What is the Open Records Act?

What is the Open Records Act?

Open Records Acts or Freedom of Information Acts (FOIA) are laws that give you the right to access public documents, which means anything in possession of a public agency. Each state sets its own rules, but generally the open records act applies to all government agencies.

What does public record mean?

Public records are documents or pieces of information that are not considered confidential and generally pertain to the conduct of government. Essentially, if the marriage record is public, a copy of the record can be ordered from the county in which the marriage occurred.

What determines whether a document is a public record?

For most public records, the act uses a three-part test to determine if a record is a “public record.” The document must be: A “writing,” containing information “relating to the conduct of government” or the performance of any governmental or proprietary function, “prepared, owned, used, or retained” by an agency.

What are public records in Florida?

You are entitled to inspect and copy “public records,” including all documents, maps, tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, data processing software, or other material, made or received pursuant to law or in connection with the official business of any agency. Fla. Stat. § .