UK Court Bundle Compliance Guide (2025-2026)

A resource for legal professionals and litigants in person navigating Practice Direction 27A, the Family Procedure Rules, and Civil Procedure Rules requirements.

Last updated: 24 April 2026

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Introduction: why bundle compliance matters more than ever

The preparation of court bundles has undergone a fundamental transformation in recent years. What was once a relatively straightforward administrative task has evolved into an exercise requiring knowledge of Practice Directions, procedural rules, and court-specific requirements.

This guide serves as a reference for understanding UK court bundle compliance. Whether you are a solicitor preparing bundles for complex financial remedy proceedings, a barrister advising on child arrangement matters, or a litigant in person navigating the family courts without legal representation, the principles outlined here will help you produce a bundle that meets the standards the judiciary expects.

The 2 March 2026 revision of PD27A tightened several requirements and moved non-financial-remedy proceedings explicitly onto Bates numbering. Poorly prepared bundles remain one of the most common causes of wasted court time and adjournments. The costs — both financial and emotional — of non-compliant bundles can be substantial, particularly in family proceedings where delays directly impact children and families awaiting resolution.

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Part One: Understanding the regulatory framework

Practice Direction 27A: the cornerstone of Family Court bundles

Practice Direction 27A supplements Part 27 of the Family Procedure Rules 2010 and establishes the requirements for court bundles in family proceedings. 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 — no change to pagination, size, or timetable rules).

PD27A is organised into 19 chapters covering scope, preparation, contents, structure for financial remedy and non-financial-remedy proceedings, format, timetable, filing, and post-hearing handling.

Key chapters for bundle preparation:

• Chapter 3 — Penalties for Non-Compliance: Failure to comply may result in case removal from the list, postponement, adverse costs orders, or wasted costs orders.
• Chapter 5 — Contents of the Bundle (All Proceedings): Bundles must contain only documents relevant to the hearing. Para 5.2 lists classes of document that are excluded unless the court directs otherwise (correspondence, emails, texts, WhatsApp, social media, voice notes/recordings, bank and credit card statements, contact visit notes, foster carer logs, social services files except assessments relied upon, photographs).
• Chapter 6 — Financial Remedy Proceedings: Arabic numbering consecutive throughout. PDF page labels must match. Fixed section order: (a) preliminary documents and case management documents; (b) applications and orders (sealed or approved); (c) statements and affidavits (Forms E, questionnaire replies, parties' statements without exhibits); (d) experts' and other reports; (e) other relevant documents by appropriate divisions.
• Chapter 7 — All Other Proceedings: Bates numbering — per-section restart (A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3, C1, C2 …). Fixed section order: A preliminary; B applications and orders; C statements and affidavits; D care plans where applicable; E experts' and other reports including children's guardian reports; F relevant medical records; G relevant police disclosure; H child's birth certificate in public law CMHs; I (etc.) other relevant documents.
• Chapter 8 — Document Page Limits: Care plan 10pp, case summary 6pp, statement of issues 2pp, chronology 10pp, list of essential reading 1pp, witness statement 25pp (exclusive of exhibits), expert report 40pp (including max 4-page executive summary). Position-statement caps tier by hearing type.
• Chapter 10 — Authorities: Separate composite authorities bundle, maximum 10 authorities (unless court directs otherwise).
• Chapter 11 — Format of E-bundles: PDF only; ≤350 pages A4; Bates or Arabic per proceedings type; computer-generated pagination matching PDF page labels for financial remedy; every index entry hyperlinked; significant documents and sections bookmarked; searchable where possible; OCR required for typed text pages; ≤300dpi; minimum 12pt; Arial or Times New Roman (Arial noted as "generally more accessible to neurodiverse readers"); landscape pages landscape; default view 100%.
• Chapter 12 — Format of Paper Bundles: One A4 binder; ≤175 sheets; ≤350 sides of text. Same typography as e-bundles.
• Chapter 13 — Timetable: 7 working days before hearing — parties seek to agree contents. 5 working days before — bundle body served and filed. 11:00 the working day before — preliminary documents served and filed. Once filed, no amendment without court agreement.

The pagination rule from Para 1.2 deserves special attention, 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. Numbers restart at 1 in each new section. A bundle moving from Section A to Section B opens Section B at B1, not at the next number after the last document of Section A.

The Family Procedure Rules 2010

The Family Procedure Rules (FPR) 2010 govern all family proceedings in England and Wales. Part 27 deals with hearings and directions appointments; PD27A supplements it. Other relevant parts include Part 22 (evidence — witness statements, affidavits) and Part 25 (experts' evidence).

Understanding the interplay between the FPR and PD27A is essential. The Rules establish the procedural framework; the Practice Direction provides the detailed technical requirements.

Civil Procedure Rules: when TOLATA meets family law

Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (TOLATA) claims sit in the civil jurisdiction, not the family jurisdiction. This creates a compliance boundary: TOLATA bundles follow CPR Part 39 Practice Direction 32 / 39A, not PD27A.

Key CPR provisions relevant to TOLATA bundles:

• CPR Part 8: Procedure for TOLATA claims, typically brought under the alternative procedure
• Practice Direction 32 (and PD39A): Evidence requirements and bundle requirements respectively
• Practice Direction 8A: Specific requirements for Part 8 claims

The critical distinction lies in the governing rule, not the pagination mechanic — the section-letter Bates-style convention is widely used in CPR bundles too (e.g. A1, A2, B1, B2), though the CPR PDs do not use the specific term "Bates numbering". When a TOLATA claim is consolidated with family proceedings, the directions order will specify which framework applies to bundle preparation.

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Part Two: Electronic bundle technical standards

PDF format (PD27A 11.2(a))

E-bundles must be in PDF format. PD27A does not specify PDF/A; plain PDF is the requirement. Some courts may prefer or specify PDF/A in directions, but that is a court-level preference rather than a PD-level requirement.

Optical Character Recognition — OCR (11.2(e))

OCR technology converts scanned images of text into machine-readable text, enabling search functionality within PDF documents. Under PD27A 11.2(e), all typed text pages must be OCR'd if not created as direct electronic text.

Best practices for OCR:

1. Apply OCR to all scanned documents before inclusion in the bundle
2. Verify OCR accuracy, particularly for handwritten annotations
3. Ensure OCR does not interfere with document legibility
4. Test searchability (Ctrl+F / Cmd+F) before lodging

A judge searching for "mortgage" who receives no results because the OCR read "rnortgage" will be justifiably frustrated.

Bookmarking and navigation (11.2(d))

Electronic bundles must include bookmarks for every significant document and section, each with a short description and page number. The bookmark tree should mirror the index structure, enabling judges and parties to navigate directly to specific documents.

Bookmark hierarchy:

• Level 1: Sections A, B, C, D … (Bates bundle) or section dividers (Arabic bundle)
• Level 2: Individual documents within each section
• Level 3 (optional): Subsections within longer documents

Bookmark labels should match the index entries.

File size and page caps

PD27A caps pages rather than file size:

• E-bundle: maximum 350 pages A4 (11.2(b))
• Paper bundle: maximum 175 sheets / 350 sides of text (12.1)
• Resolution: not exceeding 300 dpi; electronically optimised for necessary file size (11.2(j))
• Authorities bundle: maximum 10 authorities (10.2)

Courts may also impose upload-size limits on their filing portals or email systems, but those are separate from the PD-level page cap.

Strategies for managing size:

• Keep per-document caps (witness statement 25pp excluding exhibits, expert report 40pp including max 4-page executive summary — Ch 8.1)
• Exclude the Ch 5.2 classes (correspondence, emails, WhatsApp, voice notes, bank statements, contact notes, foster logs, social services files except assessments relied upon, photographs) unless specifically directed
• Compress at ≤ 300 dpi (11.2(j)) — typically reduces file size 20–70% with no visible quality loss

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Part Three: Bundle structure by proceeding type

Child arrangements proceedings (Section 8 Children Act 1989 applications)

These are non-financial-remedy Family proceedings — PD27A Ch 7 applies. Bates numbering, per-section restart.

Under Ch 7.3, the fixed section order is:

Section A — Preliminary documents and case management documents

• Case summary
• Agreed statement of issues
• Each party's position statement
• Skeleton arguments
• Agreed chronology (final hearings; where practicable for others)
• Agreed list of essential reading
• Witness template (evidential/contested/final hearings)

Section B — Applications and orders (sealed or approved)

• C100 application and any C1A
• C7 acknowledgement
• Response forms
• Case management orders
• Previous orders

Section C — Statements and affidavits (dated, without exhibits)

• Parties' witness statements

Section D — Care plans (where applicable)

Section E — Experts' and other reports (including children's guardian reports)

• Cafcass safeguarding letter
• Section 7 report
• Psychological/medical/other expert assessments
• Children's guardian reports

Section F — Relevant medical records

Section G — Relevant police disclosure

Section H — Child's birth certificate or equivalent (public law proceedings at Case Management Hearings)

Section I (etc.) — Other relevant documents by appropriate divisions

Pagination: A1, A2, A3 … B1, B2 … C1, C2 … D1 …

The First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment (FHDRA) bundle should focus on the application, safeguarding letter, and urgent evidence. It is still PD27A-governed and follows the Bates convention above.

Financial remedy proceedings

Ch 6 applies. Arabic numbering consecutive throughout; PDF page labels match pagination.

Fixed section order under Ch 6.3:

(a) Preliminary documents and case management documents

• Form ES1 (identified and outstanding issues)
• Form ES2 (composite asset/income schedule)
• Agreed chronology
• Agreed list of essential reading
• Hearing template (for 2+ hour hearings)
• Each party's Form FM5
• Each party's position statement

(b) Applications and orders (sealed or approved)

• Form A (or equivalent)
• D81 Statement of Information
• Case management orders

(c) Statements and affidavits

• Forms E (petitioner/applicant and respondent)
• Replies to questionnaires
• Parties' witness statements (without exhibits)
• Section 25 statements

(d) Experts' and other reports

• Property valuations
• Pension actuary reports (PAE)
• Business valuations
• Other expert reports

(e) Other relevant documents by appropriate divisions

Pagination: 1, 2, 3 … 347.

Position-statement caps (Ch 6.12):

• First appointment / first hearing: 6 pages including schedules
• Other interim hearings: 8 pages including schedules
• FDR appointments: 12 pages excluding agreed documents
• Final hearings: 15 pages excluding agreed documents

TOLATA and property proceedings

TOLATA proceedings are governed by the CPR, not by PD27A. Bundle preparation follows CPR Practice Directions 32 (evidence) and 39A (bundles).

Recommended structure for TOLATA bundles:

Section A: Pleadings

• Part 8 Claim Form
• Acknowledgment of Service
• Witness statements (serving as evidence in chief)

Section B: Property Documentation

• Title documents (Land Registry)
• Transfer deeds
• Mortgage documentation
• Conveyancing correspondence

Section C: Financial Contributions

• Bank statements evidencing payments
• Building society records
• Payment receipts
• Mortgage payment records

Section D: Communications

• Relevant correspondence between parties
• Text messages and emails evidencing common intention
• Solicitors' correspondence

Section E: Expert Evidence

• Property valuations
• Surveyor reports
• Forensic accountant reports (if applicable)

Section F: Legal Authorities

• Key case law relied upon
• Statutory provisions

Note the inclusion of legal authorities in TOLATA bundles — this reflects the quasi-academic nature of beneficial interest disputes, where courts expect detailed legal submissions on constructive and resulting trusts.

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Part Four: Common compliance failures and how to avoid them

Pagination errors

The most frequent compliance failure involves applying the wrong pagination system for the proceedings type.

• Non-financial-remedy (Ch 7) using Arabic throughout: This is a PD27A non-compliance. Ch 7.2 requires Bates numbering — section letter + number, restart at 1 in each new section.
• Financial remedy (Ch 6) using Bates: Similarly non-compliant. Ch 6.2 requires Arabic consecutive through the whole bundle.
• Continuous across sections in a Bates bundle (A1, A2, B3, B4, C5): Not PD27A-compliant. Numbers must restart at 1 in each new section, per Para 1.2.
• Missing pages or duplicate numbers: Gaps in sequence or repeated numbers.

Solution: Use bundle-preparation software that defaults to the correct mode for the proceedings type, and verify the sequence before lodging. Manual pagination of large bundles inevitably leads to errors.

Index inaccuracies

An index that does not accurately reflect the bundle contents creates significant judicial frustration. Common issues:

• Page numbers in index not matching actual document locations
• Document descriptions that do not match document titles
• Missing documents from the index
• Index entries for documents not included in the bundle
• E-bundle index entries not hyperlinked (violates 11.2(d))

Solution: Generate the index after finalising the bundle and verify every entry against the actual contents.

OCR and searchability failures

Bundles that appear text-searchable but contain OCR errors, or bundles where OCR has not been applied to scanned typed-text documents, undermine the efficiency gains of electronic bundles and violate 11.2(e).

Solution: Test searchability before lodging by searching for distinctive terms that appear in the bundle.

Exceeding page caps

Submitting bundles exceeding 350 pages A4 (e-bundle, 11.2(b)) or 175 sheets (paper, 12.1) without prior permission exposes you to the Ch 3 non-compliance consequences.

Solution: Begin bundle preparation early, apply the per-document caps (Ch 8.1), exclude the Ch 5.2 document classes unless directed, and apply to the court well in advance if the bundle genuinely cannot fit.

Including excluded document classes (Ch 5.2)

Correspondence, emails, WhatsApp, voice notes, bank statements, contact visit notes, foster carer logs, social services files (except assessments relied upon), and photographs are excluded from the bundle unless the court directs otherwise. Practitioners and LiPs often include these out of habit.

Solution: When a specific piece of excluded-class material is evidence, extract the relevant content into a witness statement exhibit or apply to the court for a direction to include.

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Part Five: The ethical dimension

Professional conduct obligations

Solicitors and barristers have professional obligations relating to bundle preparation that extend beyond mere technical compliance.

For solicitors (SRA Standards and Regulations):

• Paragraph 3.3: Acting in the best interests of each client
• Paragraph 1.4: Acting with honesty and integrity
• Paragraph 7.1: Providing a proper standard of service

Submitting non-compliant bundles may breach the duty to provide a proper standard of service, whilst including misleading documents may engage honesty obligations.

For barristers (BSB Handbook Core Duties):

• CD3: Acting in the best interests of each client
• CD5: Not behaving in a way likely to diminish public trust and confidence
• rC9: Duty not to mislead the court

Barristers accepting instructions to advise or appear must ensure they have access to properly prepared bundles. Accepting instructions where bundle preparation is clearly inadequate may itself constitute a professional conduct issue.

Duties to the court

All legal professionals owe duties to the court that supersede duties to clients. In the bundle preparation context, this includes:

• Including relevant documents even if unhelpful to the client's case
• Not deliberately obscuring unfavourable evidence through poor organisation
• Drawing the court's attention to known pagination or indexing errors
• Correcting any misrepresentations in the bundle at the earliest opportunity

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Part Six: Practical implementation

Bundle preparation timeline

A recommended timeline for a final hearing in non-financial-remedy Family proceedings:

4 weeks before hearing:

• Begin collating documents
• Identify any missing documents and make requests
• Commission any necessary expert reports

3 weeks before hearing:

• Complete document collection
• Begin organisation into Ch 7.3 sections
• Apply OCR to scanned documents

2 weeks before hearing:

• Finalise bundle structure
• Apply Bates pagination
• Create index and bookmarks

7 working days before hearing (PD27A 13.2):

• Parties seek to agree bundle contents

5 working days before hearing (PD27A 13.2):

• Bundle (except preliminary documents if unavailable) served and filed

Working day before hearing, by 11:00 (PD27A 13.2):

• Preliminary documents served on all parties and filed with the court

Hearing day:

• Bring paper copy for witness-box use (4.3) if relevant

Technology solutions

Modern bundle preparation increasingly relies on technology. Key considerations when selecting bundle preparation software:

1. Pagination modes: Does the software produce Bates (per-section restart) for Ch 7 and Arabic (consecutive) for Ch 6?
2. PDF output: Can the software produce a PDF matching the 11.2 format requirements?
3. OCR integration: Is OCR built-in or does it require separate tools?
4. Bookmark generation: Are bookmarks created automatically from the index?
5. Section ordering: Does the software enforce the Ch 6.3 or Ch 7.3 fixed order?
6. Per-document caps: Does the software warn on Ch 8.1 limit breaches?
7. Security: Does the software adequately protect sensitive legal documents?

BundleCreator is designed to address these requirements, automating the PD27A format decisions whilst maintaining the flexibility required for different proceeding types and jurisdictions.

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Part Seven: Looking ahead — emerging requirements

The Digital Justice Initiative

The Ministry of Justice's ongoing digital transformation programme continues to evolve court requirements. Anticipated developments include:

• Mandatory electronic filing: The 2 March 2026 PD27A already makes e-bundles the default (4.1–4.2)
• Structured data requirements: Courts may require machine-readable metadata
• Integration with court systems: Direct bundle submission to case management systems via the HMCTS online portal (14.2(b))
• Accessibility standards: Enhanced requirements under the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018; PD27A itself now flags Arial as "generally more accessible to neurodiverse readers" (11.2(l))

Environmental considerations

Electronic bundles significantly reduce paper consumption. Courts continue to encourage or mandate electronic submission. Practitioners should prepare for a fully electronic future whilst maintaining the capability to produce paper bundles where the court requires them (4.3).

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Conclusion: excellence in bundle preparation

Compliance with PD27A and related procedural requirements is not merely a technical exercise — it represents a fundamental aspect of effective advocacy and professional service. A well-prepared bundle demonstrates respect for the court's time, facilitates efficient hearings, and ultimately serves the interests of justice.

The requirements outlined in this guide should be viewed as minimum standards rather than aspirational targets. Legal professionals who consistently exceed these standards distinguish themselves whilst better serving their clients' interests.

Whether you are preparing your first bundle or your thousandth, the principles remain constant: accuracy, accessibility, and attention to detail. The technology may evolve, but the fundamental commitment to excellence in legal document preparation endures.

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References and further reading

Primary sources

• Practice Direction 27A — Family Proceedings: Court Bundles
• Preparing Court Bundles for Family Proceedings: Guide for Litigants in Person — Judiciary's LiP guide (2 March 2026)
• Family Procedure Rules 2010
• Civil Procedure Rules
• Children Act 1989
• Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996

Professional guidance

• SRA Standards and Regulations
• BSB Handbook
• The Law Society Practice Note on Electronic Court Bundles

Related BundleCreator resources

PD27A and family bundles:

• How to Create a PD27A-Aligned Court Bundle
• PD27A Pagination and Indexing Requirements 2026
• PD27A Changes March 2026: What the New Bundle Rules Mean for Your Case
• Child Arrangements Order Bundle Preparation
• Financial Remedy Bundle Preparation
• TOLATA Claim Bundle Preparation

Civil and money disputes:

• Bankruptcy Petition vs Debt Relief Order: How to Choose in 2026
• How to Apply for Your Own Bankruptcy: 2026 Online Application Walkthrough
• Setting Aside a Statutory Demand: 2026 Defence Guide

Clinical negligence and personal injury:

• Clinical Negligence Time Limits: The 3-Year Rule and the Date of Knowledge
• Pre-Action Protocol for Clinical Negligence: Letter of Claim Walkthrough
• Clinical Negligence Expert Evidence: Breach of Duty vs Causation Reports

Regulatory and professional discipline:

• SRA Disciplinary Tribunal: Defending a Solicitor Against an SRA Referral
• Fitness to Practise: How GMC, NMC, and HCPC Hearings Differ
• FCA Enforcement Notice: Responding to a Decision Notice and Tribunal Reference

Commercial property disputes:

• Lease Renewal Under the 1954 Act: Section 25 and Section 26 Notices
• Dilapidations Claims: Section 18 Cap and Tenant Defence Strategies
• Service Charge Disputes in Commercial Leases: How Tenants Challenge Costs

Conveyancing transactional workflows:

• Conveyancing Completion Pack: How to Assemble TA6, TA7, TA10, SDLT1, AP1 in the Right Order
• Same-Day Completion Pack: Bookmarked, OCR'd PDFs Without the Stress
• Redacting Personal Data from TA Forms: UK GDPR Compliance for Conveyancers
• Conveyancing Document Tools for Sole Practitioners and Licensed Conveyancers
• UK Conveyancing Forms in Editable Format: Where to Find the Originals
• UK-Hosted Conveyancing Data: Why Region Matters Under SRA Principle 2 and the CLC Code of Conduct

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This guide is updated to reflect changes in Practice Directions and court requirements. Corrected against the in-force 2 March 2026 PD27A on 24 April 2026.

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This article provides general information about UK court bundle compliance requirements. It is not legal advice, and BundleCreator.co does not provide legal services. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as a substitute for professional legal advice tailored to your specific circumstances. For advice on your particular situation, consult a qualified solicitor or barrister who is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Bar Standards Board.