Service and Answers

Introduction
After a complaint is filed in a federal district court, it and other material are required to be served on the government. The date of the government's answer to a FOIA complaint is based off of the date service is completed.

Service
Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a FOIA plaintiff must serve the complaint and a summons signed and stamped by the court clerk on several entities. In most cases, this means the plaintiff must:
 * 1) Send a copy of the complaint and the relevant signed and stamped summons by registered or certified mail to the civil-process clerk at the United States attorney's office;
 * 2) Send a copy of the complaint and the relevant signed and stamped summons by registered or certified mail to the Attorney General of the United States at Washington, D.C.; and
 * 3) Send a copy of the complaint and the relevant signed and stamped summons by registered or certified mail to the agency.

U.S. Attorney General
The U.S. Attorney General is located at:

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530

U.S. Attorney for DC
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia is located at:

555 Fourth Street, NW

Washington, DC 20530 (for mail delivery)

Answer
A defendant agency must file an answer within 30 days of service.