Records Request
Before making a request, first see if the information is already publicly available. You can find a lot of useful information on individual agency websites and you can also search across the government for information.
If the information you want is not publicly available, you can view Missouri's Sunshine Law.
Identify the right agency
It’s important that you identify the correct agency for your request. There are more than 100 agencies and each is responsible for handling its own FOIA requests. You can find a breakdown of agencies by topic on USA.gov to help you identify the correct agency.
What happens after you submit a request?
The agency will typically first search for the records and then review them to determine what can be disclosed. While FOIA allows for many records to be released, there are also nine exemptions that protect certain types of information, such as personal privacy and law enforcement interests.
The length of time to respond to your request will vary depending on its complexity and any backlog of requests.