What is a non-record document?

A non-record document refers to materials that are not officially part of the public record and do not have a requirement for long-term storage, retention, or archival. These documents generally include personal correspondence, non-governmental publications, and other informal materials that do not serve a public administrative function or are not created in the course of public business.

By being categorized as non-record documents, personal correspondence and non-governmental publications are exempt from many of the regulations that apply to official records, such as the New Jersey Open Public Records Act. This allows more flexibility regarding their management and accessibility, as these items typically do not need to be retained for public scrutiny or administrative purposes.

In contrast, legal documents requiring storage, documents required for public record, and administrative policy documents are considered official records and fall under specific retention laws and guidelines that ensure they are preserved for future reference, accountability, and legal compliance.