The three stages of a records lifecycle are creation (or receipt), maintenance and use, and final disposition (archiving or destruction). These stages describe how a record is born, actively used, and then either securely retained or destroyed at the end of its useful life.

Stage 1: Creation

This is when a record first comes into existence, either because it is created inside the organization (like a report or contract) or received from outside (like an email or invoice). At this stage, the record is captured, classified, and stored so it can be easily found and understood later, often with key details like title, author, and date.

Stage 2: Maintenance and use

Once created, the record enters the maintenance stage, where it is actively used, referenced, updated, and possibly moved between systems or locations. Good management here means ensuring the record stays accurate, secure, and accessible for as long as it is needed for operations, audits, or legal compliance.

Stage 3: Final disposition

In the final disposition stage, the record has reached the end of its active life and is either destroyed or transferred to long‑term archival storage. Destruction is usually secure and controlled (for example, shredding), while archival transfer preserves records that have permanent legal, historical, or business value.

TL;DR: In records management, a record lives through three core stages—creation, maintenance and use, and final disposition—ensuring information is controlled from the moment it appears until it is safely archived or destroyed.