diff --git a/database/controller.go b/database/controller.go
index 6f70177..d228d64 100644
--- a/database/controller.go
+++ b/database/controller.go
@@ -116,11 +116,6 @@ func (c *Controller) Put(r record.Record) (err error) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if r.Meta() == nil {
-		r.SetMeta(&record.Meta{})
-	}
-	r.Meta().Update()
-
 	c.writeLock.RLock()
 	defer c.writeLock.RUnlock()
 
diff --git a/database/interface.go b/database/interface.go
index 69063bc..d67aaff 100644
--- a/database/interface.go
+++ b/database/interface.go
@@ -36,9 +36,7 @@ type Options struct {
 
 // Apply applies options to the record metadata.
 func (o *Options) Apply(r record.Record) {
-	if r.Meta() == nil {
-		r.SetMeta(&record.Meta{})
-	}
+	r.UpdateMeta()
 	if o.AlwaysMakeSecret {
 		r.Meta().MakeSecret()
 	}
@@ -198,7 +196,7 @@ func (i *Interface) PutNew(r record.Record) error {
 	defer r.Unlock()
 
 	if r.Meta() == nil {
-		r.SetMeta(&record.Meta{})
+		r.CreateMeta()
 	}
 	r.Meta().Reset()
 	i.options.Apply(r)
diff --git a/database/record/base.go b/database/record/base.go
index 340ef37..6328437 100644
--- a/database/record/base.go
+++ b/database/record/base.go
@@ -57,6 +57,14 @@ func (b *Base) CreateMeta() {
 	b.meta = &Meta{}
 }
 
+// UpdateMeta creates the metadata if it does not exist and updates it.
+func (b *Base) UpdateMeta() {
+	if b.meta == nil {
+		b.meta = &Meta{}
+	}
+	b.meta.Update()
+}
+
 // SetMeta sets the metadata on the database record, it should only be called after loading the record. Use MoveTo to save the record with another key.
 func (b *Base) SetMeta(meta *Meta) {
 	b.meta = meta
diff --git a/database/record/meta.go b/database/record/meta.go
index 33a529b..4e09c48 100644
--- a/database/record/meta.go
+++ b/database/record/meta.go
@@ -106,3 +106,15 @@ func (m *Meta) CheckPermission(local, internal bool) (permitted bool) {
 		return true
 	}
 }
+
+// Duplicate returns a new copy of Meta.
+func (m *Meta) Duplicate() *Meta {
+	return &Meta{
+		Created:   m.Created,
+		Modified:  m.Modified,
+		Expires:   m.Expires,
+		Deleted:   m.Deleted,
+		secret:    m.secret,
+		cronjewel: m.cronjewel,
+	}
+}
diff --git a/database/record/record.go b/database/record/record.go
index 68082de..3733745 100644
--- a/database/record/record.go
+++ b/database/record/record.go
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ type Record interface {
 	MoveTo(key string) // test:config
 	Meta() *Meta
 	SetMeta(meta *Meta)
+	CreateMeta()
+	UpdateMeta()
 
 	Marshal(self Record, format uint8) ([]byte, error)
 	MarshalRecord(self Record) ([]byte, error)