can find the sealed materials, confidentiality grounds, and requested relief quickly. It can also add internal reference fields, filing notes, and placeholders that make revisions easier to track. A consistent structure helps reduce repeated edits and lowers the chance of missing key details like exhibit names, redaction alternatives, or duration of sealing before the motion is filed.