What it is
A request for permission to file a document under seal rather than on the public docket. It overlaps with a motion to seal but usually appears before or at the moment the document is filed.
Procedural
Motion for Leave to File Under Seal
Asks permission to submit a filing or exhibit under seal instead of on the public docket.
When it's used
Filed when a party must submit confidential exhibits, settlement materials, medical records, trade secrets, personal identifiers, or protected discovery material in support of another motion.
What the other side does
The opponent may consent, argue the filing can be redacted, challenge confidentiality, or assert that public access outweighs secrecy.
Common outcomes
The court may allow sealed filing, require public redactions, provisionally seal pending review, or deny sealing and require the party to choose whether to file publicly.
Not legal advice. Motion practice varies by court,
judge, and case type. Local rules and standing orders frequently
modify the federal defaults shown here. If you're facing a motion
or considering filing one, talk to a lawyer about strategy and
timing for your specific case.