Does FOIA cover state and local records?

No. The federal FOIA (5 U.S.C. 552) applies only to U.S. federal executive-branch agencies. States and cities have their own public-records laws — often called sunshine or open-records acts — with separate forms, deadlines, and fees. This template is written for a federal request.

Do I have to mail this letter?

Not necessarily. Many agencies accept FOIA requests by mail, by email, or through an online portal such as FOIA.gov or the agency's own site. This letter works for any of those — fill it, then send or paste the text wherever the agency directs. AttachKit does not submit it for you.

How specific does the records description need to be?

As specific as you can be. Naming the subject, date range, offices, people, and document types helps the agency locate records and can lower fees. Vague requests are slower and more likely to be sent back for clarification. The template gives you a wide field for this.

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

Agencies can charge search, review, and copy fees. You can request a waiver when disclosure is in the public interest and not primarily for commercial use; news media, educational, and non-commercial requesters often qualify for reduced fees. The template has a field to explain your justification — whether the agency grants it is up to them.

General · FOIA request letter

Fill and sign a FOIA request letter — free

A FOIA request letter asks a U.S. federal agency to release records under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). A clear letter names the agency's FOIA office, describes the records specifically, and states your fee and format preferences. AttachKit fills those fields in from your saved profile so you can print, email, or paste into an agency portal. It fills the letter in your browser — it does not submit or file anything for you.

Your PDF never leaves your browser — open DevTools → Network and watch: the file is never uploaded.

Who needs it: Journalists and researchers seeking government documents. People requesting their own agency records (immigration, veterans, benefits files). Attorneys, watchdog groups, and anyone digging into how a federal agency made a decision.

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Why fill it here

Auto-fill your requester block (name, address, email, phone) from your saved profile.
Lay out the agency FOIA office, records description, date range, and fee-waiver in one clean letter.
Sign with a typed or drawn signature, then print, email, or paste into the agency's portal.
Free to fill unlimited forms (10 signed PDFs/mo on the free tier).

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FOIA request letter questions, answered

Does FOIA cover state and local records?: No. The federal FOIA (5 U.S.C. 552) applies only to U.S. federal executive-branch agencies. States and cities have their own public-records laws — often called sunshine or open-records acts — with separate forms, deadlines, and fees. This template is written for a federal request.
Do I have to mail this letter?: Not necessarily. Many agencies accept FOIA requests by mail, by email, or through an online portal such as FOIA.gov or the agency's own site. This letter works for any of those — fill it, then send or paste the text wherever the agency directs. AttachKit does not submit it for you.
How specific does the records description need to be?: As specific as you can be. Naming the subject, date range, offices, people, and document types helps the agency locate records and can lower fees. Vague requests are slower and more likely to be sent back for clarification. The template gives you a wide field for this.
What is a fee waiver and should I ask for one?: Agencies can charge search, review, and copy fees. You can request a waiver when disclosure is in the public interest and not primarily for commercial use; news media, educational, and non-commercial requesters often qualify for reduced fees. The template has a field to explain your justification — whether the agency grants it is up to them.

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AttachKit is a private, independent tool for filling and signing PDFs on your own device. It is not a government agency, law firm, or filing service, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the IRS, USCIS, the U.S. Department of State, or any government body. Forms are provided for convenience — always download the current version and instructions from the official .gov website, and your completed document never leaves your browser.