Surrogate's Court Clerk Practice Exam

Sealed or private will documents are treated under the court’s rules on sealing and disclosure. The clerk’s responsibility is to handle the sealed material strictly according to those rules, not to open or reveal it by default. If access to the sealed will is sought, the court may set a hearing to determine who may view the document and under what conditions. This process preserves privacy or other protections while allowing disclosure when appropriate.

That’s why the other statements don’t fit: sealed documents aren’t opened immediately without an order; they aren’t permanently undisclosable in every circumstance; and they aren’t automatically made public after probate.