Records & Admin
Record Requests & FOIA
How to request records from courts, agencies, and governments.
Local rules vary: Each state has its own public records law with its own deadlines and fees; federal agencies follow FOIA. Confirm the right law for the records you need.
Three kinds of records
- Court records — filed with a court clerk (case files, judgments).
- State/local public records — held by agencies and municipalities, governed by your state's public records law.
- Federal records — held by federal agencies, governed by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Identify the holder
Records live in specific places. A police report sits with the police department; a deed with the county recorder; a case file with the court clerk. Knowing who holds the record is half the work.
Make a written request
A good request states:
- Who you are and how to reach you.
- What records you want — as specific as possible (dates, names, case numbers).
- The law you're invoking (your state's public records law, or FOIA for federal agencies).
- That you want copies and how you'd like them delivered.
Fees and deadlines
Agencies may charge reasonable fees for copying. Most laws require a response within a set number of days — sometimes just an acknowledgment, sometimes the records.
Appeal if denied
If a request is denied, you usually have a right to appeal within the agency, and then to challenge in court. Denials should tell you how to appeal.