The type of business records you describe are the records of a legal entity-a corporate body: charters, etc are considered "organic" business records--the "birth certificates" of the body that establish the business, or organization. Destroy them, and it would be like destroying your birth certificate. You might have trouble proving what rights you are entitled to, and what authorities you answer to without it. You will probably need it for as long as you are in existence, and your descendants might have an interest in it too. At what point do you become an artifact? Just a thought. A.S.Elizabeth Fairfax, MA, CA Island County Records and Information Management Program e-mail: [log in to unmask] x5569 -----Original Message----- From: Records Management Program [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Seibolt, Robert Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 1:59 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [RM] NOW Permanent 300 years/WAS: Records Management Myths? Clarification I was puzzled by some of the responses but I think I understand where those folks are coming from now. . . List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance To unsubscribe from this list, click the below link. If not already present, place UNSUBSCRIBE RECMGMT-L or UNSUB RECMGMT-L in the body of the message. mailto:[log in to unmask]