top of page

The Right-to-know law

Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) gives any U.S. citizen the right to request records from all three branches of government in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The law is a state version of the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

 

When Pennsylvania (or one of its private contractors) is in possession of a record, the law presumes that the record is public. However, the law has thirty exceptions—such as commercial trade secret information or information that, if disclosed, might harm people or their privacy.

 

When you file a request for records, it doesn’t matter who you are or why you want the records. The law is designed to make sure that Pennsylvania’s government operates openly and fairly, so that taxpayers and citizens can know exactly how their money is being spent and what their government is doing on their behalf.

RTKL Lawyer

REQUESTERs

Learn how to draft, file, and appeal Right-to-Know Law requests

BUSINESSES

Learn how to protect your trade secret information

agencies

Learn how to stay in compliance and defend frivolous requests

RTKL History

© 2023 by Ramsingh Legal

LEGAL NOTICE: THIS WEBSITE MAY BE CONSIDERED ADVERTISING IN SOME JURISDICTIONS UNDER THE APPLICABLE LAW AND ETHICAL RULES. RAMSINGH LEGAL DOES NOT OFFER ANY GUARANTEE OF CASE RESULTS. Ramsingh Legal is a virtual law office. Our attorneys are licensed in Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Alabama. Legal services may be offered in additional jurisdictions pursuant to applicable ethics rules. The information offered on this website is not legal advice and should not be construed as such. Newspaper printing press photo by Bank Phrom on Unsplash.

*ATTORNEY ADVERTISING*

Right-to-Know Law | Sunshine Act | Appellate Advocacy

bottom of page