The short answer
What Illinois families should know.
Do not assume that a divorce filing is private simply because it concerns family finances. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 138 limits specified personal identifying information in public civil filings. Protecting an account number, however, is different from obtaining an order that restricts access to an entire document or case.
Review identifiers before filing
Rule 138 covers Social Security and taxpayer-identification numbers, driver’s license numbers, financial account numbers, and debit or credit card numbers. Permitted public versions generally use only the last four digits. Review attachments as carefully as the main document: bank statements, loan applications, and screenshots can reveal identifiers in headers, footers, or embedded images. The responsibility does not disappear because a document originated with a financial institution.
Use the confidential-information procedure when needed
When full identifying information must be provided, Rule 138 describes a separate confidential-information notice and protected handling. The public filing should use the permitted redacted information and an appropriate reference to the confidential notice. Ask counsel whether the court needs the full identifier at all. An account can often be discussed meaningfully through its institution, type, ownership, and last four digits.
Correct an accidental disclosure through the court
The rule supplies a motion procedure for information improperly placed in the file, including a proposed redacted copy. It does not require the clerk to inspect every exhibit before filing. If you discover an unredacted number, identify the exact filing and page immediately. Preserve the original for counsel while avoiding further circulation. A corrected document on your own computer does not remove the earlier version from public access.
Separate embarrassment from a legal basis for protection
Sensitive narratives, medical information, and business records can raise additional concerns, but Rule 138 is not a blanket confidentiality order. Discuss the particular information, why disclosure matters, and what narrowly tailored protection is available. Also distinguish court filings from documents exchanged only in discovery. Keep necessary evidence intact while deciding how to present it safely; deleting information can damage both the record and your ability to prove the underlying facts.
Prepare
Useful next steps
- Check every proposed exhibit for full account and identification numbers.
- Identify the exact docket entry if sensitive material was already filed.
- Maintain a complete original and a separate correctly redacted copy.
Avoid
Common missteps
- Assuming the clerk will catch private numbers before filing.
- Treating a redacted filing as proof that the entire case is sealed.
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This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Laws, court rules, local procedures, and individual facts can change the analysis. Reading it or contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.