List the People Who Attended the Meeting
In most states, compliance requires a record of everyone present in the meeting. You should also state each person's position within the company. If anyone has to leave early, make note of that, too. Any votes or decisions must also be noted in the minutes, indicating who supports and who dissents.Include Intended Resolutions and Goals
Most Meeting Minutes don't have to include your intended resolutions and goals. However, one of the added benefits of keeping Minutes regularly is that they can often be introduced into court under the business records' exception under the Rules of Evidence. This can be used to demonstrate that your business had plans to eliminate a potential problem or to stay in compliance with laws. Otherwise, your testimony of the resolutions and goals might wind up being excluded due to hearsay rules.Be as Precise as Possible
Meeting Minutes do not have to be a virtual copy of all the events in the meeting. Summaries are allowed. However, it's important to precisely document what happens during the meeting, including the statements people make. General statements and summaries such as "discussed financial matters for the business" are significantly less useful than statements such as "discussed interest rates for newest land purchase, recommended strategies for accommodating increased land costs," and so on. You can list these in bullet points to make it easier to read.This article contains general legal information and does not contain legal advice. Rocket Lawyer is not a law firm or a substitute for an attorney or law firm. The law is complex and changes often. For legal advice, please ask a lawyer.
