Are Public Records Free?

Public Records: Free or Fee?

Public Records: Free or Fee?

Federal and state laws govern access to public records. For example, at the federal level, the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act spell out which records the public can access including federal agency records and records containing personal information about oneself. These acts also specify any fees associated with accessing these records. For example, the Freedom of Information Act permits agencies to charge fees to those requesting the information including hourly search fees and charges for copying the documents. Under the Privacy Act, the only fee an agency can charge is for copying the documents.

Non-commercial Public Records: Free 2-hour Search and 100 Pages Copied

According to the U.S. Government Services Administration's Your Right to Federal Records publication, people requesting records that fall under the Freedom of Information Act that are for noncommercial purposes are generally not charged for the first two hours of searching or for the first 100 pages of copies.

State Public Records: Free?

Depending on the laws governing the information you seek, you may be able to get public records free, but you may have to pay for copies. State laws vary as well, so if the records you seek are state records, you'll need to check with the state's office of vital statistics about potential fees. Like federal regulations, it's not unusual for states to charge small fees for copying public records.

Public Records Free Online

Some government agencies make records available online. For example, records about sex offenders is generally available online for free. However, access to other public records can be costly. While tThe National Death Index charges small fees of $5 per known decedent or $0.21 per subject per year searched for subjects that are unknown, additional service charges apply such as a $350 initial submission fee. Similarly the Social Security Death Master File, which is available through the U.S. Department of Commerce's NTIS.gov site, costs $1825 for a single issue DVD or $995 for an annual online subscription (with even higher prices for other versions).

Public Records: Free at the Courthouse

If you want to get public records free, visiting the city clerk's office or courthouse may be your best bet. Free access to records is usually granted if you visit courthouses and agencies in person; however, if you need a copy, you may be required to pay for copying. The problem with this option is that going to the courthouse where the records are stored isn't always practical. For example, if you're in California and the records you need are stored in New York, you'd have to fly across country, pay for lodging, and incur additional expenses. In addition, if the records are old, they may be stored offsite.

No matter what type of records you seek, you may incur some expenses, even if the records are essentially free.

Are Public Records Free?

By: Celeste Stewart

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