Dallas County Civil District Courts Sealing & Redaction Procedures

Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

The protective order does not seal court records; any motion to seal court records must strictly comply with Rule 76a, TRCP.

This Order does not seal Court Records in this case and is only intended to facilitate the prompt production of discovery materials. Any motion to seal Court Records must strictly adhere to Rule 76a, TRCP.

Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026CRITICAL

Civil cases

Orders about appointments and fees may never be sealed or withheld from public disclosure.

Orders regarding appointments made and fees paid may not be sealed or otherwise withheld from public disclosure for any reason, regardless of whether any other information in the case is protected from disclosure.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 21, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Protected Documents may be designated confidential by stamping 'CONFIDENTIAL' without obscuring text, or by another reasonable method agreed by the parties.

document (or portion of a document) that a party determines in good faith to be a Protected Document may be claimed as confidential by (1) stamping the word “CONFIDENTIAL ” on the document, or (2) using any other reasonable method agreed to by the parties. Such stamping shall not obscure any writings on the documents.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 21, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Deposition portions may be designated confidential by written notice to opposing counsel no later than 72 hours after receipt of the transcript.

A party may, on the record of a deposition or by written notice to opposing counsel no later than seventy-two (72) hours after receipt of the deposition transcript, claim any portion (s) of the deposition as “CONFIDENTIAL ” based on a good faith determination that any portions so claimed constitute a Protected Document.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 21, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Challenged material remains confidential for a 20-day period unless the claiming party moves for a ruling; if a motion is filed, confidentiality continues until the Court rules.

material shall be treated as Confidential Material until the expiration of twenty (20) days if no motion is made by the party requesting confidential treatment (at which time the material shall no longer be trea ted as Confidential Material), or, if a motion is made, until the Court rules.

Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

Closing trial proceedings or sealing the trial record requires a separate party motion made in compliance with Rule 76a TRCP.

The closure of trial proceedings and sealing of the record of a trial involve considerations not presently before the Court. These issues may be taken up as a separate matter upon the motion of any party in compliance with Rule 76a TRCP.

Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026WARNING

Civil cases

The Order does not seal court records; any motion to seal court records must strictly comply with Rule 76a TRCP.

This Order does not seal Court Records in this case and is only intended to facilitate the prompt production of discovery materials. Any motion to seal Court Records must strictly adhere to Rule 76a, TRCP.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Court noticeProposed or draft document; may not be in force

Pursuant to Rule 21c of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, documents containing sensitive data must be redacted by the filer prior to submission.

Summary: Documents containing sensitive data must be redacted by the filer prior to submission.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Court noticeProposed or draft document; may not be in force

Designating the document as containing sensitive data when the document is electronically filed; or

Summary: Filers must designate the document as containing sensitive data when e-filing.

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Court noticeProposed or draft document; may not be in force

If the document is not electronically filed, by including on the upper left‐hand side of the first page, the phrase: “NOTICE: THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS SENSITIVE DATA.”

Summary: Paper filings containing sensitive data must include the notice phrase on the upper left-hand side of the first page.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Any motion to seal Court Records must strictly adhere to Rule 76a, TRCP.

Summary: Any motion to seal court records must strictly follow Rule 76a of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Confidential Material shall be treated as confidential and used (1) by counsel in this case solely for the litigation of this case or (2) by counsel in other actions arising out of the same or similar set of facts, transactions, or occurrences that are asserted in the petition filed in this case solely for the litigation of such actions. Except as set forth in Section 6, Confidential Material shall not be revealed without the express written consent of the party claiming same as Confidential Material or upon written order of the Court.

Summary: Confidential Material may only be used by counsel for litigation of this case or related actions, and may not be revealed without the claiming party's written consent or a Court order.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

A document (or portion of a document) that a party determines in good faith to be a Protected Document may be claimed as confidential by (1) stamping the word “CONFIDENTIAL” on the document, or (2) using any other reasonable method agreed to by the parties. Such stamping shall not obscure any writings on the documents.

Summary: Documents determined in good faith to be Protected Documents may be designated confidential by stamping 'CONFIDENTIAL' or another reasonable method agreed by the parties, provided the stamping does not obscure the writings.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

A party may, on the record of a deposition or by written notice to opposing counsel no later than seventy-two (72) hours after receipt of the deposition transcript, claim any portion(s) of the deposition as “CONFIDENTIAL” based on a good faith determination that any

Summary: A party may designate deposition portions as confidential on the record or by written notice to opposing counsel within 72 hours of receiving the deposition transcript.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

Any party may challenge a claim made under Section 2(a) or 2(b) by written notice of its objection to counsel for the claiming party or non-party. Challenge to a claim made under Section 2(b) may be made either upon the record of the deposition or as provided in the preceding sentence.

Summary: Any party may challenge a confidentiality claim by written notice of objection to the claiming party's counsel; challenges to deposition designations may also be made on the deposition record.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.WARNING?

Civil cases

In the event a claim is challenged, the party requesting confidential treatment will move for an appropriate ruling from the Court. The material shall be treated as Confidential Material until the expiration of twenty (20) days if no motion is made by the party requesting confidential treatment (at which time the material shall no longer be treated as Confidential Material), or, if a motion is made, until the Court rules.

Summary: When a confidentiality claim is challenged, the claiming party must move for a Court ruling; the material remains confidential for 20 days if no motion is filed, or until the Court rules if a motion is filed.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.INFO?

Court noticeProposed or draft document; may not be in force

CONTAINS SENSITIVE DATA” on the upper left‐hand corner of the first page for documents that are electronically filed, it is preferred.

Summary: Including the sensitive data notice on the upper left corner of the first page is preferred for e-filed documents.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.INFO?

Civil cases

A party shall not be obligated to challenge the propriety of the designation of documents as Confidential Materials at the time of designation, and failure to do so shall not preclude a subsequent challenge to the designation.

Summary: Parties are not required to challenge confidentiality designations at the time of designation, and failing to do so does not bar a later challenge.

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Civil cases

This Order shall not apply to the disclosure of Protected Documents or the information contained therein at the time of trial, through the receipt of Protected Documents into evidence or through the testimony of witnesses.

Summary: The confidentiality order does not apply to disclosure of protected documents at trial, their receipt into evidence, or witness testimony.

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Civil cases

This Order does not seal Court Records in this case and is only intended to facilitate the prompt production of discovery materials. Any motion to seal Court Records must strictly adhere to Rule 76a, TRCP.

Summary: The protective order does not itself seal Court Records; any motion to seal Court Records must strictly comply with Rule 76a of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

A document (or portion of a document) that a party determines in good faith to be a Protected Document may be claimed as confidential by (1) stamping the word "CONFIDENTIAL" on the document, or (2) using any other reasonable method agreed to by the parties. Such stamping shall not obscure any writings on the documents.

Summary: Documents may be designated confidential by stamping "CONFIDENTIAL" or another agreed method, without obscuring the underlying writings.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

In the event a claim is challenged, the party requesting confidential treatment will move for an appropriate ruling from the Court. The material shall be treated as Confidential Material until the expiration of twenty (20) days if no motion is made by the party requesting confidential treatment (at which time the material shall no longer be treated as Confidential Material), or, if a motion is made, until the Court rules.

Summary: When a confidentiality claim is challenged, the claiming party must move for a court ruling; material stays confidential for 20 days if no motion is filed, or until the Court rules if a motion is filed.

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Civil cases

A document (or portion of a document) that a party determines in good faith to be a Protected Document may be claimed as confidential by (1) stamping the word “CONFIDENTIAL” on the document, or (2) using any other reasonable method agreed to by the parties. Such stamping shall not obscure any writings on the documents.

Summary: A party may designate a document as confidential by stamping it "CONFIDENTIAL" or using another reasonable method agreed by the parties, provided the stamping does not obscure the document's writings.

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Civil cases

A party may, on the record of a deposition or by written notice to opposing counsel no later than seventy-two (72) hours after receipt of the deposition transcript, claim any portion(s) of the deposition as “CONFIDENTIAL” based on a good faith determination that any

Summary: A party may designate deposition portions as confidential on the record or by written notice to opposing counsel within 72 hours after receiving the deposition transcript.

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Civil cases

Any party may challenge a claim made under Section 2(a) or 2(b) by written notice of its objection to counsel for the claiming party or non-party. Challenge to a claim made under Section 2(b) may be made either upon the record of the deposition or as provided in the preceding sentence.

Summary: Any party may challenge a confidentiality designation by written notice of objection to the claiming party's counsel; challenges to deposition designations may also be made on the record.

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Civil cases

In the event a claim is challenged, the party requesting confidential treatment will move for an appropriate ruling from the Court.

Summary: When a confidentiality claim is challenged, the party requesting confidential treatment must move for a ruling from the Court.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Civil cases

Any party may challenge a claim made under Section 2(a) or 2(b) by written notice of its objection to counsel for the claiming party or non-party. Challenge to a claim made under Section 2(b) may be made either upon the record of the deposition or as provided in the preceding sentence.

Summary: Any party may challenge a confidentiality designation by written notice of objection to the claiming party's counsel.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Civil cases

This Order shall not apply to the disclosure of Protected Documents or the information contained therein at the time of trial, through the receipt of Protected Documents into evidence or through the testimony of witnesses. The closure of trial proceedings and sealing of the record of a trial involve considerations not presently before the Court. These issues may be taken up as a separate matter upon the motion of any party in compliance with Rule 76a TRCP.

Summary: The protective order does not apply at trial; sealing the trial record requires a separate motion under Rule 76a TRCP.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Civil cases

Any party may challenge a claim made under Section 2(a) or 2(b) by written notice of its objection to counsel for the claiming party or non-party. Challenge to a claim made under Section 2(b) may be made either upon the record of the deposition or as prov ided in the preceding

Summary: A confidentiality claim may be challenged by written notice of objection to the claiming party's counsel, or on the deposition record for Section 2(b) claims.

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Civil cases

A party shall not be obligated to challenge the propriety of the designation of documents as Confidential Materials at the time of designation, and failure to do so shall not preclude a subsequent challenge to the designation.

Summary: Parties are not required to challenge confidentiality designations at the time of designation, and failing to do so does not waive the right to challenge later.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?

Civil cases

By claiming a document Confidential Material pursuant to Section 2(a) or 2(b), a party represents that it has made a bona fide, good faith determination that the document does, in fact, contain Confidential Information.

Summary: Claiming a document as confidential constitutes a representation of a good faith determination that it contains Confidential Information.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?

Civil cases

A party shall not be obligated to challenge the propriety of the designation of documents as Confidential Materials at the time of designation, and failure to do so shall not preclude a subsequent challenge to the designation.

Summary: Parties are not required to challenge confidentiality designations at the time of designation and may do so later.