N.Y. Civ. Rights Law § 64-a

§ 64-a. Exemption from publication requirements. 1. If the court shall\nfind that the publication of an applicant's change of name would\njeopardize such applicant's personal safety, based on totality of the\ncircumstances the provisions of sections sixty-three and sixty-four of\nthis article requiring publication shall be waived and shall be\ninapplicable. Provided, however, the court shall not deny such waiver\nsoley on the basis that the applicant lacks specific instances of or a\npersonal history of threat to personal safety. The court shall order the\nrecords of such change of name proceeding to be sealed, to be opened\nonly by order of the court for good cause shown or at the request of the\napplicant.\n 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, pending such a finding\nin subdivision one of this section where an applicant seeks relief under\nthis section, the court shall immediately order the applicant's current\nname, proposed new name, residential and business addresses, telephone\nnumbers, and any other information contained in any pleadings or papers\nsubmitted to the court to be safeguarded and sealed in order to prevent\ntheir inadvertent or unauthorized use or disclosure while the matter is\npending.\n