Approaches and mechanisms for cloning a file are described. A first node requests a clone of a file at a time when it also requests an exclusive delegation of the original file from a second node where the original file is stored. The second node marks the original file as delegated to the first node and the second node records an intent to create the clone file and a delegation record for the clone file. The second node creates the clone file. The delegation of and the identity of the clone file are returned to the first node. The first node marks in the delegation record that the clone file was committed in response to modification. If the clone file was committed the delegation is cleared and the clone file is kept, and if the clone file was not committed, the delegation is cleared, and the clone file is deleted.