---
title: "Record a director's right to examine the corporation's books"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/practice/in-house-general-counsel/record-a-director-s-right-to-inspect-the-company-books/united-states"
type: "task_jurisdiction_version"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "A40-PE20261022-11-US"
practice_area: "In-House / General Counsel"
tier: "yellow"
lawyer_review: "required"
jurisdictions: ["US"]
last_reviewed: "2026-10-22"
---

# Record a director's right to examine the corporation's books

> List the records the director asks to examine and the purpose the file gives. Do not say the purpose qualifies.

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/practice/in-house-general-counsel/record-a-director-s-right-to-inspect-the-company-books/united-states  
Last reviewed: 2026-10-22

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Practice area | [In-House / General Counsel](https://ailawframework.com/practice/in-house-general-counsel.md) |
| Human involvement | Yellow: Lawyer and AI draft together |
| How AI is used | List the records the director asks to examine and the purpose the file gives. Do not say the purpose qualifies. |
| What the lawyer must review | You decide whether the director may examine the records. Section 220(d) says any director shall have the right to examine the corporation's stock ledger, a list of its stockholders, and its books and records and other corporate records for a purpose reasonably related to the director's position as a director. The Court of Chancery has exclusive jurisdiction to determine whether the director is entitled to the inspection sought. The burden of proof is on the corporation to establish that the inspection is for an improper purpose. The court may prescribe limitations or conditions. Section 141(b) says the board consists of one or more members, each of whom shall be a natural person, and that each director holds office until a successor is elected and qualified or until earlier resignation or removal. The written demand and proper-purpose particulars in § 220(b) are the stockholder's procedure. Do not apply them to a director. The tool does not decide that the purpose is reasonably related to the director's position. |
| Written for | United States |
| Applies to | [Record a director's right to inspect the company books](https://ailawframework.com/practice/in-house-general-counsel/record-a-director-s-right-to-inspect-the-company-books.md) |

## Checking plan

- What the AI does: List the records the director asks to examine and the purpose the file gives. Do not say the purpose qualifies.
- Basis: Checked against the linked sources on 22 October 2026. Confirm the current instrument before reliance.

## Notes

- This is the Delaware statute. A director of a corporation formed elsewhere uses that jurisdiction's inspection rule.
- The stockholder demand procedure in § 220(b) is not the director's right in § 220(d).

## Sources

- [Delaware General Corporation Law, Subchapter VII, including § 220](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title8/c001/sc07/) (checked 2026-10-22)
- [Delaware General Corporation Law, Subchapter IV, including § 141](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title8/c001/sc04/) (checked 2026-10-22)

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*