# Are contracts public record? — DocFind

Last reviewed: September 27, 2026. HTML version: https://docfindapp.com/answers/are-contracts-public-record

**Not as a rule. None of the official sources below publishes a contract just because two private parties signed it. What they make public is narrower: many government contracts, anything filed with a court, and some property details on land registers.** The rules depend on where you are; this page covers the US federal government and the UK, from their own official pages read today. It is general information, not legal advice.

## US federal government contracts: the award is published, not always the document <p>Federal buyers have to announce many awards. The Federal Acquisition Regulation says contracting officers "must synopsize through the GPE" the following, among others: contract awards exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars that are covered by a trade agreement or are "Likely to result in the award of any subcontracts". There are exceptions, including where a notice "would disclose the executive agency ’s needs and the disclosure of such needs would compromise the national security" ([*FAR 5.301 General*](https://www.acquisition.gov/far/5.301), read 27 September 2026).</p> <p>The award records themselves are searchable on SAM.gov: "To search for specific contract award data, use the "Contracting" domain and select "Contract Awards."" Non-federal users see all of it except Defense Department awards in their first 90 days, which SAM.gov calls "DoD Unrevealed" ([*Contract Data — SAM.gov*](https://sam.gov/contract-data), read 27 September 2026). That page describes award *data*; it does not say the signed contract document is posted. [How to search SAM.gov.](https://docfindapp.com/answers/search-contracts-on-sam-gov)</p> <p>For the document itself, the route is a records request. FOIA.gov says the Freedom of Information Act gives "the public the right to request access to records from any federal agency", and agencies must release them "unless it falls under one of nine exemptions which protect interests such as personal privacy" ([*FOIA.gov — Learn*](https://www.foia.gov/about.html), read 27 September 2026).</p>

## UK government contracts: Contracts Finder and Find a Tender <p>GOV.UK's Contracts Finder lets anyone "search for information about contracts worth over £12,000 (including VAT) with the government and its agencies", including to "look up details of previous tenders and contracts". Larger contracts, "usually above £139,688 including VAT", are on the Find a Tender service instead, and Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own procurement sites ([*Contracts Finder*](https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder), read 27 September 2026). You do not need an account to search.</p>

## Private contracts: when they become visible <p>Two common ways. First, a court case: a contract filed in a case becomes one of that case's documents, and those are reached through the court's own records systems — [where to look for court documents](https://docfindapp.com/answers/find-my-court-documents-online).</p> <p>Second, land. In England and Wales anyone can look up a property "even if you do not own it", and the title register usually shows "who owns the property", "how much the property was last sold for" and "whether the property has a mortgage". It does not always reproduce the underlying documents: "In some cases, the title register will not include the details of the restrictive covenants or easements, but will say which documents do" ([*Search for land and property information*](https://www.gov.uk/search-property-information-land-registry), read 27 September 2026).</p>

## Outside what we checked <p>We read federal and UK central-government sources only. US state and local contracts, contracts with public bodies in other countries, and sector rules such as those for listed companies are outside what we checked, so look for the equivalent official source where you are.</p>

Related: [Search contracts on SAM.gov](https://docfindapp.com/answers/search-contracts-on-sam-gov) · [Examples of legal documents](https://docfindapp.com/answers/examples-of-legal-documents) · [How to check a legal document](https://docfindapp.com/answers/check-legal-documents) · [Find your court documents online](https://docfindapp.com/answers/find-my-court-documents-online)