Rule 218.Privacy Protection for Filings Made with the Court

Part II. Pleadings · Last amended July 1, 2021 · Last verified September 4, 2026

In one sentenceRule 218 puts the duty to redact personal data identifiers on the filer, lists the six that must be partially redacted, and makes non-compliance grounds for contempt.

Full Text of Rule 218

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) Name of Minor Child. 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: XXXXX 1234.

(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 I.C.A.R. 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 I.C.A.R. 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 I.C.A.R. 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 identity 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) Protection of Unredacted Court Orders, Judgments and Decrees. 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 I.C.A.R. 32.

End

Rule History

(Adopted March 29, 2021, effective July 1, 2021.)

Plain-English Summary

Rule 218 is the privacy rule, and it starts by assigning responsibility.

The filer redacts, and no one checks

It is the filer's responsibility to ensure protected personal data identifiers are omitted or redacted — whether filing electronically or conventionally, and even if the filer did not create the document. The duty also reaches documents initially exempt from disclosure that later become public. And the rule says it plainly: the clerk will not review filings to determine whether appropriate omissions or redactions have been made.

The six identifiers

Personal data identifiers should not appear at all unless required by the court, statute or rule, or material to the proceedings. Where they must be included, six are partially redacted:

Social Security numbers — last four digits only;
a minor child's name — initials only;
dates of birth — year only, formatted XX/XX/1998;
financial account numbers — last four digits, formatted XXXXX 1234;
driver's license and state ID numbers — last four, formatted XXXXX350F;
employer or taxpayer identification numbers — last four digits.

The redaction requirement does not apply to records filed before the rule took effect, to documents exempt from disclosure under I.C.A.R. 32, or — for a minor's full name — to documents relating to a name change for the minor.

When the full data is needed

A party filing a redacted document need not also file an unredacted one. But where unredacted identifiers are required or material in a document open to the public, the party chooses between filing a reference list that assigns a unique identifier to each redacted item, or filing an unredacted copy alongside. Either is exempt from disclosure under I.C.A.R. 32 — though courts share both with other government agencies as law allows, without court order.

If an unredacted document is inadvertently submitted, the filer must submit a redacted copy as soon as possible, identify the original and the date, and request that it be marked exempt.

Caution, and consequences

Parties should exercise caution with medical records and diagnoses, employment history, individual financial information, insurance information, proprietary or trade secret information, information about cooperation with the government, and personal information about a crime victim.

Failure to comply is grounds for contempt, and knowingly filing documents that disclose confidential information in violation of these rules can draw sanctions on the court's own motion or that of any party or affected person.

Orders and judgments

The court must, if possible, keep identifiers out of orders, judgments and decrees. Where they must appear in a public document, the unredacted version is protected from public access, served on the parties and available to them and to government agencies; a redacted copy is available to the public — but no redacted copy is prepared until someone specifically requests it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is responsible for redacting personal information?

The filer. Rule 218(a) places the responsibility on the filer whether the document is filed electronically or conventionally and even if the filer did not create it, and states that the clerk will not review filings to determine whether redactions have been made.

How do I refer to my child in a filing?

Rule 218(b)(2) provides that if the involvement of a minor child must be mentioned, only the initials of that child are used.

What if the court needs the full number?

Rule 218(d) requires choosing between filing the redacted document with a reference list assigning a unique identifier to each redacted item, or filing it together with an unredacted copy. Both are exempt from disclosure under I.C.A.R. 32.

What happens if I file an unredacted document by mistake?

Rule 218(e) requires the filer to submit a redacted copy as soon as possible, identify the original unredacted document and the date it was submitted, and request that it be marked exempt from disclosure.

What are the consequences of not redacting?

Rule 218(g) makes failure to comply grounds for contempt, and allows sanctions against a party who knowingly publicly files documents containing or disclosing confidential information in violation of these rules.

Are personal identifiers kept out of the decree itself?

Rule 218(h)(1) requires the court, if possible, to refrain from including them, and where they must appear, protects the unredacted document from public access while making a redacted copy available on specific request.

Source & verification. Rule text and Rule History reproduced verbatim from the Idaho Rules of Family Law Procedure as published by the Idaho Supreme Court, current through amendments effective July 1, 2026. Promulgated by the Supreme Court of Idaho (Idaho Const. art. V, sec. 25). Last verified September 4, 2026. · Official text

Also known as: privacyredactionpersonal data identifierssocial security numberminor's initialsdate of birthaccount numbersI.C.A.R. 32confidential informationsealing