1. A computer-implemented method for processing special attributes within a file, comprising: accessing a file comprising a hierarchical tree structure of file elements; retrieving a plurality of special attributes, each of the special attributes being associated with one of the file elements, wherein the special attributes are selectively assigned to the file elements and at least one of the plurality of special attributes represent an expiration date associated with the assigned file element; interpreting the special attributes using hierarchical inheritance to pass the special attributes from subordinate file elements to higher-level file elements; creating a file-level representation of the interpreted special attributes, wherein the file-level representation of the interpreted special attributes indicates an earliest expiration date of the expiration dates associated with the file elements; storing the file-level representation of the interpreted special attributes in a metadata associated with the file, wherein the metadata includes an index for locating each of the plurality of special attributes within the file; based on a comparison of the expiration date to a reference date generating a warning that a selected file element is scheduled to expire; and wherein modification of the special attributes associated with the file elements is limited according to a security policy.