vital records

Records necessary to the life or continuity of an organization.

records on whose evidence the personal identity of individual citizens before the law depends, such as records of fetal deaths, births, adoptions, legitimations, naturalizations of citizenship, marriages, divorces, and deaths, and amendments thereto. See also essential record, which is different.

Records essential to the continued functioning or reconstitution of an organization during and after an emergency and also those records essential to protecting the rights and interests of that organization and of the individuals directly affected by its activities. Sometimes called essential records. Recommended that there be duplicates located off-site.