What this is
PeoplesData.shop publishes three things: free guides on how records requests and public meetings actually work, free reference pages on how a particular state, county or town is governed and which office holds which record, and paid downloads — the letters, trackers and worksheets that go with the free material.
The free side is the point. Most people who need a record don't need a product; they need to know which office to write to and how to phrase it so the request can't be brushed off. That part is free and stays free.
The standard every page is held to
A page about a real public body either says where its facts came from and when they were checked, or it doesn't get published.
- Every place page carries a Sources block, a verification date and a review date. The site will not build a page that states facts without sources.
- No statutory deadline, fee, exemption or citation appears anywhere until it has been checked against the current statute. Where that check hasn't happened yet, the page says less rather than guessing.
- Individual officials' names are left off on purpose. They change with every election and are the fastest way for a page to quietly go wrong.
- Every page states plainly that this site is not affiliated with the body it describes.
- When a review date passes, the page is flagged for re-checking before anything else ships.
Who runs it
One person — Tricia Sanford. This started because I needed these things myself and could not find them anywhere in a usable form: a straight answer about which office is the custodian, a letter that doesn't get ignored, and a way to keep track of what was asked and what came back.
I am not a lawyer and this is not a law firm. What I have is practice at doing this, and a strong preference for showing the source instead of asking anyone to take my word for it.
What this is not
- Not legal advice, and not a substitute for a lawyer where one is needed.
- Not a government website, and not affiliated with any agency, county, city or board named anywhere on this site.
- Not a data broker. Nothing here sells or compiles information about private individuals.
- Not a donation platform. Where a cause is featured, the link goes to that organisation's own official giving page and no money passes through this site.
Tell me which county to do next
New county references and guides go to the mailing list first. Say where you are and it moves up the list.
No spam, no selling your address. Unsubscribe any time.Educational and organisational resources — not legal advice.
Nothing on this site is legal advice and reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship. PeoplesData.shop is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or acting on behalf of any government body.