How to Write a Legal Document to Request a Release of Information
There are many different types of legal forms and letters for requesting information. They range from the release of medical, school or employment records to obtaining government documents under state and federal freedom of information laws. In most cases, the key is to note exactly what information you are seeking, and to make the inquiry thorough and detailed enough to cover exact dates, locations and situations so you don't have to make an additional request if everything does not come through the first time.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Contact information for the agency or agencies that have the information you are seeking.
Instructions
-
Everything must be noted in writing
-
1
Call the agency that has the information you are seeking and find out if they have a standard or existing form that you would fill out for information requests. It's important to use their form or format if possible, because the agency probably has a systematic way of reviewing and processing the request as quickly as possible.
-
2
Learn if the information is allowed to be released. Don't spend time on a request only to find out that the agency is legally prohibited from sharing that information. Medical records, for example, are considered highly private and confidential, so their release requires written authorization from the patient or the patient's authorized representative, according to the Rocket Lawyer.com legal documents website.
-
-
3
Understand the provisions of state and federal freedom of information laws if you are requesting information from public taxpayer-funded agencies like city police forces, municipal water departments, county tax collectors and state or federal criminal courts. Budgets, purchase receipts, salary information and activity reports are considered public records. Privacy laws, by contrast, prohibit the release of Social Security numbers, certain personnel and criminal records and, in some cases, addresses, according to the Electronic Privacy Information Center.
-
4
Proceed with your written request if, in fact, the information can legally be released and the agency you are dealing with does not have a standard form. The document should be typed, dated, signed and addressed to the person and agency you are contacting. It should also ask for whom an appeal should be directed to if your request is denied. Write in a formal and polite tone, and provide your own phone number, address and e-mail address so someone from the agency can contact you when they have the information from you, if they have questions or if they are denying your request.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
It is advised to work with a lawyer on any legal matters, though in certain situations it is useful to know how to request records if the situation does not warrant hiring an attorney. You may need an attorney's help if your request is denied.
