ByNorth Carolina Freedom of Information Act—How To File a Request
North Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), also known as Public Records Law, guarantees that every FOIA requester will get the information they ask for. The FOIA was established in 1966, but the North Carolina Freedom of Information Act was passed in 1935.
We will tell you all you need to know about the FOIA fees, appeals, requests, exemptions, and request statuses. Our platform will also show you the best and fastest way to file a FOIA request.
North Carolina Freedom of Information Act—Details
The FOIA or Public Records Law in North Carolina stipulates that individuals who make FOIA requests never have to state a purpose. The law also doesn’t restrict the use of the disclosed information.
Check out the table below for more information:
| Details | Description |
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The basis of the FOIA | Any public records or information that are paid by taxpayer money belong to the people |
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The requesters | The NC FOIA clearly states that any person can request public records |
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Fees | There are two different kinds of fees for two types of searches:
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Response time | North Carolina has no strict policy about the response time and no absolute deadline for responding to your request |
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Exemptions | North Carolina has three main exemptions to the FOIA:
These documents aren’t available to the public. The agency that holds the documents has to take the confidential information out of the document |
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Filing a FOIA request on yourself | You can file a FOIA request on yourself, but you’ll need to prove your identity |
How To File a North Carolina FOIA Request
The method of filing a FOIA request will depend on the specific agency you need information from. There aren’t particular guidelines for filing the request.
In most cases, you’ll be able to file your FOIA request online, but some agencies will need you to mail a written request.
Some of the general steps for filing FOIA requests are listed below. To file a request, you’ll need to:
- Check whether the agency has already posted the information
- Do the research and provide details of the document you’re seeking
- Fill out the FOIA request form or write your own request letter—you can find an NC sample FOIA request online or use our template to write your own
- Submit the request using the suitable method that the agency accepts
How To File an NC Freedom of Information Act Request With DoNotPay
The process of requesting information under the FOIA can be time- and energy-consuming, especially if you’re requesting multiple files from various agencies.
DoNotPay has created an automated feature that will help you file your requests fast and easily. You’ll only need to open our platform in any and provide us with some essential information. We’ll do the rest on your behalf.
Follow these steps to file your NC Freedom of Information Act request with DoNotPay:
- Find the FOIA feature in the DoNotPay app
- Choose the type of agency—state or federal
- Enter the agency’s name and detailed information about the records you need
- Indicate if you qualify for a fee waiver or expedited processing
- Submit your request
When you finish this process, DoNotPay will generate your FOIA request letter. We will send it to the agency on your behalf.
Find Out What Other Agencies DoNotPay Can Help With
One of the strongest suits of ’s FOIA feature is that we can help you file a FOIA request with local and state agencies. If you need police reports or military records in any state, we can help you.
Check out the table below to see some of the states and agencies our platform can help you with:
What To Do if the Agency Denies Your Request?
If the agency rejects your FOIA request, you can file an appeal. You’ll need to find the appeals office contact information on the particular agency’s website and follow these steps:
- Mark your letter and envelope or an email subject with The FOIA Appeal
- Include your FOIA request number
- Attach the copies of your original request and the rejection letter from the agency
- Explain your reasons for appealing
- Send it to the specific agency’s appeals office
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