There is a real temptation to put way too much detail into meeting minutes. Resist this. Too much detail obscures what is important and makes the minutes harder to read and write. Minutes can be painless if you remember three principles and four questions:

1. Minutes are not a transcript.
2. Minutes are not a substitute for being there.
3. Minutes are the official and legal record of the meeting.

Minutes need to answer four questions. Answer these four questions and your minutes will be legally sufficient:

1. What actions were taken?
2. Why were the actions taken?
3. Who took the actions?
4. What follow-up is required?