Legal requirement for document retention?

Ya mean "ludicrous" right?

And yes, I agree. There are also various scenarios where old records (digital or otherwise) simply "go away."

Loyal

You are correct sir!

(damned by spell check again).

I'd be interested to know, too. Outside of prudent business practice, on what grounds could the state make you act as a records repository?

hmmm. "legal requirement", I don't think so.

subpoena duces tecum??ÿ If you don't have it, you can't produce it. (Purge Policy recommended)

My goal last year was to clean out ALL boxes of records older than 10 years + current year (survey as well as business), so 12 year old and older data, going to go though those old files, maybe save a few things and call one of those on site data delete trucks and watch them get shredded on site. Didn't happen last year, maybe this year!

I should add as time goes on, more and more "stuff" has been stored in my digital project archives, not all in the early days of my business, but probably even enough there to see what I did if I really need it. Even the digital stuff rarely if ever gets looked at more than a few years back, usually for follow on work, something over 10 years old, probably just be a fresh project, easier than trying to find what is left in field and adding on, mind you, I am primarily in the aerial mapping control/geodetic control world and not boundary world.?ÿ

I have heard forever those survey records are valuable, but I almost never look at old records and in a recording state anything I have recorded is public anyway, I think I am kidding myself (as we all are) to think those records have any value to anyway and I am out of storage space!

SHG

Posted by: Shelby H. Griggs PLS

in a recording state anything I have recorded is public anyway

That's the key.?ÿ The idea that in some places deeds, surveys, and even subdivision plats might not be officially recorded boggles my mind.?ÿ In those places, old records can be gold.

Posted by: Peter Ehlert

?ÿ

.... subpoena duces tecum??ÿ ....

That would be the only case for maintaining records; the possibility of court action.

Then it would be prudent to keep at least the field notes in hard copy.

Posted by: Mapman

Posted by: Peter Ehlert

?ÿ

.... subpoena duces tecum??ÿ ....

That would be the only case for maintaining records; the possibility of court action.

Then it would be prudent to keep at least the field notes in hard copy.

I was thinking it is a reason to Not keep records (or keeping them offshore)... it came in very handy in a deposition once.

The State of Arizona allows for destruction of documents over 7 years in age.

?ÿ

The reason to NOT keep documents is to decrease your liability.

In Florida it's 7 years.?ÿ

In Georgia it's 6 years.