2021 New York Laws
CVR - Civil Rights
Article 6 - Change of Name
64-A - Sealing Name Change Papers.

* §  64-a.  Exemption  from  publication requirements. 1. If the court
  shall find that the publication of an applicant's change of  name  would
  jeopardize  such  applicant's  personal safety, based on totality of the
  circumstances the provisions of sections sixty-three and  sixty-four  of
  this  article  requiring  publication  shall  be  waived  and  shall  be
  inapplicable. Provided, however, the court shall not  deny  such  waiver
  soley  on  the basis that the applicant lacks specific instances of or a
  personal history of threat to personal safety. The court shall order the
  records of such change of name proceeding to be  sealed,  to  be  opened
  only by order of the court for good cause shown or at the request of the
  applicant.
2.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, pending such a finding
  in subdivision one of this section where an applicant seeks relief under
  this section, the court shall immediately order the applicant's  current
  name,  proposed  new name, residential and business addresses, telephone
  numbers, and any other information contained in any pleadings or  papers
  submitted  to the court to be safeguarded and sealed in order to prevent
  their inadvertent or unauthorized use or disclosure while the matter  is
  pending.
* NB Effective until December 21, 2021
* §  64-a. Sealing name change papers. 1. If the court shall find that
  open record of an applicant's  change  of  name  would  jeopardize  such
  applicant's personal safety, based on totality of the circumstances, the
  court  shall,  at  the request of the applicant or sua sponte, order the
  records of such change of name proceeding be sealed, to be  opened  only
  by  order  of  the  court  for good cause shown or at the request of the
  applicant.  For  the  purposes  of  this  section,  "totality   of   the
  circumstances"  shall include, but not be limited to, a consideration of
  the risk of violence or discrimination against the applicant,  including
  such  applicant's  status  as  transgender or as the subject of domestic
  violence. The court shall not deny such sealing request  solely  on  the
  basis  that  the  applicant  lacks  specific  instances of or a personal
  history of threat to personal safety.
2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, pending such a  finding
  in subdivision one of this section where an applicant seeks relief under
  this  section, the court shall immediately order the applicant's current
  name, proposed new name, residential and business  addresses,  telephone
  numbers,  and any other information contained in any pleadings or papers
  submitted to the court to be safeguarded and sealed in order to  prevent
  their  inadvertent or unauthorized use or disclosure while the matter is
  pending.
* NB Effective December 21, 2021