Best AI for AdvisorsWhat is one-party and all-party consent?
Also called: two-party consent, call recording consent.
Short answer
Recording-law terms: one-party means one participant can consent; all-party means everyone in the conversation must consent.
Definition
Recording laws decide whose consent you need to record a conversation. Under one-party consent, a participant can record with only their own consent; federal law (18 U.S.C. § 2511) generally works this way. Under all-party consent (sometimes called two-party consent), everyone in the conversation has to agree.
Several states' statutes call for all parties' consent in at least some situations. California Penal Code § 632 and Washington RCW 9.73.030 are two examples; our state recording laws page lists seven we confirmed from the statutes.
Why it matters for advisors
Every AI notetaker records. A meeting can include people in different states, and you may not know where everyone is. That's why the practical default in our guides is to get everyone's consent at the start of every recorded meeting and keep a record.
Laws change and apply differently to phone, video and in-person meetings, so ask counsel about the states where your clients live.
Consent isn't the only issue. Recordings and transcripts are client data, so retention, access and vendor terms apply too. A good consent script mentions what's being recorded, why, and that the client can ask you to stop.
Example
At the start of a video review with a couple and their CPA, the advisor says the meeting will be recorded and transcribed by an AI tool, asks if everyone's comfortable, and notes the answer in the CRM.
Watch out for
An automated "this meeting is being recorded" banner may not be enough on its own in every state. Ask out loud.
Related terms
- AI notetakerAn AI tool that joins, records, transcribes or summarizes client meetings and calls, often syncing notes and tasks to your CRM.
- Speech-to-textTechnology that turns spoken words into written text. It's the first step in every AI notetaker.
- Regulation S-PThe SEC's privacy rule for client data at advisers and broker-dealers, amended in 2024 to require incident response and vendor oversight.
Learn more
Sources
Not legal or compliance advice. This is a plain-English summary for general education. Rules change and depend on your firm's facts, so check the primary source and talk to your CCO or counsel before relying on it.
Last updated .