Legal & ComplianceAvailable for Download

Document Retention Policy

Set out how an organisation keeps, stores, and disposes of records, with roles, legal-hold procedure, disposal rules, and review cycle.

Who Should Use It:Managers, business owners, and administrators.
Primary Task:Set out how an organisation keeps, stores, and disposes of records, who is responsible, how legal holds work, and when the policy is reviewed. Works with the Document Retention Schedule.
File FormatsMicrosoft Word (.docx) + PDF
CompatibilityWord, Google Docs, LibreOffice
License100% Free for Team Use
AccessDirect Download (No Sign-Up)
Design Variations

The same document in 9 designs, same content and editable fields, different styling. Pick the design you like and download that version. Click any design to preview it larger before downloading. The Sample card shows a completed example, filled in with sample details.

Free download

Download this template

Choose the file you need, then download it. No sign-up, no payment.

Word (.docx)183 KBFree

Classic Navy design variation of the Document Retention Policy.

Free for team useNo sign-upEditable file

What’s Included in This Resource

Every resource on The Office File provides a complete toolkit rather than an empty, unhelpful document shell:

  • Editable Microsoft Word (.docx) template (184 KB)
  • Printable PDF version (74 KB)

Sample included: Example: Document Retention Policy in use. A completed Document Retention Policy for a fictional company, showing roles, retention principles, the legal-hold procedure, and the review cycle.

How to Use This Template

Follow these practical steps to customize and roll out this procedure with your team:

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1. Download and choose your design

Download the template in the design that suits your business, then open it in Microsoft Word.

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2. Replace every blue field

Type your own details over each blue [field] until no blue remains, working through the sections in order and adding or removing table rows to fit your needs.

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3. Check the details

Read the finished document through, check that every name, date, and amount is correct, and that nothing still needs filling in.

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4. Approve and share

Delete the instruction paragraph at the top, select all (Ctrl+A) and set the font colour to the same dark colour throughout, then sign and share the finished document.