TL;DR: To redact PDFs for court filings, mark every sensitive text region and run a sanitization step that physically deletes the marked content plus metadata, comments, and any hidden data — then verify the output before you file it. OctopusPDF's Redact / Sanitize tool does this in the browser with zero uploads (K2) and 100% local processing (K5), which makes it well suited to confidential legal and medical documents (K4). The free tier allows 3 conversions per day with 20 MB files; Pro raises that to unlimited conversions, 100 MB files, and batch mode (K5).
What You Will Need
- A PDF version of the document you intend to file: motion, brief, exhibit, or settlement agreement.
- A computer with a current web browser. No desktop installation is required because the tool runs in the browser (K2).
- Access to OctopusPDF's Redact / Sanitize tool, located in the Edit tools section of the product (K2).
- A plan — free or Pro — with the following limits (K5):
| Plan | Conversions per day | Max file size | Batch mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 3 | 20 MB | No |
| Pro | Unlimited | 100 MB | Yes |
- A written redaction checklist: party names, confidential clauses, account numbers, personal identifiers, and any privileged content (K1, K4).
- A separate PDF viewer to open and verify the output after processing.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1. Open the Redact / Sanitize tool
- Action: Open OctopusPDF in a new browser tab and select the Redact / Sanitize tool from the Edit tools section (K2).
- Why: This is the tool built to physically delete metadata, comments, and hidden content before sharing (K5). Other Edit tools such as Watermark only layer content on top of the PDF (K2), and layering is not the same as deletion. A layer of black boxes can be removed, revealing the text underneath.
- Watch out: Choose the Edit tools section, not the Convert tools section (K2). Redaction is a privacy operation, not a file-format conversion.
[Insert screenshot: OctopusPDF Edit tools section with Redact / Sanitize highlighted]
Step 2. Add the PDF to the tool
- Action: Drag your PDF into the browser window, or use the file picker to load the document you plan to file.
- Why: The Redact / Sanitize tool processes the file in your browser with zero uploads (K2) and runs 100% locally (K5). At no point does the file need to be sent to a third-party server, which is critical when the document contains names, clauses, or medical details tied to a legal matter (K1, K4).
- Watch out: Check the file size before loading. The free tier accepts files up to 20 MB; Pro accepts up to 100 MB (K5). If your PDF exceeds the limit, use the Split PDF tool to divide it into smaller parts first (K2), or switch to a Pro plan.
[Insert screenshot: PDF loaded in the Redact / Sanitize tool]
Step 3. Build your redaction checklist
- Action: List every piece of sensitive material in the document before you mark anything: litigant names, attorney names, confidential contract clauses, account numbers, and other personal identifiers.
- Why: A court filing can be viewed by opposing counsel, court staff, and the public. The OctopusPDF workflow notes describe a solo attorney redacting names and clauses before sending documents (K1), and legal and medical documents are explicitly listed as use cases that demand privacy (K4). A checklist turns that into a repeatable habit.
- Watch out: Do not rely on memory for long exhibits. Use the checklist to confirm that every page has been reviewed, not just the first few.
Step 4. Mark every sensitive region
- Action: Select each name, clause, and data block from your