Question 1

Can I file a FOIA request myself, without a lawyer?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Freedom of Information Act, and every state's public-records law, was designed to be used by ordinary members of the public. Any person can file a request. There is no special form, no filing fee, and no need to explain why you want the records or to prove you have a stake in them. People file hundreds of thousands of these every year on their own. This tool helps you write the request clearly; filing it is something you are fully entitled to do yourself.

Question 2

Does FOIA cover state and local government?

Accepted Answer

No. The federal Freedom of Information Act applies only to federal executive-branch agencies. Records held by a city, county, school district, police department, or state agency are governed by that state's own public-records law, which is a different statute with a different name and different deadlines. This tool handles both: the questionnaire asks whether your agency is federal or state/local, and the letter is built on the correct law. If it is a state or local request and you know the name of your state's public-records law, you can enter it; if not, the letter refers to it in general terms.

Question 3

How specific does my request need to be?

Accepted Answer

Specific enough that an agency employee can find the records with a reasonable amount of effort. That is the legal standard, and it is also just practical: a precise request gets answered, a vague one stalls. The strongest requests name the type of record (emails, reports, contracts, meeting minutes), a subject or reference number, the office or official involved, and a date range. "All inspection reports for the facility at 400 Industrial Way between January 2023 and December 2024" works. "Everything about that factory" does not. This tool prompts you for those details and builds them into the request.

Question 4

Will I have to pay for the records?

Accepted Answer

Often little or nothing. Under federal FOIA, an ordinary individual requesting records for personal use is an "all other" requester, and the first two hours of search time and the first 100 pages are free. Beyond that, agencies can charge modest search and copying fees. The letter states a fee cap you are comfortable with and asks the agency to contact you before charging more, so you are never surprised. State fee rules vary.

Question 5

What is a fee waiver, and should I ask for one?

Accepted Answer

A fee waiver asks the agency to charge nothing because the records serve the public interest. It is not automatic and it is not for everyone. The standard is that disclosure is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of how the government operates, and is not primarily for your own commercial benefit. If you intend to publish or report what you learn, a waiver may fit. If you want the records for personal reasons, it generally does not, and the fee cap is the better tool. The questionnaire lets you request a waiver only if you have a genuine public-interest basis.

Question 6

How is this different from requesting my own records?

Accepted Answer

If you want federal records about yourself, the Privacy Act is often the better route, and many people file a combined FOIA and Privacy Act request. This tool writes a FOIA-style records request, which works for government records generally. If your request is specifically for your own file held by a federal agency, know that the Privacy Act exists and may give you a stronger right of access; you may want to mention both.

Question 7

What if my request is denied?

Accepted Answer

This tool writes the initial request only. If an agency denies your request or withholds records, you generally have the right to file an administrative appeal, and after that, in some cases, a lawsuit. Those are separate steps, and deciding whether the agency was right to withhold something is genuine legal analysis. This tool does not advise on exemptions, appeals, or litigation. If you want to challenge a denial, consider consulting an attorney; some organizations also help the public with FOIA appeals.

Question 8

How long does the agency have to respond?

Accepted Answer

Under federal FOIA, an agency generally must make a determination within 20 business days, though that is a decision on what it will release, not always the day the records arrive. Agencies can extend the timeline in "unusual circumstances," and in practice many requests take longer. State deadlines vary and are often shorter. If you do not hear back, following up politely with the FOIA office is the normal next step.

Question 9

Is this legal advice?

Accepted Answer

No. This tool helps you write a public-records request, a routine administrative document that any member of the public can file. It does not give legal advice, does not analyze which FOIA exemptions might apply, does not predict whether your request will succeed, and does not help with appeals or litigation. For any of those, consult a licensed attorney.

Question 10

How much does this cost?

Accepted Answer

$29, one time. No subscription, no hidden fees. You get PDF, Word, and clipboard formats, plus inline editing and unlimited re-downloads.

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