State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies—government bodies authorized by law to investigate or enforce civil or criminal violations—may request beneficial ownership information from FinCEN under specific circumstances. However, a state, local, or Tribal law enforcement agency can only make such a request if authorized by a "court of competent jurisdiction" to obtain the information for a criminal or civil investigation. Additionally, the agency must fulfill certain access criteria, including entering into an MOU with FinCEN outlining how it will safeguard the security and confidentiality of the information.
Moreover, state regulatory agencies overseeing financial institutions' compliance with customer due diligence requirements may seek beneficial ownership information from FinCEN for regulatory purposes. Like other domestic government agencies, state regulatory bodies must also establish an MOU with FinCEN describing their commitment to protecting the security and confidentiality of the information in order to access beneficial ownership data.