Address Confidentiality Programs: How They Work
For people fleeing stalking or abuse, hiding a home address can be a matter of safety. State programs offer a substitute address, with clear limits.
By Siddharth ShankarUpdated October 20, 2026Address confidentiality programs are run by individual US states. They give eligible people a substitute mailing address and forward their mail, so their real address stays out of many records. New York, for example, covers victims of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault or trafficking, and certain reproductive health care workers and patients. State and local agencies must accept the substitute address, but private companies need not. The programs do not remove addresses from existing public records.
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If someone is trying to find you to harm you, a public home address is a danger. Many US states run address confidentiality programs (ACPs) to reduce that risk. The rules differ by state, so this guide uses two official examples.
What an ACP does
The programs give you a substitute address, usually a P.O. box run by the state, to use for mail and records. The state forwards your mail to your real address. Your actual address stays out of many government records.
Example: New York
The New York Department of State FAQ says the program is open to victims of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault and trafficking, and to certain reproductive health care providers, employees, volunteers and patients, plus family members. Key points:
- The substitute address is a P.O. box in Albany.
- First-class, registered and certified mail is forwarded free. Packages and periodicals are not.
- All state and local agencies must accept the substitute address. Private companies are not required to.
- Banks may use the sponsoring agency’s address.
- Membership lasts four years and must be renewed.
- It can be cancelled for returned mail or an unreported change within 14 days.
- The real address is released only under a court order or a law enforcement request.
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Example: North Carolina
The North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault page says that state’s program is run by the Attorney General’s office. You enrol through an application assistant at a domestic violence or sexual assault centre, and you must be moving or have moved to a new address. You can use the substitute address to register to vote, get a driver’s licence and set up utilities. The contact number it gives is (919) 716-6785.
What these programs cannot do
- They are not witness protection.
- They cannot remove addresses from public records that already exist, such as property records or past court filings.
- They do not bind private companies, who may refuse the substitute address.
- They depend on you keeping to the rules, such as reporting changes.
How to find out about your state
1Search your state
Look for your state’s program name, often run by the secretary of state or attorney general.
2Contact a local advocate
Domestic violence and sexual assault centres can help you apply and plan for safety.
3Ask about eligibility
Each state sets its own rules, so ask what applies to you.
4Plan for private companies
Decide how you will handle banks, employers and online accounts that need an address.
Questions to ask when you apply
- Which agencies in my state accept the substitute address, and which do not?
- How will I receive mail, and how long does forwarding take?
- What happens if I move or my situation changes?
- Can the program help with voter registration and driver licensing?
- How long does enrolment last, and how do I renew?
Clean up the rest of your footprint
A substitute address does not remove your old address from the internet. Work on the other places it appears: how to remove your address from the internet, how to blur your house on Google Maps, how property records make your address public and digital privacy after a divorce or separation.
These are US state examples and rules vary. Check your own state’s program for current requirements.
Sources
- New York Department of State: Address Confidentiality Program FAQ (eligibility, Albany P.O. box, mail forwarding, agency acceptance, four-year term, release conditions)
- North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault: Address Confidentiality Program (run by the Attorney General, enrolment through application assistants, uses, contact number)
Frequently asked questions
What is an address confidentiality program?
A state program that gives eligible people a substitute mailing address and forwards their mail.
Who qualifies in New York?
Victims of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault or trafficking, and certain reproductive health care providers, employees, volunteers and patients, plus family.
Do private companies have to accept the substitute address?
In New York, state and local agencies must accept it, but private companies need not.
Does it remove my address from public records?
No. It cannot remove addresses from records that already exist.
Is it the same as witness protection?
No. It is a mail and records service, not witness protection.
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