Export & Data3 min readUpdated Aug 3, 2026

Legal holds

Learn how legal holds help preserve materials that must not be discarded while a hold is active.

Overview

A legal hold signals that certain case materials should be preserved. While a hold is in place, ordinary deletion paths may be limited so important information isn’t removed by accident. Holds are a protection mechanism — not a judgment about your case.

Why this feature exists

When preservation matters, the product should make accidental loss harder. Holds support that calm safeguard.

Step-by-step

1
Understand whether a hold applies
Check My Data, lifecycle, or legal-hold settings for your case if preservation controls are available to you.
2
Continue normal organization
You can still add documents, work Timeline, and prepare exports. Holds primarily protect against destructive loss.
3
Avoid fighting the hold
If deletion is blocked, don’t try workarounds that risk losing the only copy you have offline either.
4
Ask counsel when unsure
Whether a hold should exist — and when it can lift — is a legal process question for your lawyer when applicable.

Best practices

Treat held materials as preserved until a qualified person says otherwise.
Keep exports and offline copies consistent with preservation duties counsel describes.
Document why a hold was placed if you’re managing that setting yourself.

Productivity tips

Use Tasks to track preservation-related follow-ups from counsel.
Pair holds awareness with Data retention so expectations stay clear.

Common mistakes

Assuming a hold means SeraCase is accusing anyone of wrongdoing.
Deleting local originals because “it’s in the app,” then needing them when policies differ.

Frequently asked questions

Can I turn off a legal hold myself?

Only if your role and product settings allow it — and only when it’s appropriate. When in doubt, ask your lawyer before changing preservation settings.

Does a hold stop me from exporting?

Holds focus on preservation. Export may still be available; follow counsel’s guidance on what you’re permitted to share.

Screenshots

Illustration placeholder — product screenshot coming soon.

Helpful links

Data retention
Understand how long materials may be kept, how lifecycle tools work, and where to manage your data.
Trash and restore
Move mistakes aside safely with Move to Trash, and restore items when you still need them.
Exporting your case
Create a downloadable package of your case materials when you’re ready to share or keep an offline copy.
Privacy overview
How SeraCase approaches privacy in plain language — and where to read the full policy detail.

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