An object-oriented framework for document routing service in a content management system directly provides the server API set for document routing to the application programmers, without an intermediate interface layer. This framework provides document routing functions and system administration support for document routing. In addition, the system defines the document routing process as a series of steps provided by an administrator through which a document is routed, where a work node is a step within the process. A work list is provided that is a filter of one or more work nodes; a user may obtain a list of work or the "next" work item from the work list. Work packages can be suspended pending the satisfaction of criteria such as delay time or collection of a specified group of documents. The process can be resumed at any time. Suspension and resumption of the process are defined by the resume list in the work package and the work node. The object-oriented framework defines the object model of the document routing service that includes a set of classes and associated methods to support the model.