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Form DR-151 Direction to Seal Affidavit

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DIRECTION TO SEAL AFFIDAVIT

Instructions to Clerk: When this document is filed, the accompanying DR-150, Child Custody Jurisdiction Affidavit, must immediately be sealed. Its contents cannot be disclosed to other parties or the public unless the court orders disclosure after a hearing. AS 25.30.380(e). Place a copy of this form with the DR-150 Affidavit in a sealed envelope. Tie the original of this form in the case file.

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT FOR THE STATE OF ALASKA

AT

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CASE NO.

DIRECTION TO SEAL
AFFIDAVIT

I, say on oath or affirm under penalty of perjury that my or my children's health, safety, or liberty would be jeopardized by disclosure of identifying information contained in my Child Custody Jurisdiction Affidavit (DR-150).

Therefore, as provided in AS 25.30.380(e), the court must seal the affidavit and may not disclose it to the other party or the public unless the court orders the disclosure to be made after a hearing in which the court takes into consideration the health, safety, or liberty of me and my children and determines that the disclosure is in the interest of justice.

Signature

Subscribed and sworn to or affirmed before me at

on

(SEAL)

Alaska

Clerk of Court, Notary Public or other

person authorized to administer oaths.

My commission expires:

I certify that on a copy

of this document (but not the child custody affidavit)

was mailed to


Signature of Party/Attorney

DR-151 (3/12)(cs)

DIRECTION TO SEAL AFFIDAVIT

Distribution:

  1. original to court file
  2. copy to sealed envelope
  3. copy to opposing party
  4. copy to requesting party

AS 25.30.380 (e)

Enter text

What the Form DR-151 Direction to Seal Affidavit Is

The Form DR-151 Direction to Seal Affidavit is a sworn statement used to request that a court clerk or records custodian restrict public access to specified case files or records. It explains the legal basis for sealing, identifies the documents or case numbers affected, and sets out facts supporting confidentiality. The affidavit must be signed under penalty of perjury by the person asking for sealing or by their counsel, and it typically attaches any statutory authority or prior orders that justify restricted access. Filing procedures vary by jurisdiction and court rules.

Why using Form DR-151 matters

A correctly completed DR-151 clarifies the scope of the sealing request, reduces processing delays, and creates a record that supports enforceability of the sealing order.

Why using Form DR-151 matters

Who typically completes and files this affidavit

These parties commonly prepare or sign a Direction to Seal Affidavit.

  • Individual petitioner or litigant asking the court to seal specific records, providing personal facts and justification.
  • Attorneys or law firms representing parties, preparing the affidavit and attaching statutory citations or case law.
  • Court clerks or records custodians receiving the request, validating the filing, and applying internal sealing procedures.

Responsibilities differ by role: filers supply facts and signatures; clerks follow local sealing procedures and docket entries.

Step-by-step: completing and filing Form DR-151

Follow these primary steps to prepare the affidavit and submit it for consideration.

  • 01
    Gather documents: Collect the records, orders, and authority supporting sealing.
  • 02
    Draft affidavit: State facts, identify records, and cite legal basis clearly.
  • 03
    Sign and notarize: Execute the affidavit and obtain required notarization if applicable.
  • 04
    File with clerk: Submit to the court clerk per local filing rules.

Typical e-filing and review workflow

This table outlines common configuration steps when submitting DR-151 electronically.

Field Configuration
Upload PDF Use flattened PDF/A format
Signature Attach eSign or scanned wet signature
Notarization Attach RON or ink notary as required
Service Provide proof of service if required

Technical considerations for digital completion and submission

Ensure your platform supports required file formats, notarization, and secure delivery to the court clerk.

  • File formats: PDF/A or searchable PDF preferred
  • Integrations: E-filing portals often accept direct uploads
  • Authentication: Multi-factor improves signer attribution

Configure export settings to produce a tamper-evident final PDF and retain a copy with a clear audit trail for future reference.

How electronic submission typically proceeds

A standard flow from preparation to clerk action helps set expectations for turnaround and tracking.

  • Prepare: Affiant drafts and signs the affidavit
  • Validate: Check fields, attachments, and citations
  • Submit: Upload via e-filing portal or deliver to clerk
  • Clerk review: Clerk logs, assigns, and applies sealing procedures

Timing and typical processing windows

Be aware of deadlines and processing expectations so requests are timely and handled correctly.

Filing timing:

File at earliest practical date to preserve confidentiality

Clerk review:

Local clerks often process within 3–14 business days

Judicial review:

A judge may take additional time for contested sealing requests

Notice requirements:

Some jurisdictions require notice to affected parties before sealing

Appeals window:

Parties may have limited time to challenge a sealing decision

Key milestones from filing to seal implementation

A sequential view of milestones helps track the request lifecycle and anticipate actions by stakeholders.

01

Draft and execute

Affiant completes affidavit and secures any required notarization

02

File with clerk

Affidavit and attachments are submitted through the clerk's accepted method

03

Administrative review

Clerk verifies completeness and docketing

04

Court order or docket entry

Judge or clerk records sealing instruction and access limitations

Common errors that delay sealing requests

  • Missing case numbers or incorrect docket references cause misfiling and delay
  • Vague descriptions of records leave clerks unable to identify what should be sealed
  • Lack of statutory citation or supporting order weakens the legal grounds for sealing
  • Unsigned or improperly notarized affidavits are frequently returned or rejected

Risks and legal consequences of errors

Public disclosure: Overlooking required steps can result in records remaining public
Rejection: Improperly completed forms may be rejected by the clerk
Sanctions: Filing false statements exposes the affiant to perjury penalties
Appeal exposure: Incomplete factual support increases the chance of a successful challenge
Operational delay: Processing delays may prolong unwanted public access
Costs: Extra fees or attorney time may be required to correct filings

Data and security items to record with the filing

Signed copy: Retain original signed PDF or scanned wet-signed affidavit
Audit trail: Record timestamps, IP, and signer authentication method
Notary evidence: Keep notarial certificate or RON session log
Service proof: File proof of service when required by local rule
Court receipt: Save clerk-stamped filing receipts or docket entries
Access list: Document which parties retain access after sealing

Typical eSignature vendor pricing and capabilities for affidavit workflows

Use this vendor snapshot to compare baseline pricing and core capabilities relevant to signing and submitting sworn affidavits electronically.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial Yes, 7-day trial No No Yes, limited Yes, limited
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No

Representative use cases showing how DR-151 is applied

Two concise examples illustrate typical scenarios where a Direction to Seal Affidavit is used.

Case Study: Privacy Request

A litigant seeks to seal sensitive financial exhibits to prevent public disclosure

  • The affidavit lists each exhibit by exhibit number and the legal basis for sealing
  • The clerk stamps the filing sealed and retains an administrative log showing restricted access for third parties while preserving judicial review rights.

Case Study: Juvenile Records

A party requests sealing of juvenile-related filings after a disposition

  • The affidavit cites juvenile protection statutes and attaches redacted public versions
  • The court grants sealing for specified pages, and a docket entry notes access limitations and instructions for counsel and future parties.

Typical signers and their responsibilities

Affiant

An individual or representative who attests to the facts supporting sealing. The affiant must sign under penalty of perjury, provide accurate identification details, and, where required, appear before a notary or complete a RON session as specified by jurisdictional rules.

Court Clerk

A court records official who accepts filings, reviews for procedural compliance, and applies sealing labels or docket notations. Clerks follow local rules for notice, indexing, and retention while ensuring sealed materials are accessible only to authorized parties.

FAQs and troubleshooting for common issues

Answers to frequent questions about completing, signing, and submitting the Direction to Seal Affidavit.


Need help? Contact support

Practical tips to avoid delays and objections

Adopt these practices to improve clarity, reduce review friction, and support enforceable sealing orders.

Be precise in descriptions
Identify specific pages, exhibits, or docket numbers rather than broad categories so clerks and judges can apply narrowly tailored sealing orders.
Include legal authority
Cite the exact statute, rule, or prior order that supports sealing to provide a direct legal basis for the request and minimize adjudicative questions.
Provide redacted public versions
When possible, attach a redacted public copy and a sealed original; this approach balances transparency with confidentiality and often speeds court approval.
Confirm local formatting
Follow the court's required format, signature blocks, and file naming conventions to prevent clerical rejections and processing delays.
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