(a) Applicability. This rule applies to all documents filed with the court in all cases except
civil cases. The confidential treatment of an individual’s Social Security number in civil case court filings is separately provided for in Rule 138.
Rule 15.Social Security Numbers in Pleadings and Related Matters.
Article I. General Rules · Last amended 2017 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceRule 15 bars including full Social Security numbers in most non-civil court filings and requires a confidential notice form when disclosure is unavoidable.
Full Text of Ill. S. Ct. R. 15
(b) Unless otherwise required by law or ordered by the court, parties shall not include Social Security numbers in documents filed with the court, including exhibits thereto, whether filed electronically or in paper. If disclosure of an individual’s Social Security number is required for a particular filing, only the last four digits of that number shall be used. The filing must be accompanied by a Notice of Confidential Information Within Court Filing, prepared by utilizing, or substantially adopting the appearance and content of, the form provided in the Article I Forms Appendix, which shall identify the full Social Security number and shall remain confidential, except as to the parties or as the court may direct.
(c) Neither the court, nor the clerk, will review each pleading for compliance with this rule. If a pleading is filed without redaction, a party or identified person may move the court to order redaction. If the court finds the inclusion of the Social Security number was willful, the court may award the prevailing party reasonable expenses, including attorney fees and court costs, incurred in making or opposing the motion.
(d) This rule does not require any party, attorney, clerk or judicial officer to redact information from a court record that was filed prior to the adoption of this rule; provided, however, that a party may request that a Social Security number be redacted in a matter that preceded the adoption of this rule.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 15 applies to filings outside civil cases, since civil filings get separate SSN protection under Rule 138. Unless a law or court order requires it, parties cannot include a Social Security number in anything they file, including exhibits. When disclosure is unavoidable, only the last four digits may appear in the filing itself, and the full number must instead go on a separate, confidential Notice of Confidential Information form.
Neither the court nor the clerk screens every filing for compliance. Instead, a party or affected person can move to have an unredacted filing fixed, and if the court finds the disclosure was willful, it can award the winning side its attorney fees and costs. The rule does not force anyone to go back and redact older filings made before the rule existed, though a party can still ask for that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Rule 15 apply to civil cases?
No. Rule 15 covers filings in cases other than civil cases; Rule 138 separately protects Social Security numbers in civil filings.
Can I include someone's full Social Security number in a court filing?
Only if the law requires it or a court orders it, and even then only the last four digits should appear in the filing, with the full number reserved for a separate confidential notice.
Who checks filings for compliance with the Social Security number rule?
No one automatically. The court and clerk do not review every pleading, so a party or affected person must move for redaction if a filing was not properly redacted.
What happens if someone willfully includes a full Social Security number?
The court can order the person to pay the other side's reasonable expenses, including attorney fees and costs, incurred addressing the violation.
Do I need to redact Social Security numbers from documents filed years ago?
Not automatically, but Rule 15(d) lets a party request redaction of a Social Security number from a case that predates the rule.
Committee Comments and Commentary
(October 4, 2011)
This rule was adopted pursuant to section 40 of the Identity Protection Act (5 ILCS 179/40 (West 2010)).
Amendment History
Adopted October 4, 2011, effective January 1, 2012; renumbered April 26, 2012, eff. immediately; amended Dec. 24, 2013, eff. Jan. 1, 2014; amended June 22, 2017, eff. July 1, 2017.
Source & verification. Rule text, official Committee Comments, and
amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Supreme Court Rules,
promulgated by the Supreme Court of Illinois. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
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