Process to Electronically Request that a Document be Sealed

The following are guidelines and detailed instructions for electronically filing a request to seal a document and the proposed sealed document. For more information see D.N.J. LBR 9018-1.

GUIDELINES

  • If the document you wish to seal is related to a separate document, e.g., an exhibit to a motion , file the motion without the exhibit as the first step in the process.
  • Electronically file a Motion to Seal. The event and all uploaded documents are available on the court’s docket.
  • Immediately after filing the Motion to Seal, electronically file the document you wish to be sealed using the Sealed Document event. The event and all uploaded documents are not available on the court’s docket.

CAUTION: It is important that the SEALED DOCUMENT event is used to efile the document you are seeking to have sealed. If an incorrect event is used, the proposed sealed document will display on the court's docket.

Click here to view a flow chart depicting the sealed document process

Click here to view the Court's General Order Adopting Procedure for Filing a Document Under Seal Pending Adoption of Local Rule.

STEP BY STEP E-FILING INSTRUCTIONS

Case study: The filer in these events is asking the court to seal an Exhibit to a Motion for an Accounting.

E-filing the Motion to Seal

STEP 1                   Click BANKRUPTCY (or ADVERSARY) on the blue banner menu

STEP 2                   Click the MOTIONS/APPLICATIONS link

STEP 3                   Enter the case number; click [NEXT]

STEP 4                   Select the SEAL event from the Available Events list; click [NEXT]

STEP 5                   Confirm you are in the correct case by reviewing the case information; click [NEXT]

STEP 6                   Select the Movant or click Add/Create New Party; click [NEXT]

TIP – If you selected Add/Create New Party, a Search screen and a Party Information screen will follow.  You MUST select a Role Type from the drop down menu on the Party Information screen.

TIP – If this is the first time you are appearing in this case on behalf of this party, a message will display, as shown below, indicating that an association will be created between the movant and the filer. Failure to create the association will result in the attorney NOT receiving Notices of Electronic Filing in the case.

 

STEP 7                   Ensure a check is placed in the association box, click [NEXT]

STEP 8                   A notification will display, as shown below, indicating that the filer must, immediately upon the completion of the Motion to Seal event, file the sealed document; click [NEXT] to continue

 

STEP 9                  Click BROWSE to upload the Motion; click [NEXT]

TIP – Supporting documents such as a Certificate of Service or Proposed Order should be uploaded as attachments to the Notice of Motion.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT upload the document you wish to seal.

STEP 10                 If the document you wish to seal is related to a previously filed document, e.g., the exhibit relates to the Motion for an Accounting, place a check in the box next to “Refer to an existing event(s)?” Click [NEXT]

STEP 11                 If the Motion is related to a previously filed document, a list of ECF categories will display. Select the category used to file the previously filed document.

                                Example - If the previously filed document is a Motion for an Accounting, select motion from the list of categories.

STEP 12.a             Place a check in the box next to the document you wish to relate to, e.g. the motion for an Accounting.

STEP 12.b             A Hearing Information screen displays. Enter a hearing date, time and location; click [NEXT]

                                TIP – you may click the “Click Here” link to display a list of hearing date for the judge presiding over the case.

STEP 13                Enter the title of the document you wish to seal in the text box shown below.

          

STEP 14                 Click [NEXT] to continue

STEP 15                 Final docket text displays; click [NEXT].

                                WARNING – Clicking NEXT submits the transaction - confirm that the docket text is correct before doing so. If any part of the docket text is incorrect, you must use the back-button on your browser to return to the screen where the incorrect data was entered to change it.

                                SAMPLE DOCKET TEXT

                                Motion to Seal re: Exhibit to Certification in support of Motion for an Accounting. (RE: related document(s)[3] Motion for Accounting). Filed by John Jones on behalf of Nocturnal Aviation, Inc.. Hearing scheduled for 6/10/2015 at 10:00 AM at CMG - Courtroom 3, Trenton. (Attachments: # (1) Certification # (2) Certificate of Service # (3) Proposed Order) (Jones, John)

STEP 16                 Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) displays.

E-filing the document you wish to seal

STEP 1                   Click BANKRUPTCY (or ADVERSARY) on the blue banner menu

STEP 2                   Click the MISC. EVENTS link

STEP 3                   Enter the case number; click [NEXT]

STEP 4                   Select the SEALED DOCUMENT event from the Available Events list; click [NEXT]

STEP 5                   Confirm you are in the correct case by reviewing the case information; click [NEXT]

STEP 6                   Select the Movant, click [NEXT]

STEP 7                   Click BROWSE to upload the document you wish to seal; click [NEXT]

                                NOTE – No document number is assigned to this event.

STEP 8.a               Place a check in the box to link the sealed document to a previously filed document.

STEP 8.b               The following information displays; click [NEXT] to continue.

IMPORTANT: The event and the document(s) uploaded during this transaction will be completely restricted from view on the Court’s docket, with the exception of the Judge to which the case is assigned and the Clerk. 

STEP 9                   To link the sealed document to a previously filed document, select the category used to file the previously filed document(s); click [NEXT]

                                EXAMPLE - If the sealed document is an exhibit to a previously filed Motion, select motion from the list of categories.

STEP 10                 Place a check in the box next to the document to which this document(s) relates and in the box next to the Motion to Seal, click [NEXT]

 

STEP 11                 Docket text displays; click [NEXT].

                                WARNING – Confirm that the docket text is correct before doing so. If any part of the docket text is incorrect, you must use the back-button on your browser to return to the screen where the incorrect data was entered to change it.  

                                SAMPLE DOCKET TEXT

Sealed document. (RE: related document(s)[3] Motion for Accounting, [4] Motion to Seal). Filed by John Jones on behalf of Nocturnal Aviation, Inc. . (Jones, John).

STEP 12                   Final docket text displays. Clicking NEXT submits the transaction; click [NEXT]

STEP 13                   Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) displays.