1. Search what is already public
Agencies post reading rooms, dockets, and data portals. Check FOIA.gov search, the agency site, GovInfo, and this site’s official-sources list before you file.
Request a record
FOIA and state open records
If the document is not already posted, you ask the office that created it. Federal agencies use FOIA. Cities, counties, and states use their own public-records statutes.
2. Name the agency
A request goes to one agency. The FBI does not hold your county deed. HUD does not hold a state court file. If you are unsure, start at USA.gov.
3. File the federal request
Use FOIA.gov to pick the agency and submit. Describe the records by date, office, and subject. You do not need a lawyer. Fees can apply after a free threshold.
4. Ask the state or county
Every state has an open-records or sunshine law. File with the city clerk, county attorney, school district, or state agency that holds the file. The state attorney general usually publishes a how-to guide.
Official starting points
FOIA.gov
Federal request portal and agency contacts.
How to FOIA
Justice Department primer on the federal process.
State attorneys general
Find the office that explains your state’s public-records law.
FOIA does not cover Congress, federal courts, or state and local government. Those bodies have separate rules. Some records are exempt: classified files, ongoing investigations, and many personnel records.