The public records
request service.
FileFOIA is a professional FOIA request service and public records retrieval service that files, tracks, and fights for your records at every level of government. If you need to hire someone to file a FOIA request on your behalf — our professional FOIA filing service handles everything. Flat fee. Completely private. Done for you. Federal FOIA, state open records, county and city requests — flat $49 fee, completely private, done for you.
The professional FOIA filing service
that works differently from every other option.
Your FOIA request stays private
Unlike MuckRock, which publishes every FOIA request on a public database, every request is completely private. What you’re requesting — and who you’re requesting it about — is never disclosed. Attorneys, investigators, and journalists trust us for exactly this reason.
No lawyer needed to use our service
FOIA is a statutory right — not a legal process. Under 5 U.S.C. § 552, any person can file a public records request without an attorney. FileFOIA is not a law firm — we are a professional filing and management service that knows exactly how to draft requests that produce results.
We don’t stop at the first response
Most FOIA services deliver a PDF and call it done. We run a document gap analysis on every production — checking date ranges, missing attachments, improper exemptions, and missing sent emails. If something’s wrong, we file a follow-up or appeal. Learn more about our four-step process.
One service.
Every level of government.
Most people only know about federal FOIA. FileFOIA covers all four levels of government — because every state, county, and city operates under its own open records law, and those agencies respond faster, charge less, and redact far less than federal agencies in most cases.
Any executive branch agency of the U.S. government. Our FOIA request service files federal FOIA requests covering law enforcement records, immigration files, military records, regulatory enforcement, tax administration, national security oversight, and government contracts.
Federal FOIA service →Every state has its own public records law. Our FOIA request service files under all 50 state open records laws — state police, departments of correction, attorney general offices, DMVs, and state universities — typically within 5–30 days.
State records service →County governments hold enormous amounts of locally relevant records. Our FOIA request service files county public records requests with sheriff’s departments, courts, property offices, health departments, and elections offices — frequently the most valuable source for our clients.
County records service →City halls, police departments, fire departments, zoning boards, and school districts. Our FOIA request service files city and municipal records requests with the fastest-responding agencies in government — and among the most revealing — especially for police records, local contracts, and city council communications.
City records service →How our done-for-you public records
request service works — intake to delivery.
Tell us what you need
Fill out our intake form — which agency, what records, what date range. We determine the correct jurisdiction and drafts a legally precise public records request. Vague requests get denied. Ours don’t.
We submit and monitor
We file with the agency, timestamp the submission, and log every response — acknowledgments, extensions, clarifications, partial releases, and denials. You receive plain-English email notifications for every single update.
We analyze what came back
When records arrive, we run a document gap analysis — comparing what was produced against your original request. Missing date ranges, absent attachments, invalid exemptions — all flagged and challenged on your behalf.
Records delivered to your portal
Every document organized, labeled, and downloadable in your secure client dashboard and private Dropbox folder. Full case history — what was requested, what was received, and what gaps remain to be resolved.
We check what the
agency didn’t send.
Most services stop when a PDF arrives and call it done. FileFOIA goes further — every production gets cross-referenced against your original request. We catch what agencies hope you won’t notice. This is what a professional public records retrieval service actually looks like.
When we find gaps — and we almost always do — we draft follow-up letters, challenge improper exemptions, and escalate to formal appeals. This is what separates a real FOIA request help service from a one-and-done filing tool. All included in our Full Service tier.
Anyone can hire someone to file a FOIA
request — here’s who uses FileFOIA.
Attorneys & Paralegals
Use our FOIA request service for pre-litigation discovery. We handle every step so you focus on strategy. Our FOIA request service offers high-volume retainer accounts for law firms.
FOIA for attorneys →Private Investigators
Our FOIA request service retrieves background records, regulatory files, and enforcement histories across all four government levels — exactly what private investigators need.
FOIA for investigators →Small Businesses
Competitor contract bids, inspection records, regulatory intelligence. Our FOIA request service is one of the most powerful business intelligence tools available — and most companies never use it.
FOIA for businesses →Immigrants & Families
USCIS A-Files, CBP entry records, ICE enforcement records. Our FOIA request service gets your immigration file before your next application or hearing.
Immigration FOIA service →Veterans
VA medical records, service files, C-Files, and benefits documentation. Our FOIA request service gets the records that support your disability claims and benefits appeals.
Veterans FOIA service →Journalists
Our FOIA request service files completely privately — no public database, no MuckRock disclosure. Your investigation, sources, and targets stay confidential across all federal and state agencies.
FOIA for journalists →Real Estate & Developers
Permit histories, zoning violations, inspection records, code enforcement files. Our FOIA request service pulls county and city records that are goldmines for due diligence before you buy or build.
Real estate records →Parents & Advocates
School board records, district spending, superintendent communications, police incident reports. Our FOIA request service puts local government records in your hands — they’re public and you’re entitled to them.
Request police records →Transparent pricing for a professional
public records retrieval service.
For individuals and businesses who know what they need. We file and deliver your public records request response.
- We draft and file the request
- Government agency fees passed at cost
- Email notifications on all agency responses
- Case status tracking dashboard
- Secure document delivery
A full-lifecycle FOIA request service advocate. We pursue your public records request until you actually receive complete, usable records.
- Everything in Standard
- Document gap analysis on every production
- Extension tracking and statutory escalation
- Exemption challenge review and response
- Client portal with full case history
- Organized, labeled, downloadable records
- Appeal preparation if production incomplete
For law firms, investigators, and repeat clients running multiple FOIA request service cases simultaneously across multiple agencies and jurisdictions.
- Pre-funded balance for all activity
- Auto-deduction per case milestone
- Low-balance notifications and top-up
- Priority handling and turnaround
- Full service on every request
- Team portal and shared dashboard
- Monthly case summary report
Pre-filing consultations: $75 / 30 min — we tell you what records exist, which agency holds them, and exactly how to ask. | Full pricing details →
Your FOIA request is
never made public.
FOIA platforms like MuckRock publish every request on a searchable public database. Your targets, your investigative angles, and the records you’re seeking become visible to anyone — including the people you’re investigating. That’s not how we operate.
FileFOIA operates entirely privately. Attorneys use us because their legal strategy stays confidential. Journalists use us because their sources are protected. Businesses use us because their competitive intelligence stays in-house. Learn more about how our process works.
File a Private Request — $49FOIA request service FAQ —
everything about hiring us to file for you.
Yes — any person or company can hire someone to file a FOIA request as their authorized agent. Our FOIA request service drafts the request, submits it to the correct agency, monitors every response, and delivers the records to you. No legal background required. See our pricing for flat-fee options starting at $49.
Federal FOIA (5 U.S.C. § 552) covers federal executive branch agencies — FBI, IRS, DHS, VA, DOJ, and 100+ others. Every state has its own separate open records law — California’s CPRA, Texas Public Information Act, Florida’s Sunshine Law, New York FOIL, and 46 more. Counties and cities fall under the applicable state law. We handle all four levels. See our state records page for state-specific information.
Under federal FOIA law, agencies must respond within 20 business days — but in practice many take 3–12 months due to large backlogs. Our FOIA request help service tracks every statutory deadline and follows up immediately when agencies miss them. State agencies respond within 5–30 days. County and city agencies are often the fastest.
A denial is not the end — it opens appeal rights. We analyze whether the cited exemptions are legally valid, identifies what was improperly withheld, and prepares targeted appeal letters. See our FOIA appeal service for more detail.
No. Federal FOIA expressly allows any person — regardless of citizenship or immigration status — to request government records. FileFOIA files on behalf of anyone, regardless of status. This is especially important for immigrants seeking their own USCIS, CBP, or ICE immigration records.
Yes. FileFOIA never publishes or discloses your requests. Unlike MuckRock which makes every request publicly searchable by default, your request — what you’re asking for, which agency you’re asking, and what records you receive — stays completely confidential.
Almost any agency record not subject to a specific statutory exemption. We commonly retrieve: immigration records (A-Files, visa history), VA and military service records, police incident reports and officer misconduct records, government contracts and spending, regulatory enforcement files, and internal agency communications. See our full guide to what’s requestable.
FOIA has nine statutory exemptions allowing agencies to withhold certain records. Agencies frequently cite them too broadly. We analyze every exemption cited in your response and challenge those that don’t hold up through the administrative appeal process.
The records exist.
We get them.
Hire our professional FOIA filing service today — federal, state, county, and city public records requests under one flat fee. No legal background required. Done for you from start to delivery.