Civic · official-source review · reviewed 2026-10-10
A denial letter that is ignored past its appeal window closes the route, even when the denial was wrong.
Turn the date of a records denial and the appeal window stated in the letter into the last day to file an appeal.
Anyone who received a denial or partial denial on a public records request and wants to act within the window.
Use the source document or official route that applies to your situation. This guide does not contact another person or verify external information.
Find the date of the denial and the number of days the letter gives you to appeal.
Enter the denial date and the number of days from the letter, not from memory.
The result is the last day to file, counted from the denial date. Mark it on your calendar.
State which records you want, why the denial is wrong, and the reference number from the letter.
Send the appeal in a way that gives you a dated record, and keep a copy of everything.
The denial letter is dated January 15 and allows 90 days to appeal. The last day to appeal is April 15.
Use your own source and details. The example is not a record about a real person or organization.
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Information Policy · reviewed 2026-10-10
What this source supports: A FOIA request should describe the records clearly and state the requester's willingness to pay fees or request a waiver.
Source limit: Agency procedures and fee schedules differ. Confirm the current form and fees with the agency that holds the records.
These sources support the statements above. They do not show that every person needs this guide. They do not show a specific result.
This guide adds days to a date you enter. It does not know each agency's rules, and the denial letter states the deadline that applies to you.
Agency procedures and fee schedules differ. Confirm the current form and fees with the agency that holds the records.
Use current instructions from the responsible organization. This guide is a planning aid, not an official decision or a substitute for qualified advice.
Turn the date of a records denial and the appeal window stated in the letter into the last day to file an appeal.
This App adds the stated number of days to the denial date. It does not know each agency's rules and does not file an appeal.
You enter every number yourself. The sources support the method and the limits. They do not produce a result for your specific case. Keep the original documents next to the sheet you build.
The App computes the worked example with your own numbers, in your browser.
APP 1
Turn the date of a records denial and the appeal window stated in the letter into the last day to file an appeal.
Free · no account · no upload
Open Records Denial Appeal DeadlineThe App runs in this browser. It does not send or save entries. Copy, download, or print only when you choose.
This guide uses short, direct instructions as an ASD-STE100-style writing target. It is not a formal certification.
Companion App: Records Denial Appeal Deadline. It runs in this browser and does not upload your entries.
This guide is edited for clarity and checked against the sources it links. It is not a substitute for official instructions or qualified advice. A linked source does not show that every person needs this guide.