Sample FOI Request | Maine Freedom of Information Coalition (MFOIC)

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Friday, May 24, 2013

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Generate your own sample FOI request letter

Submitting a FOI request to a government agency in Maine is not difficult, but a complete, well-written request may help you avoid delays and further correspondence. If you are submitting a FOI request to a federal government agency, then don't use this form; instead, go to this page as kindly provided to you by The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

The form below is designed to help you create a simple FOI letter. It asks you for all pertinent information and guides you through the options available. Once completed, the sample letter will be created and emailed to you from the World Wide Web. You may then paste it into your favorite word processor and edit it further before mailing.

Answer the questions below as if you were providing the information directly to a government office. If a query is actually the start of a sentence, fill in the missing elements of the sentence. If you don't know the agency contact name, simply enter: FOI Officer

Your full name: Your Organization: Your Mailing Address: Your Town, State Zip: Your email address: Your phone number:	Agency Contact Name: Agency name: Agency Address: Agency Town, State Zip: Agency email: Agency phone number:
Clearly describe below, in detail, what you want. Include identifying material, such as names, places, and the period of time about which you are inquiring. If you think they will help to explain what you are looking for, include news clips, reports, and other documents describing the subject of your research when you mail your letter. You may also wish to first study Title 1, Chapter 13, § 402. Definitions to more fully understand what may be requested and what may likely be legally denied.
I request access to and copies of...
Choose desired format for records: Fee Limit: $
Choose a format and enter a dollar limit for the amount of fees you are willing to pay. The agency will be told to notify you if the amount will exceed this. Most agencies will not consider your request properly filed unless you state your willingness to pay. If you set an amount up front, the agency will begin to process your request, and you can retain some control over the ultimate amount you will have to pay.
This will NOT send the letter to the agency for you.

Thank you for using the MFOIC's automated FOI sample letter. We do not collect any information from this form; none of your data will be recorded. However, we'd like to hear whether you found it useful, so please feel free to leave a comment on the MFOIC Bulletin Board.

We encourage you to support the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition and Maine's right to know by becoming a member. Join the MFOIC Today!