Family Court Bundles and Practice Direction 27A: What You Need to Know

Last updated: 24 April 2026

Correction 2026-04-24. An earlier version of this guide stated that PD27A required continuous pagination across the entire bundle ("numbering runs consecutively from the first page to the last — it does not restart at the beginning of each section") and listed per-section restart as a common mistake. That was wrong for non-financial-remedy Family proceedings. PD27A Para 1.2 defines Bates numbering verbatim as: "the first section begins at page A1, then page A2 and so on, and the second section begins at page B1, then page B2 and so on, through each section" — per-section restart. Ch 7.2 makes Bates numbering the required system for all Family proceedings except financial remedy (where Arabic consecutive applies under Ch 6.2). This guide has been rewritten against the in-force 2 March 2026 PD27A (amended 24 March 2026 by FPR Practice Direction Update No 1 of 2026 — clarifying amendments only). Filing deadlines and section structure have also been updated to match the current rule.

Quick answer

Practice Direction 27A governs how court bundles must be prepared, formatted, and filed in family proceedings across England and Wales. The pagination system depends on the proceedings type:

• Non-financial-remedy proceedings (children cases, FLA applications, adoption, most of what family courts do): Bates numbering — A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3, C1, C2, C3 … Numbers restart at 1 in each new section (Ch 7.2).
• Financial remedy proceedings: Arabic numbering consecutive through the whole bundle — 1, 2, 3 … (Ch 6.2). PDF page labels must match.

Both require a detailed index, PDF bookmarks, OCR for searchability, Arial or Times New Roman at 12pt minimum, an e-bundle capped at 350 pages A4 (or paper at 175 sheets / 350 sides), and strict filing deadlines (7 working days to agree contents, 5 working days to file the bundle body, 11:00 the working day before for preliminary documents). Getting your bundle wrong can result in case removal from the list, postponement, or adverse or wasted costs orders (Ch 3).

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Why PD27A matters in family proceedings

Family courts deal with some of the most consequential decisions in people's lives: where children live, how finances are divided after divorce, and whether someone needs protection from domestic abuse. The bundle is how you present your evidence to the judge who makes those decisions.

PD27A exists to ensure consistency. Before standardised bundle requirements, judges would receive documents in wildly different formats — some paginated, some not, some with indexes, some without. This wasted court time and made hearings less efficient.

The practice direction applies to:

• All cases in the family court
• All cases in the Family Division of the High Court
• Every hearing where documents need to be placed before the judge

If you are involved in any family proceedings and there is a hearing listed, PD27A applies to you.

The current version of PD27A came into force on 2 March 2026 and was amended on 24 March 2026 by FPR Practice Direction Update No 1 of 2026. The 24 March amendment was clarifying only — it did not change pagination, size, or timetable rules.

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What must a PD27A-aligned bundle contain?

Non-financial-remedy proceedings — fixed section order (Ch 7.3)

All statements, affidavits, and reports must be signed and dated originals.

What goes in each section

Section A is what the judge reads first. The preliminary documents package includes:

• Case summary (maximum 6 pages — Ch 8.1)
• Agreed statement of issues (maximum 2 pages)
• Each party's position statement (3 pages unless the court directs otherwise — Ch 7.18)
• Skeleton arguments (legal argument supporting your positions)
• Agreed chronology (maximum 10 pages)
• Agreed list of essential reading (1 page)
• Witness template (for evidential, contested, or final hearings)

Section B contains the paperwork that started the proceedings and any orders the court has already made. Include the original application (C100, C1, or whichever form applies), any respondent's answers, and every order in date order.

Section C is where your witness evidence lives. Witness statements must be signed and dated with a statement of truth. They are capped at 25 pages exclusive of exhibits (Ch 8.1). If CAFCASS has filed a Section 7 report, it goes in Section E (experts' and other reports) rather than Section C.

Section D covers care plans — particularly relevant in public law proceedings and cases involving local authority involvement.

Section E covers professional reports: CAFCASS reports (including Section 7), psychological assessments, medical reports, expert evidence. Expert reports are capped at 40 pages including a maximum 4-page executive summary (Ch 8.1).

Sections F, G, H cover medical records, police disclosure, and (in public law CMHs) the child's birth certificate.

Financial remedy proceedings — fixed section order (Ch 6.3)

If the hearing is a financial remedy hearing, Chapter 6 applies instead:

Documents that must NOT be in the bundle (Ch 5.2)

Unless the court specifically directs otherwise, the following classes are excluded:

• Correspondence (including expert instructions)
• Emails, texts, WhatsApp, social media
• Voice notes or recordings
• Bank and credit card statements
• Contact visit notes
• Foster carer logs
• Social services files (except assessments relied upon)
• Photographs

If a specific piece of excluded-class material is evidence, extract it into a witness statement exhibit rather than including the raw files in the bundle.

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Pagination: getting the numbers right

Pagination is the area where bundles most commonly fall short. PD27A splits the rule by proceedings type.

Non-financial-remedy (Ch 7.2): Bates numbering

The PD defines Bates numbering at Para 1.2, verbatim:

"Bates numbering" is a numbering system where each section of a bundle is denoted by a letter, with each page in that section also being numbered, so that the first section begins at page A1, then page A2 and so on, and the second section begins at page B1, then page B2 and so on, through each section.

That is the whole rule. Each new section restarts at 1 with its own letter prefix.

Worked example for a Child Arrangements Order hearing:

• Section A (preliminary): A1, A2, A3, A4
• Section B (applications and orders): B1, B2, B3, B4, B5
• Section C (statements): C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7
• Section D (care plan): D1, D2, D3
• Section E (experts'): E1, E2, E3, E4

Numbers never continue across sections. Section B opens at B1, not at "the next number after the last document of Section A".

The page number must appear in the same position on every page (bottom centre or bottom right), in Arial or Times New Roman at a minimum of 12pt (Ch 11.2(k)–(l), 12.2). This allows the judge to direct everyone to a specific page quickly: "Turn to C3" leaves no ambiguity.

Financial remedy (Ch 6.2): Arabic numbering

For financial remedy hearings, pagination runs consecutively through the whole bundle (1, 2, 3 … 347). The PDF page labels must match the pagination (Ch 11.2(c)) — page 47 in the PDF viewer reads "47", and the printed page label also reads "47".

Subsequent hearings in the same case (Ch 7.16 for non-financial-remedy)

When new documents are filed for a later hearing:

• New documents are added to the end of the relevant section
• Bates numbering continues within that section only (e.g. if section C ended at C7 at first hearing and two new statements are filed, they become C8 and C9)
• Superseded documents are removed
• The rest of the bundle's numbering is undisturbed

Common pagination mistakes

Running numbers continuously across sections in a non-financial-remedy bundle. Some software will try to produce A1, A2, A3, A4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, B10, B11, C12, C13 … — numbers continuing unbroken across sections, with the letter prefix used only as a location tag. This is not PD27A Ch 7 compliant. Numbers must restart at 1 in each new section.

Using Bates numbering in a financial remedy bundle. Chapter 6 requires Arabic consecutive numbering. Bates is wrong for financial remedy.

Mixing Bates and Arabic in one bundle. Pick one based on the proceedings type and stay consistent.

Forgetting to paginate exhibits. Exhibits are paginated inside the main Bates or Arabic sequence — they do not get their own sub-numbering.

Get Bates pagination right automatically. BundleCreator.co produces Bates-numbered bundles for non-financial-remedy Family proceedings by default, so each new section starts at 1 with its own letter prefix, exactly as PD27A Ch 7 requires.

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Indexing your bundle

Every bundle must have an index at the front. The index lists every document, the section it belongs to, and its page references.

What a proper index looks like (Bates bundle)

The index must be accurate. If a document starts on page B14 but your index says page B12, the judge will notice — and it does not inspire confidence in the rest of your preparation.

E-bundle index — hyperlinks and bookmarks (Ch 11.2(d))

For electronic bundles, the index must be interactive:

• Each entry added as a link in the indexed document
• All significant documents and sections bookmarked with short descriptions and page numbers
• Bundle searchable wherever possible

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Section dividers and bookmarks

Paper bundles (Ch 12)

• One A4 ring binder or lever arch file
• Maximum 175 sheets / 350 sides of text (12.1)
• Insert numbered blank dividers between each section
• Label dividers clearly (Section A, Section B, etc.)
• Copy all documents double-sided unless the court directs otherwise (12.2)
• Ring binder/lever arch file marked on front and spine: case title and number, hearing location, hearing date/time, judge name (if known), distinguishing letter if multiple volumes (12.3)

E-bundles (Ch 11)

E-bundles are the default under Ch 4.1–4.2 unless exceptional circumstances exist. Paper copies are still required for witness-box use, for LiPs who cannot access e-bundles, or where a realistic possibility of in-person witness evidence exists (Ch 4.3).

E-bundle requirements (Ch 11.2):

• Format: PDF only
• Page limit: maximum 350 pages A4 (exceeding requires court permission)
• Page numbering: computer-generated (not hand-numbered); Bates for Ch 7, Arabic for Ch 6
• Indexing: every entry hyperlinked; significant documents and sections bookmarked
• OCR: all typed text pages OCR'd if not directly electronic
• Page orientation: landscape pages appear landscape (readable left-to-right)
• Default view: 100%
• Resolution: not exceeding 300 dpi; electronically optimised
• Typography: Arial or Times New Roman; 12pt minimum; 1.5 or double line spacing; margins each side. Arial is flagged in the PD itself as "generally more accessible to neurodiverse readers"
• Filing: filename must contain hearing date, case reference, short case name, and bundle content indication (14.2(a)); use HMCTS online portal where available (14.2(b))

Build compliant e-bundles quickly. BundleCreator.co generates e-bundles with automatic Bates pagination, bookmarks, hyperlinked indexes, and OCR-ready PDFs — all aligned with PD27A's e-bundle format requirements.

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Filing deadlines (Ch 13.2)

PD27A sets three working-day milestones. Missing them can have serious consequences.

"Working days" means Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays. For a final hearing listed on a Wednesday, "5 working days before" is the preceding Wednesday (assuming no bank holidays in between).

Once filed, no silent amendments (13.3)

Once the bundle is filed, it must not be amended before the hearing without prior court agreement. Accepted errors and court-permitted supplemental bundles are the only exceptions. Adding a document to a filed bundle unilaterally exposes you to the Ch 3 non-compliance consequences.

What happens if you miss the deadline

The court can apply any or all of the Ch 3 consequences:

• Case removal from the list — if the judge cannot fairly proceed without the bundle
• Postponement
• Adverse costs orders — ordering the defaulting party to pay the other party's costs caused by the delay
• Wasted costs orders — against a legal representative personally where the conduct warrants it

Meeting your filing deadline should be treated as non-negotiable.

Practical tips for meeting deadlines

Start preparing your bundle well before the deadline. Gathering documents, scanning them, organising them into sections, agreeing contents with the other party, and paginating takes longer than most people expect. The 7-working-days-before milestone for agreement is the floor, not the ideal target.

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Who is responsible for preparing the bundle? (Ch 4.5–4.7)

PD27A allocates bundle preparation in three tiers:

1. Default (4.5): The applicant — or in cross-applications the first-in-time applicant — prepares, files, and serves the bundle.
2. Applicant unrepresented, respondent represented (4.6): The legally represented respondent must prepare the bundle.
3. All parties unrepresented (4.7): The court may direct HM Courts and Tribunals Service to prepare it. HMCTS-prepared bundles are not required to meet the format rules at Ch 6–12; separate guidance applies (4.8).

Bundle contents should be agreed by all parties where possible (4.9), regardless of who prepares.

What counts as "legally represented"

For the responsibility flip in 4.6, representation means solicitor on the record or counsel instructed with solicitor's supervision. A McKenzie friend is not legal representation.

First time preparing a court bundle? BundleCreator.co walks you through the process step by step, with pre-loaded templates for family court proceedings aligned with PD27A Ch 7.3 section structure. You upload your documents, arrange them into sections, and the software handles Bates pagination, hyperlinked indexing, and bookmark generation.

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Common mistakes that frustrate judges

1. Wrong pagination system

Using Arabic numerals in a non-financial-remedy bundle, or Bates in a financial remedy bundle. Use the system that Chapter 6 or Chapter 7 requires for the proceedings type.

2. Including excluded document classes (Ch 5.2)

Raw correspondence, emails, WhatsApp, voice notes, bank statements, contact visit notes, foster carer logs, social services files (except assessments relied upon), photographs — all excluded unless the court directs. Litigants in person often include these out of habit.

3. Including irrelevant documents

A 300-page bundle for a short directions hearing suggests you have not thought carefully about what the judge actually needs. Include only documents relevant to the issues the court will decide at that specific hearing. The per-document page caps at Ch 8.1 exist to help — case summary 6pp, chronology 10pp, witness statement 25pp, etc.

4. Poor quality scans

Documents scanned at an angle, with text cut off at the edges, or so faint they are barely readable. If a document matters enough to include, it matters enough to scan properly at 200–300 DPI and OCR.

5. Missing documents

The judge expects to find certain documents in every bundle — the application, any existing orders, relevant witness statements. If these are missing, the hearing may not be able to proceed.

6. No index or an inaccurate index

An index that does not match the actual page numbers is worse than no index at all, because it sends the judge to the wrong page. Generate the index after pagination is final.

7. Duplicate documents

The same document appearing in multiple sections wastes pages and creates confusion about which copy to reference.

8. No statement of truth on witness statements

A witness statement without a signed statement of truth cannot be relied upon as evidence. Check every statement before including it.

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How BundleCreator helps with PD27A alignment

Preparing a PD27A-aligned bundle manually involves juggling multiple requirements: correct pagination mode for the proceedings type, indexing, section organisation, PDF formatting, bookmarks, and filing deadlines. It is time-consuming and error-prone.

BundleCreator.co automates the technical aspects:

• Automatic Bates pagination for non-financial-remedy bundles (each section starts at 1 with its own letter prefix, matching PD27A Ch 7.2) and Arabic for financial remedy (Ch 6.2)
• Generated index — accurate, hyperlinked index that updates automatically as you add or remove documents
• Section management — drag-and-drop documents into PD27A-aligned sections (Ch 6.3 or Ch 7.3)
• PDF optimisation — text-searchable PDFs with bookmarks for every section and significant document
• Template documents — pre-loaded templates for case summaries, chronologies, and position statements
• Export — download your completed bundle as a single PDF ready for filing

Whether you are a solicitor managing multiple cases or a litigant in person preparing your first bundle, the software handles the formatting so you can focus on the substance of your case.

Try BundleCreator.co today and see how much time you save on bundle preparation.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Practice Direction 27A?

Practice Direction 27A is the guidance that governs how court bundles must be prepared and filed in family proceedings in England and Wales. It sets out requirements for bundle contents, format, pagination, indexing, and filing deadlines. The current version came into force on 2 March 2026 and was amended on 24 March 2026 by FPR Practice Direction Update No 1 of 2026 (clarifying amendments only).

Do I need to comply with PD27A if I am a litigant in person?

Yes. PD27A applies to all parties in family proceedings, whether or not they have legal representation. The court expects the same standard of bundle preparation from litigants in person as from solicitors. The Judiciary has published a LiP-focused guide alongside the new PD.

Can I submit a Word document instead of a PDF?

No. PD27A 11.2(a) requires e-bundles to be PDF. Word documents are not acceptable because they can be edited after filing and do not support consistent pagination across different devices.

How many copies of a physical bundle do I need?

Under PD27A 15.4, one copy filed with the court; the responsible party brings a witness copy to each hearing with possible oral evidence. Under 15.5, four copies for magistrate bench hearings if exceptionally paper (not e-bundle) is used.

What happens if the other party will not agree the bundle contents?

If you cannot agree, include the documents you consider relevant and note in a covering letter which documents are disputed. The judge can then decide at the hearing whether any documents should be excluded. Note that 4.9 requires contents to be agreed "where possible" — so make and document a genuine effort.

Is there a maximum page limit for a family court bundle?

Yes. E-bundles are capped at 350 pages A4 (Ch 11.2(b)); paper bundles at 175 sheets / 350 sides (Ch 12.1). Exceeding either requires the court to specifically direct otherwise, satisfied that such direction is necessary for just proceedings. The authorities bundle is capped at 10 authorities (Ch 10.2).

Do I need to include the other party's documents in the bundle?

Yes. The bundle should contain all relevant documents from both parties. It is a neutral document — its purpose is to put everything the judge needs in one place, regardless of which party produced it.

When should I start preparing my bundle?

Start as soon as practicable after receiving the court's directions. For a final hearing, that typically means beginning preparation at least two to three weeks before the 5-working-days-before filing deadline, to allow time for agreeing contents at 7 working days before and resolving any issues.

What is the difference between Bates numbering and Arabic numbering?

Bates numbering uses a section letter + number, with numbers restarting at 1 in each new section: A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3, C1, C2 … It's required for all Family proceedings except financial remedy (Ch 7.2). Arabic numbering runs 1, 2, 3 … consecutively through the whole bundle. It's required for financial remedy bundles (Ch 6.2), with PDF page labels matched to pagination.

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This article provides general information about Practice Direction 27A and family court bundle requirements in England and Wales. It is not legal advice. For guidance specific to your case, consult a qualified family law solicitor.