Keeping Your Address Confidential in Family Court
It is important for crime victims to know that all court papers have your address on them, and the other person in the court case gets a copy of these papers.
If you are staying in a shelter or a safe place that the offender does not know, and you feel that you or your children will be put in danger if your address is known, then you may request that your address be marked as “confidential.”
What does it mean to have a confidential address?
If the court grants your request, then your address will be listed as “Confidential” on all Family Court papers, and removed from any papers sent to the other person in the case. All papers from the other person or the court will be sent to your “designated agent for service.” You can choose anyone over the age of 18 to be your agent, such as your lawyer, or the Family Court Clerk. Your agent must get the papers to you.
How do I ask for my address to be kept confidential?
Anyone can ask the court to keep their address confidential. You can ask the court to keep your address confidential when you first file your papers, or at any time during the case.
Complete and sign an Address Confidentiality Affidavit.
For more information, please visit the Address Confidentiality page of the NY Courts Website.