Box 01 — Benefits
What working with Legacine actually means for a family.
Clear work, careful handling, and a written record the family holds — produced by archivists, not generalists.
← Return to HomepageBox 02 — Overview
Six reasons families choose Legacine
Archival training, not general administration
The people who work on a family's papers have specific training in document conservation, description, and indexing. This is not a general filing service.
A written agreement before any work begins
The scope of each project, the persons authorised to receive copies, and the handling of originals are agreed in writing before any document is touched.
No interpretation, no advice
Legacine does not read documents for meaning and does not advise on what they require. Questions of that kind are recorded and referred to the appropriate professional.
Conservation-grade materials throughout
Acid-free boxes, archival polyester sleeves, and 600dpi scanning. Nothing used in the archiving process will damage originals over time.
Encrypted drives, not shared platforms
Digital copies go on encrypted physical drives — one per named family member. Family papers are not uploaded to cloud services. No copies are retained by Legacine.
A finding aid any family member can use
The printed finding aid is in plain language, indexed by person, date, and document type. It is designed so that any adult in the family can navigate the archive without assistance.
Box 03 — Detail
Each benefit in full
Professional expertise
Trained archivists, not general administrators
Every archivist at Legacine has a background in institutional or private archive management. That means familiarity with document categories, an understanding of how fragile materials behave, and experience writing finding aids that remain useful over years and decades rather than just in the weeks after they are made.
- Training in document conservation and description
- Experience with estate papers, photographs, and correspondence
- Indexing methods drawn from institutional archive practice
Technology and methods
600dpi scanning and a file naming system that lasts
The digital archive is produced at 600dpi — a standard suited to preservation rather than quick reference. Files are named according to a consistent scheme that encodes date, person, document type, and issuing body, so that the digital copy remains navigable even without the finding aid alongside it.
- 600dpi minimum for all scans
- Consistent file naming by date, person, type, and issuing body
- Encrypted drives — one per named family member
Service approach
Work done at the family's pace, not the archivist's schedule
Appointments are set by the family. If a session needs to pause — for any reason — it pauses. The archivist does not move on to the next item until the family is ready. For families dealing with bereavement or illness, this matters. There is no pressure and no implied timeline.
- Appointments at the family's convenience
- Sessions can pause and resume without penalty
- A "handled with care" note attached to every bereavement-related appointment
Value and pricing
Transparent, fixed pricing with no additions mid-project
Each service has a stated price: RM 560 for the inventory session, RM 2,300 for the archiving project, RM 4,650 per year for stewardship. There are no hidden fees and no charges for materials beyond what is described. If a project scope changes, that is discussed and agreed in writing before any additional work is done.
- Fixed prices stated in advance
- No charges added without written agreement
- Inventory session is a standalone service with no obligation to proceed
Results
A written record the family controls from the first appointment
The inventory session produces a printed and digital index handed to the family the same day. The archiving project produces a full finding aid, a searchable index, and encrypted drives. The family owns all of this outright. If Legacine ceases to operate, the archive continues to function exactly as it was designed.
- Printed and digital output handed over at each stage
- The family owns all materials produced
- Archive remains functional independent of Legacine's involvement
Box 04 — Comparison
Legacine compared to other approaches
| Feature | Typical general services | Legacine |
|---|---|---|
| Written handling agreement before work starts | ||
| Conservation-grade archival materials | ||
| 600dpi scanning standard | ||
| Encrypted drives (not cloud upload) per family member | ||
| No copies retained after handover | ||
| Referral list of qualified professionals for interpretation questions | ||
| Printed finding aid in plain language |
Box 05 — Distinctive Features
What sets Legacine apart
A "handled with care" note on every bereavement appointment
Every inventory or archiving project arranged during bereavement carries a written note stating in plain words what will and will not be done with the family's papers. This is not standard practice elsewhere.
A maintained directory of public bodies and qualified professionals
The stewardship arrangement includes an up-to-date directory of the registrars, courts, solicitors, and other bodies the family already works with — so that when a document needs action, the right contact is at hand.
An inventory the family holds from the first appointment
The estate document inventory session produces a complete written index on the same day. The family does not need to wait weeks for a report. The archivist leaves a printed copy with the family before departing.
Separate encrypted drives for each named family member
Rather than a single shared drive, each person named in the handling agreement receives their own encrypted copy. This avoids disputes about access and means no single family member holds the only copy.
Box 06 — Milestones
A few numbers from the practice
120+
Families served
6
Years in practice
4,800+
Documents archived
100%
Originals returned
Member, Malaysian Archivists Association
Professional membership — 2019 to present
Personal Data Protection Act 2010 compliance
Registered data processor — Malaysia
Box 07 — Enquiry
Ready to have your family's papers put in order?
Write or call to describe what you have. We will respond with a plain account of which service fits and what it involves. No obligation attached to the enquiry.