What is a court bundle and how do I prepare one

A court bundle is the organised set of documents a judge and everyone else in the hearing will refer to — orders, statements, applications, and evidence — put together in a single, indexed, paginated file. If you're representing yourself, you may be responsible for preparing it, and the rules for how it must be put together are set out formally in Practice Direction 27A of the Family Procedure Rules. Getting this right matters: a badly organised bundle makes it harder for the judge to follow your case, and can even affect how prepared you appear.

Who is actually responsible for preparing the bundle?

This depends on who has legal representation:

1. If you're the applicant and have a solicitor, your solicitor prepares the bundle.
2. If you're the applicant and you're representing yourself, but the other party has a solicitor, responsibility usually falls to the other party's solicitor instead.
3. If both of you are litigants in person, neither of you is automatically required to provide a full bundle unless the court specifically directs it — though you should still bring your own organised documents to help the court navigate your evidence.
4. Check the most recent court order. It should say clearly who is responsible for preparing, filing, and serving the bundle for your specific hearing — don't assume, always check.

What actually goes in a court bundle?

The bundle is organised into clearly separated, paginated sections:

1. Preliminary documents — a case summary (usually no more than four A4 pages), a statement of the issues to be decided, and each party's position statement setting out what they're asking the court to order.
2. Applications and orders — copies of the relevant applications made and orders already granted in the case.
3. Witness statements — from each party.
4. Experts' reports and other reports — including any Cafcass report or guardian's report, where relevant.
5. Other relevant documents, organised into further sections as needed.

Certain documents should generally not be included unless the court has specifically directed otherwise — this includes general correspondence between the parties, medical records, and bank or credit card statements, unless they're genuinely relevant and have been ordered to be disclosed.

How do I actually put a bundle together?

1. Buy ring binders or lever arch files — you'll typically need one for yourself, one for the other party, one for the judge, and a spare, unless the court has moved to electronic bundles for your hearing (many family courts now do).
2. Gather every relevant document — statements, orders, and evidence from both sides — and organise them into the sections above.
3. Agree the contents and the index with the other party where possible. If you disagree about whether something should be included, you can raise this with the court at the start of the hearing rather than unilaterally leaving it out or forcing it in.
4. Number every page continuously, starting from page 1, with the section letter and page number in the bottom right corner — for example, A1, A2, then B1, B2 for the next section.
5. Create a clear index at the front, listing every document and where it starts. Under current guidance for electronic bundles, this should be clickable, taking the reader straight to that document.
6. Check the page limit. A single lever arch file, or an e-bundle, is generally limited to 350 pages unless the court has given permission for more — if your bundle is likely to exceed this, raise it with the court in advance rather than at the last minute.
7. File and serve the bundle on time. Current guidance requires this no later than 7 working days before the hearing, though you should always check your specific court order for the exact deadline that applies to you.

What if I'm preparing an electronic bundle (e-bundle)?

Most family courts now expect a single combined PDF rather than physical ring binders, particularly for remote or hybrid hearings. In practice this means:

1. Combining all your documents into one continuously paginated PDF, in the correct section order.
2. Adding a clickable index as the very first page.
3. Bookmarking each section within the PDF, so the judge can navigate quickly during the hearing.

Software like Adobe Acrobat can combine and organise files this way, though free alternatives exist too if cost is a concern.

What happens if my bundle isn't ready in time?

1. Apply for an extension as early as possible. Write to the court, with a copy to the other party, explaining honestly why you need more time.
2. File what you have, rather than nothing. A partially complete bundle filed on time, with a request to supplement it shortly afterwards, is treated far more favourably than missing the deadline entirely.
3. Don't simply ignore the deadline. Failing to provide a bundle at all can result in evidence being excluded, the hearing being adjourned at your cost, or in serious cases your application being struck out — see our guide on what happens if I miss a court deadline or fail to comply with directions.

Does this apply to financial remedy hearings as well as child arrangements hearings?

Yes — the bundle rules under Practice Direction 27A apply across family proceedings generally, including financial remedy hearings such as a First Appointment or Financial Dispute Resolution hearing. See our guide on what is a First Appointment and how do I prepare for what's specifically expected at that stage.

Putting together a properly organised bundle while managing everything else a hearing involves is genuinely time-consuming and easy to get wrong without guidance. Access to Justice is built to help you understand exactly what's needed and prepare it with confidence. Try it free.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to prepare a bundle for every single hearing?

Not necessarily a brand new one each time — you generally don't need to recreate the whole bundle for every hearing, but you should prepare a supplementary bundle containing any new, up-to-date paperwork for each subsequent hearing, used alongside the original.

What if the other party wants to include something in the bundle that I think is irrelevant?

Try to agree the contents and the index first. If you can't agree, raise it with the court at the start of the hearing rather than leaving it out or forcing it in yourself — the judge will decide whether the disputed document should be included. Do not simply omit something you think should not be there.

Can I prepare a "mini bundle" of documents the other party has left out?

Yes, this is a recognised approach if you believe something important is missing from the main bundle — you can produce your own supplementary bundle covering what you feel has been omitted. It should still be paginated and indexed clearly, so the judge can find each document quickly during the hearing.

What happens for genuinely urgent hearings where there's no time to prepare a full bundle?

The court recognises that a complete bundle isn't always possible for urgent hearings. In these cases, you should make sure the judge and the other party have copies of the key documents you intend to rely on as early as possible before the hearing.

Is there a template I can use for the bundle index and front cover?

Various organisations that support litigants in person publish free front cover and index templates you can adapt — the key requirements are simply that the index is clear, and every page is numbered continuously by section, for example A1, A2, then B1, B2 for the next section.

Do I need special software to make an electronic bundle?

Not necessarily specialist software, though tools that can combine multiple PDFs, add bookmarks, and create a clickable index make the process considerably easier. Software like Adobe Acrobat can do this, and free alternatives exist too. Check what's available to you before the deadline approaches rather than at the last minute.

What if I genuinely can't afford to print four full sets of documents?

Speak to the court about this — many courts now prefer or require electronic bundles specifically because of situations like this, and court staff can advise on what format is expected for your particular hearing. An electronic bundle is a single combined PDF, so there is nothing to print at all.

This article provides legal information about court bundles in family proceedings in England and Wales. It does not constitute legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, speak to a qualified solicitor.