What is a record, in a legal sense?

Asked by: Fermin Kassulke  |  Last update: June 15, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (27 votes)

In a legal sense, a record is the official, comprehensive account of all proceedings, evidence, and documents in a legal case or related to a public body, preserved as proof for future reference, appeals, or public access, encompassing everything from trial transcripts and evidence to administrative filings and personal data, whether in tangible or electronic form.

What is a record in legal terms?

a : an official document that records the acts of a public body or officer. b : an official copy of a document deposited with a designated officer. c : the official set of papers used and generated in a proceeding [the appeals court reviewed the trial ]

What is the legal definition of records?

As used in this chapter, "records" includes all books, papers, maps, photographs, machine readable materials, or other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received by an agency of the United States Government under Federal law or in connection with the transaction of public ...

What documents are considered a record?

Record (Official Record)

Any papers, books, photographs, magnetic tapes, machine readable materials, microfilm, or other materials which document official actions, decisions, policies or procedures.

What is a legal record?

A legal record is an official written memorial or account preserved as evidence of acts, proceedings, or events. Records exist across legislative, judicial, and administrative contexts and are recognized by statute or practice.

Can you sue if someone posts a video or photo of you without your consent?

34 related questions found

What do you mean by record?

"Record" means to capture and store information (as a verb, like recording a song or meeting notes) or refers to the stored information itself (as a noun, like a medical record or official document). As a noun, it can also mean the best performance ever (a world record) or a person's history, while as an adjective, it describes something outstanding (a record-breaking year).
 

What is not considered a record?

A non-record is information with no lasting administrative, legal, fiscal, or archival value. These do not require retention or logging and can be discarded at any time. Convenience Copy: A duplicate kept for reference only. If held beyond the retention period of the original, it may be considered a record.

What makes a document a record?

Key Takeaways. A document is a written, printed, or electronic communication that provides some sort of information. A record is something that evidences an event, from something as simple as a team meeting to recorded conversations used in a criminal trial.

What is an example of a record?

record content, for example: Minutes from a meeting recorded in a Microsoft Word document. A technical report published as a PDF. A presentation recorded as a digital video.

What does "on record" mean in court?

Definition and Citations:

An interview, meeting or courtroom session of which a written, audio or video record is kept as permanent evidence.

What best defines a record?

A record is a document, data, set of data that is created or received in the course of an organization's business that: has Structure, that is the physicality and internal organization of the Content.

What are the two types of records?

“Permanent” records are those records with special significance and enduring value. They are retained by the Department for as long as needed and legal custody is then transferred to the National Archives. “Temporary” records have limited value and are retained only for a designated period of time prior to disposition.

What is the record in court?

Records and briefs are the documents that were submitted to or generated by a court in a particular case, from the complaint (in a civil case) or the indictment (in a criminal case) to other pleadings, motions, orders, transcripts of the trial, jury verdicts, and associated materials.

Can you record a person without consent?

California is a “two-party consent" state, which means all parties must agree to the recording. It is generally illegal to record someone without their consent. If a recording is made without the other person's consent, it may not be admissible as evidence in court.

What is a legal document called?

A legal document is a formal written record that creates, modifies, or terminates legal rights and obligations, often called an instrument, with common examples including contracts, wills, deeds, and affidavits, serving as enforceable evidence in legal matters like business deals, property transfers, or court proceedings. 

What is the difference between a record and a document?

Main Difference – Document vs Record

A document is a piece of writing that contains information whereas a record is a document that can be used as evidence. Both documents and records provide information, but records also serve as evidence.

What is the main purpose of a record?

In a broad sense a record is something that shows that an event occurred. It is created by, or at the time of the event, and is closely associated enough to be evidence that it happened.

What are the four characteristics of a record?

Authenticity, reliability, integrity, and usability are the characteristics of a record. The purpose of archives or records management policies, practices, guidelines, and procedures are to ensure that records should maintain these characteristics as long as necessary.

What is the legal definition of a record?

See 44 U.S.C. 3301 for the legal definition of a record. A record is information, regardless of format, that is: Created or received by the federal government in the course of business, and. Preserved, or should be preserved, due to its evidential value in documenting the U.S. government, or its informational value.

What documents cannot be certified?

Please note we can't certify copies of UK birth, marriage or death certificates due to Crown copyright regulations. We certify most forms of documents, including: Passport.

What is not an example of a record?

Non-Record examples:

Drafts or work-in-progress material. Unofficial convenience copies. Blank form templates. Stock publications.

Which documents are considered a record?

all books, papers, maps, photographs, machine-readable materials, or other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received by an agency of the United Stated Government under Federal law or in connection with the transaction of public business and preserved or appropriate for ...

What are the 7 types of documents?

7. COMMON DOCUMENT TYPES

  • 7.1 Correspondence: Text Messages, E-mails, Letters, and Memos.
  • 7.2 Proposals.
  • 7.3 Progress Reports.
  • 7.4 Technical Descriptions and Definitions.
  • 7.5 Long Reports: Feasibility and Recommendation Reports.
  • 7.6 Lab Reports.
  • 7.7 Instructions.

What is considered an official record?

“Official Record” means any written, photographic, machine-readable, or other recorded information created or received by or on behalf of a state agency or an elected state official that documents activities in the conduct of the state business or use of public resources.