STATE OF MICHIGAN
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF KENT
IN RE: POLICY ON SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY 2004-01
At a session of said Court, held in the Kent County Courthouse
in the City of Grand Rapids, in said County on
January 2, 2004
Present: HON. PAUL J. SULLIVAN
Chief Circuit Judge
WHEREAS, in order to protect the confidentiality of the social security numbers of parties
to a lawsuit filed in this court, and pursuant to MCR 3.206(B) for domestic relations actions:
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, that the following protocol regarding the confidentiality of
social security numbers is adopted as the policy of this Court.
For domestic relations actions, social security numbers will be provided to the friend of the court
and the other party in the verified statement. The verified statement must be attached to the
copies of the papers served on the other party and provided to the friend of the court. Because
MCR 3.206(B)(2) specifically identifies information contained in the verified statement as
confidential, it is not to be attached to or included with the papers filed with the court.
Attorneys and parties are directed to refrain from including the social security number of any party
or interested person in pleadings or papers filed with the court. Social security numbers may not
be included in orders or judgments entered by the court. Parties may move for the disclosure of
another party or person’s social security number in the event that the social security number is
necessary for purposes related to the litigation. The court may order the disclosure of the social
security number directly to the other party or designated agency. The court file shall not contain
the social security number.
The Clerk of the Court is hereby directed to redact social security numbers that may appear on
the face of a pleading, and is authorized to redact social security numbers found in pleadings or
other papers filed with the Clerk.
PAUL J. SULLIVAN
__________________________________
Paul J. Sullivan, Chief Circuit Judge
Domestic Diversions
1. Good counsel on matters of relationships, families and family law. 2. The efforts of good people working together to advance the mind, arouse the heart, and amuse the spirit.
