Legal Document Scanner: Review of Legal Document Scanners

In the current age of technology, a lot of information that used to be in the form of paper is still being transfered to computer files.  An investment in a legal document scanner has alleviated space capacity prolems for many companies.  Although many businesses are now operated by computer, their archives are still in paper form.  Laws in most states require documents to be held from 3-5 years.  In the majority of those cases however, these laws refer to financial records.  There is an abundance of very sensitve documents still lying dormant in warehouses, libraries, and other storage facilities taking up valuable real estate in paper form. 

Court cases, medical records, and government files have to be kept under lock and key much longer than financial records.  Eventually an accumulation of documents will require more space. Legal document scanners allows the transfer of information from paper form to digital form.  It basically scans the document and duplicates it in a PDF file or other software and organizes everything with the various file options available for that software choice.   

The features of these products include the ability to make: 2 sided duplex copies, microfiche conversions, color prints, bundled document duplication, computer to microfilm, and digital X-rays.

New laws have emphasized the need to make medical records more secure with quicker accessibility between doctors and hospitals.  Old x-rays can accompany scanned medical documents resulting in a digital record for easy access when an emergency medical history is necessary.  A doctor in another state can access a record without having to wait on hard copies to be faxed or mailed.  This conversion method also makes medical records less accessible to unauthorized individuals. 

The scanner automatic document feeder can hold up to 50 copies in several models. Fujitsu has a whole line of scanners with multiple functions. This company makes the smallest mobile product on the market. The Scansnap S300 for instance is mobile and can hold up to 10 sheets for automatic scanning. This would be a great model for those who have on-site services available to businesses where taking documents off the premises is prohibited. The S1500 Sheet-Fed Scanner automatically processes several hard copies per minute. This model boasts the 50 piece capacity for larger jobs.

IBM is another maker of this popular office product.  Various types of software is recommended for each version.  Flatbed models are also available for scanning books and other awkwardly shaped materials.  Some multitasking models even make it possible to scan documents between emails, for print, and to other networks.  This means once a document is scanned, it is immediately available to its intended recipient wherever they may be.  

A legal documents scanner can be found in any office supply store, or online starting at $300.  The more sophisticated models can start around $750.  For new businesses who do not find this product financially feasible will find services offered by other companies who will scan for a fee until the investment is feasible.  The ability to save time in instantaneous duplication of numerous documents make these products invaluable.