Abstract: A method and corresponding system to maintain an updated version of an electronic file in a multi-user document management system. The system includes a master node and at least one satellite node to enable satellite offices of an enterprise to communicate over a network with a central file store. The method includes providing a central file store on the network to store a commonly accessible shared file, providing ownership information that identifies an owner of the file, enabling the owner of the file to authorize changes to the file, replicating the changes at the central file store, enabling the owner to transfer ownership of the file by altering the ownership information to identify a subsequent owner that controls changes to the file, and providing shared access to the file by the satellite nodes to thereby maintain an updated version of the file for multiple users of the document management system. The owner of the file preferably is the master node or one of the satellite nodes.