A records manager manages life cycle phases of records managed by a host application program. The records manager is in communication with the host application program over a network and includes a file plan database, a record management engine and an application program interface. The file plan database includes at least one file plan object, with each file plan object having a life cycle rule. The record management engine is configured to manage life cycle states of the record. The application program interface is in communication with the record management engine and is configured to transmit to the host application program over the network indications of changes in the life cycle phases.