# SOP-1301: Deprecate Document

**Applies to:** All projects using the COR document system
**Last updated:** 2026-03-14
**Last reviewed:** 2026-03-14
**Status:** Active

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## What Is It?

A standard process for retiring a document that is no longer needed. Documents are never deleted — they are marked as deprecated so the history remains traceable.

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## Steps

1. **Confirm the document is no longer needed** — check if any other documents reference it
2. **Add a deprecation notice** — insert at the top of the document, below the title:
   ```markdown
   > **DEPRECATED** — This document is no longer active as of YYYY-MM-DD.
   > Superseded by: <COR-NNNN / ALF-NNNN> (if applicable)
   ```
3. **Update the Change History** — add an entry noting the deprecation and reason
4. **Update referencing documents** — any document that links to this one should be updated to point to the replacement (if any)
5. **Do not delete the file** — deprecated documents stay in their layer for historical reference

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## Rules

- Never delete a document — deprecate it instead
- If a document is being replaced, always link to the replacement in the deprecation notice
- If a deprecated document is later needed again, remove the deprecation notice and add a Change History entry noting the reactivation

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## Change History

| Date | Change | By |
|------|--------|----|
| 2026-03-14 | Initial version | Claude Code |
