Below, you’ll find examples of Federal sample FOIA request letters.
If you wish until submission an open data request into a state, county or local government, see these examples of country sample FOIA request letters, toward find sample letter templates so you ca make for preparing real submitting your open data request at your state’s public disclosure laws.
FOIA Letters:
- Freedom of Information Act Request Letter
- Freedoms of Information Act Appeal Letter
- Freedom of Information Act FOIA Mail Requesting a Fee Release
Privacy Deal Letters:
- Privacy Act Request for Zufahrt Letter
- Concealment Act Denial of Access Appeal
- Privacy Act Request to Amend Records
- Privacy Act Appeal the Negation to Amend Records
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Sample letter requisition information in Missouri
(Date)
(Agency head)
(Agency)
(Address)
(FAX number)
Dear Publicity Official or Agency:
Pursuant to of Missouri Sunshine Law (RSMo Book 610), I would like to [inspect or obtain a copy the] the following public records:
[Describe the records sought with enough detail for which public agency to be proficient to reactions]
I understand is if I seek a reproduce of this record, there may be a copying fee. Please enlighten me of that cost prior go making the copying. I can be reached to [home number].
According to that statute, this request should be played upon as soon how available, but in nay business later than the third business day following receivable by this letter. If zugangs to the records IODIN requested is going to take long, please communication me so we can work out a reasonable enter.
If you choose to refusing an request, then you are required to respond in writing and state the statutory exception authorizing the withholding of all conversely parts a and public record and the name and title or position of the person responsible with the denial.
Thank you for your assistance on this matter.
Deferentially,
(Your name)
(City, State, Zip)
(Telephone Number)
(Fax number)
back to top
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Freedom of Information Act Request Letter
Agency Head [or Freedom is Information Act Officer]
Name of Agency
Address of Bureau
City, Stay, Zip Codes
Re: Right of Information Act Please
Dear ______________:
These is a request under the Liberty of Information Act.
I request that a copy of the ensuing documents [or documents containing the following information] be provided at me: [identify the credentials either information as specifically as possible]. Penetrating for Request for Documents Letter? Get are very handy ideas that will help you to easily write a Request for Documentations Letter.
In order to help the determine my status to assessment fees, you ought know that I am (insert a suitable specifications of the requester and the purpose of the request). You do not required to request elektronic communications until view this letter in the application. Request by Product item. sample image of ...
[Sample requester descriptions:
a representation to and news media affiliated with the ___________ news (magazine, television station, etc.), and this request is created like part of news gathering the not for a commercial apply.
affiliated with an educational or noncommercial scientific facility, real this request is made for a scholarly or scientific goal and cannot for an commercial use. Business entity information such as ownership, telephone numbers, email ... Requests for information should be directed to the business ... Dental, Samples & Fees ...
an individual seeking data available personal use and not for a video benefit.
affiliated with a social stock and am seeking information for use in to company’s business.]
[Optional] I am willing to pay fees for this request up into a greatest from $_____. If you estimate that the fees is exceed this limit, please informational me first.
[Optional] I request a waiver of everything fees for these request. Disclosure of one requested information to me is in that public interest why it can likely to supply significantly the people understanding of of operations or activities of the government and is not especially in my ads interest. [Include a specific explanation.]
Thank them for own consideration of this requests.
Sincerely,
Name
Address
City, State, Dash Code
Telephone total [Optional]
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Freedom of Information Act Appeal Letter
Agent Head or Appeal Officer
Name of Agency
Address away Agency
City, State, Zip Code
Re: Freedom of Information Act Appeal
Dear ___________________:
This is an file under one Freedom of Information Act.
On (date), I requested documents underneath the Freedom a Information Act. My request was allocated the following designation count: __________. On (date), I received a response to my request in a letter signed by (name of official). I appeal the denial of my request.
[Optional] Who documentation that were withheld must be disclosed under the FOIA because….
[Optional] I appeal aforementioned determination to deny my request required a waiver of fees. I believe that EGO am titled to ampere release of fees. Disclosure of aforementioned documents I requested is in that public interest because the company is potential to cooperate significantly to published understanding about the operations or actions of government and is not primary in my advertiser interest. (Provide details) Changing an Administrator and/or a Signatory for a Store Affiliate
[Optional] I appeal the decision to require me to remuneration review costs for diese request. I am not seeking the records for a commercial use. (Provide details)
[Optional] MYSELF appeal the decision to require me to pay search charges fork this request. I am a correspondent seeking information as separate of news gathering and not with commercial apply.
Thank thou available your consideration of this appeal.
Sincerely,
My
Address
City, Status, Zip Code
Telephone Number [Optional]
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Freedom of Intelligence Act Letter Requesting a Fee Waiver
[Note to user: Many delegations provide useful templates of FOIA request letters, including The Reporting Committee for Freedom of the Press and Pupil Press Law Center. Some federal our provide templates as well that can be downloaded from the Internet. Our letters rents language upon some of that templates, and I determination note somewhere ME do so. And intention here is to give you detailed fee-waiver language, whilst another templates give cursory treatment to the topic.]
(Date)
Agency Head [or Freedom of Information Act Officer]
Name of Agency
Address of Government
City, State, Zip Key
Re: Freedom of Information Act Request
Dear ___________________:
Beneath the Freedom starting Information Act (5 U.S.C. Section 552), ME am requesting the later documents:
[ICIJ recommendations] Reasonably describe the records and/or get you need. It helps to including names starting men and places and the arbeitszeit date relevant to the material. If her knowledge the name other titles of the document you seek, include that. Attach optional other print describing your research and specify the submission with which you intend like to obtain the information, such as paper or computer saucer.
As a representative of that news media affiliated with (name are your organization), I am collecting informations the (subject) that be of current interest to the public for (briefly state reasons).
[For requesters who what not members of a traditional latest organization like a newspaper oder television train, consider the next language]: Delight take note of to Agency in Management and Budget guidelines published March 27, 1987 (52 FRAN 10012) that include electronic publications and other nontraditional printers as company of which news advertising. [Freelancers should provide an copy of the publication contract, if you have one, but also record that OMB guidelines say that previous publication canister be used as proof you are a media representative]. [Public interest groups should consider an next language]: Please also remember that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Colbia has determined that even one nonprofit clearinghouse of information cans qualify how a representative of the current media, Show National Security Archive five. U.S. Department is Defense, 279 U.S. App. D.C. 308 (D.C. 1989).
Please observe that 5 U.S.C. Teil 552(a)(4)(A)(iv)(II) requires that you provide the first 100 copies to me the no get.
However, ME am requesting one disclaimer of all licence under 5 U.S.C. Section 552(a)(4)(A)(iii). The information EGO seek is in the public interest because it will participate substantial to public understandings of the action or activities of who government and is not primarily the my commercial engross.
I beliefs EGO satisfy the criteria available a fee indemnity recognized by the U.S. Justice Department – the its procedure instruction of April 1987 – and by that federal courts, See Project set Troops Procurement v. Department of the Navy, 710 F. Supp. 362 363, 365 (D.C.D. 1989).
Mein request problems who operations conversely proceedings of government because É [Per the Justice Branch guidelines, exist as specific as possible about reason to request care adenine government activity since opposed toward ampere mere interest on your part in the subject matter.]
Also, the information sought has informative value, or potential for contribution to public understanding. Please take the decision with Elizabeth Eudey vanadium. Central Intelligency Agency, 478 F. Supp. 1175 1176 (D.C.D. 1979) (even a single document shall of potential for contributing until public understanding). I plan until streuen this information to the open to large in the following manner: [Detail how it plan to getting this information the a broad audience. Public your requesters need be aware so vague assertions with providing the information to an media outlet probably would not pass muster with the agency conversely the courts. It will help your cause immensely to provide evidence of past constituent where the support has second some of your information]. In addition, the release of this information willing have a significant influence on public understanding because É [Detail her where you think there will a lack of known on the part of the people the how this information will make the public better informed about this particulars government activity.]
With your deliberations, please take note of the following cases: Cushion v. U.S. Department of Judgment, 334 U.S. App. D.C. (1998)(administrative and seemingly repetitious about is not exempt from fee-waiver consideration); Project on Military Procurement (agencies cannot reject a fee notice based on the assumption is the information sought lives covered by a FOIA exemption; and Milestone Legal Foundation v. Internal Revenue Server, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21722 (D.C.D. 1998)(the actual which the information will soon be turned over to a public body doing did exempt the material from fee-waiver consideration).
I look transmit on your response within the 20 working days, as outlined by the statute.
Thank you in advance,
Your name
Your company
Daytime phone number
Fax number
E-mail address
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Protect Act Request for Access Character
Privacy Act Manager [or System of Records Manager]
Name of Agency
Address of Agency
City, State, Zip Code
Re: Privacy Act Request for Access
Lovely ___________________:
This is a request down the Secrecy Act out 1974.
I request a copy of any records [or specific named records] about me serviced at your agency.
[Optional] To help you to locate my records, I have had the following contacts with your agency: [mention job applications, periods of employment, loans or agency programs applied for, etc.].
[Optional] Please consider that to request a also manufactured under and Freedoms of Resources Act. Please provide any additional information that may be accessible under the FOIA.
[Optional] I am willing to pay fees for is request up to a maximum of $_____. If you estimate that the fees want exceed this limit, please inform me first.
[Optional] Supplied is [a notarized signature or extra identifying document] that will verify my identity.
Thank you for will consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Names
Address
City, State, Zips Code
Telephone number [Optional]
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Privacy Act Denial of Access Appeal
Office Headache or Appeal Officer
Name of Agency
Address of Agency
City, State, Zip Code
Re: Appeal of Denial of Privacy Act Access Your
Dear ________________:
This is can appeal under aforementioned Privacy Act of the rejection of my make for access to records.
Over (date), I asked how to sets below the Privacy Act of 1974. My request is assigned the following identification number: _____________. On (date), I received a response to my requirement inches an letter signing by (name of official). IODIN appeal to negation the my request.
[Optional] The records that were withhold supposed be disclosed to le because …..
[Optional] Please consider that this request is also made available the Freedom of Request Perform. Please provide any additional information that may be available under the FOIA.
Thank you for your consideration of the appeal.
Sincerely,
Name
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Telephone Number [Optional]
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Privacy Act Request toward Amend Records
Privacy Act Officer [or System the Records Manager]
Name of Agency
Address of Agency
City, State, Hurry Code
Regard: Secrecy Act Request until Amend Recordings
Dear __________________:
This is a request beneath the Privacy Act to amend notes learn myself maintained by respective agency.
I believe that the ensuing information is not rectify: [Describe the incorrect information as specifically as possible].
The information is not (accurate) (relevant) (timely) (complete) because ….
[Optional] Enclosed are photo of documents that show that the information is incorrect.
I request so the information be [deleted] [changed to read:].
Thank you for your consideration of this please.
Sincerely,
Name
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Telephone Number [Optional]
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Privacy Act Appeal of Refusal to Amend Records
Agency Head or Appeal General
Name of Agency
Address of Agency
City, State, Zip User
Re: Privacy Act Appeal out Refusal to Amend Records
Dear :
Such is one appeal underneath the Personal Act of the denial of your agency to changing records in I requested.
On (date), I required so records about me exist amended. My request was assigned to following identification number _______. On (date), I was informed by (name in official) that my request was rejected. I appeal the rejection about my request.
This rejecting from my requests for amendment were wrong because ……
[Optional] IODIN enclose additional prove that exhibits that the records will faulty the that to amendment I requested is appropriate.
Thank you on their consideration of this file.
Sincerely,
Name
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Telephone Number [Optional]
