# Update a legal document

`PATCH /v1/legal-documents/{id}` · permission `legal-documents:write`

Changes only `requires_reacceptance` and, while the document is not yet in effect, `effective_at` (JSON Merge Patch, RFC 7396). Other fields are not in the schema (`400 unknown_field`) and neither field can be `null`. A patch that changes nothing does not write and returns the document unchanged. Documents have no version, so `If-Match` is not used.

## Request

Path parameters:

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `id` | string | yes | Document ID (`ldoc_…`). |

JSON merge patch (`application/merge-patch+json`) body (unknown fields are rejected with `400 unknown_field`):

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `requires_reacceptance` | boolean | no | New value; cannot be `null`. |
| `effective_at` | string (date-time) | no | Only while the document is not yet in effect; cannot be in the past. |

## Response

`200 OK` with the document.

```json
{
  "id": "ldoc_01j9xk3m7q8r2s4t6v8w0y2z4a",
  "application_id": null,
  "kind": "terms",
  "version": "2026-10",
  "locale": "en",
  "url": "https://example.com/legal/terms-2026-10",
  "content_sha256": "9f86d081884c7d659a2feaa0c55ad015a3bf4f1b2b0b822cd15d6c15b0f00a08",
  "effective_at": "2026-11-01T00:00:00Z",
  "requires_reacceptance": true,
  "created_at": "2026-10-05T09:30:00.123456Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-05T09:30:00.123456Z"
}
```

## Errors

| HTTP | code | When |
|---|---|---|
| 400 | `unknown_field` | The patch has a field other than `requires_reacceptance` and `effective_at`, or is not a JSON object (`malformed_request`). |
| 404 | `not_found` | The document does not exist or belongs to another environment. |
| 415 | `unsupported_media_type` | The content type is not `application/merge-patch+json`. |
| 422 | `validation_failed` | A field is `null` (`invalid`), `effective_at` is malformed or in the past, or the document is already in effect (`immutable`). |
| 401 | `unauthenticated` | The credential is missing, invalid or revoked. |
| 403 | `insufficient_permissions` | The credential lacks the required permission. |
| 429 | `rate_limited` | The rate limit was exceeded; retry after the `Retry-After` period. |
| 503 | `service_unavailable` | A dependency is temporarily unavailable; retry after the `Retry-After` period. |

## Example

```bash
curl -X PATCH https://api.eu.keenauth.com/v1/legal-documents/ldoc_01j9xk3m7q8r2s4t6v8w0y2z4a \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $KEENAUTH_SECRET_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/merge-patch+json" \
  -d '{"requires_reacceptance":true}'
```