1. A method of managing content, comprising: receiving an indication that a retention policy including an associated retention period is to be applied to a complex stored object comprising a root content object and one or more child content objects included in a body of managed content; and using a processor to automatically retain the root content object and the one or more child content objects and associated metadata in parallel in accordance with the retention policy, including associating with the root content object a retainer object that is separate from the root content object and comprises data and one or more methods is configured to apply the retention policy to the root content object and linking the one or more child content objects to a structural retainer object that is separate from the root content object and the retainer object and comprises data and one or more methods is configured to ensure that the one or more child content objects are retained in parallel with the root content object, including that: neither the root content object nor any of the one or more child content objects are disposed of until the associated retention period has expired and the root content object and each of the one or more child content objects are disposed of after the associated retention period has expired.