(a) The requirements of Section 11-20A shall not apply to ‘‘personal identifying information,’’ as defined in Section 4-7, that may be found in documents filed with the court. If a document containing personal identifying information is filed with the court, a party or a person identified by the personal identifying information may request that the document containing the personal identifying information be sealed. In response to such request, or on its own motion, the court shall order that the document be sealed and that the party who filed the document submit a redacted copy of the document within ten days of such order.
Section 11-20B.—Documents Containing Personal Identifying Information
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceLets a party or the person identified request that a document containing personal identifying information be sealed, requiring the filer to submit a redacted copy within ten days or face sanctions like nonsuit or default.
Full Text of Section 11-20B
(b) If the party who filed the document fails to submit a redacted copy of the document within ten days of the order, the court may enter sanctions, including a nonsuit or default, as appropriate, against said party for such failure upon the expiration of the ten day period. Upon the submission of a redacted copy of such document, the original document containing the personal identifying information shall be retained as a sealed document in the court file, unless otherwise ordered by the court.
Amendment History
(Adopted June 22, 2009, to take effect Jan. 1, 2010; amended June 21, 2010, to take effect Jan. 1, 2011.)
Plain-English Summary
Documents containing “personal identifying information,” as defined in Section 4-7, don’t go through the general sealing standard in Section 11-20A. Instead, if such a document has been filed, a party or the person identified by that information can ask that it be sealed. The court, on that request or on its own motion, orders the document sealed and directs the party who filed it to submit a redacted copy within ten days.
If the filer misses that ten-day deadline, the court may impose sanctions — including nonsuit or default — once the period expires. Once a redacted copy is submitted, the original document with the personal identifying information stays in the court file as a sealed document, unless the court orders otherwise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as personal identifying information under this rule?
The term has the meaning given in Section 4-7 of the Practice Book, and documents containing it are handled under this section rather than the general sealing standard in Section 11-20A.
Who can ask to seal a document with personal identifying information?
Either a party to the case or the person identified by the personal identifying information can request sealing, and the court can also act on its own motion.
What happens after the court orders the document sealed?
The party who filed the document must submit a redacted copy within ten days; the original stays sealed in the court file unless the court orders otherwise.
What if the filer doesn’t submit the redacted copy in time?
The court may impose sanctions, including nonsuit or default, against that party once the ten-day period expires.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 11-20B). Prescribed by the Judges of the Superior Court of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 51-14). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: sealing personal identifying information CT court filingredacted copy of court document deadlinesocial security number filed with court sealedsanctions for not redacting court filing