Same-Day Completion Pack: Bookmarked, OCR'd PDFs Without the Stress
How to assemble a completion file on completion day: single PDF, paginated, bookmarked, OCR'd, A4 portrait, under 50MB. Workflow and common failure points.
Quick Answer
A completion pack is the firm's own indexed record of the completion documents. BundleCreator's suggested format is a single PDF, paginated continuously, OCR'd so it is searchable, bookmarked at section and document level, A4 portrait with landscape pages auto-rotated, default zoom 100%, under 50MB. If a lender asks to see any documents, check its requirements in the UK Finance Mortgage Lenders' Handbook (Part 1 and the lender's Part 2). To produce one in under 30 minutes on completion day (BundleCreator's own estimate): upload your documents to a tool that handles the four PDF mechanics (pagination, OCR, bookmarking, compression) automatically; review the output; save it to the matter file and share it where needed. Common failure points are image-only scans (no OCR), incorrect page numbering, and oversized files. Under the Standard Conditions of Sale (5th edition – 2018 revision, condition 6.1.2), if the completion money is received after 2.00 pm, completion is treated as taking place on the next working day for the purposes of apportionments and compensation for late completion (conditions 6.3 and 7.2), unless condition 6.1.3 applies. Plan to have funds released well before then.
The shape of the day
On completion day the buyer's conveyancer sends the completion money so that it reaches the seller's conveyancer before 2.00 pm (Standard Conditions of Sale, 5th edition – 2018 revision, condition 6.1.2). Assemble the completion file before the day so that the morning is free for the money transfer and chain calls.
BundleCreator's suggested format
Check the lender's requirements in the UK Finance Mortgage Lenders' Handbook (Part 1 and the lender's Part 2) before completion. The format below is BundleCreator's suggested default:
1. One PDF
Not a zip file. Not multiple separate PDFs. Not a folder shared via Dropbox or WeTransfer. One PDF with a clear file name (for example [propertyref]_completion.pdf).
2. Standard PDF requirements
- A4 portrait
- Landscape pages auto-rotated so they read correctly
- Default zoom 100%
- All text searchable (OCR applied to scanned pages)
- Bookmarks for each section and significant document
- Hyperlinked index at the front
- Continuous pagination throughout
3. File size
Compression keeps the file size down — but lossy compression must not destroy text legibility. The right balance: 200-300 dpi for text-heavy pages, lossy compression on photographs.
The standard pack contents (in PDF order)
├── [bookmark] Front sheet — transaction summary
├── [bookmark] Index (hyperlinked)
├── [bookmark] Section A — Conveyancer's certificate
├── [bookmark] Section B — Land Registry documents
│ ├── B1 — Official copies of register
│ ├── B2 — Official copy of title plan
│ └── B3 — Documents referred to in register
├── [bookmark] Section C — Property Information Forms
│ ├── C1 — TA6
│ ├── C2 — TA7 (leasehold only)
│ ├── C3 — TA10
│ └── C4 — TA13
├── [bookmark] Section D — Searches
│ ├── D1 — Local
│ ├── D2 — Drainage and water
│ └── D3 — Environmental
├── [bookmark] Section E — Mortgage and finance
│ ├── E1 — Mortgage offer
│ ├── E2 — Mortgage deed
│ └── E3 — Source of funds and AML
├── [bookmark] Section F — SDLT
│ ├── F1 — SDLT return
│ └── F2 — SDLT5 certificate
├── [bookmark] Section G — Land Registry application
│ ├── G1 — AP1 (or FR1)
│ ├── G2 — TR1
│ └── G3 — DS1 (where applicable)
└── [bookmark] Section H — Insurance and undertakings
For the full sequence including new-build, leasehold, and first-registration variations, see Conveyancing Completion Pack: TA6, TA7, TA10, SDLT1, AP1 in the Right Order.
OCR — why it matters
OCR (Optical Character Recognition) converts the image of text in a scanned document into actual text the PDF reader can search and copy. Without OCR, a scanned TA6 looks fine on screen but a Ctrl+F search returns nothing.
Searchable text lets anyone reviewing the file find names, dates and amounts quickly.
Most modern scanners apply OCR by default. If you receive a document from another firm without OCR (common for older title deeds or some search reports), apply OCR before adding to the pack. Some specialist tools (including BundleCreator) handle this automatically when you upload.
Bookmarks and the hyperlinked index
A 200-page completion pack without bookmarks is hard to navigate. Bookmarks should:
- Mark every Section letter (A through H)
- Mark every major document within a section (the TA6, the Local Authority Search, etc.)
- Have descriptive names (not "Document 1" / "Document 2")
- Be organised hierarchically — Section A bookmark expanding to A1, A2, A3 sub-bookmarks
The hyperlinked index at the front is a separate document. It is a table of contents where each row is a hyperlink to the document it references. Click the row labelled "C1 — TA6 Property Information Form" and the PDF jumps to page 23 (or wherever the TA6 starts). This is a standard PDF feature that PDF editors and PDF libraries can build.
Pagination
Continuous Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3 ... 247). Not Bates per section. Not roman numerals at the front. Not "section letter + page number" (A1, A2, B1, B2). Just plain consecutive page numbers from 1 to the last page.
Why continuous: a single page number gives an unambiguous reference.
Page number position: bottom-centre or bottom-right. Same position on every page. Minimum 12 point. Black on white background. Visible when the page is printed even though the pack is digital.
The four mechanics in one operation
Doing all four (pagination + OCR + bookmarking + compression) manually is the slow part of completion-day work. The sequence in a desktop PDF editor:
- Combine source PDFs into one master
- Add page numbers as a header or footer
- Run text recognition (OCR) on scanned pages
- Add bookmarks from the Bookmarks panel
- Reduce the file size
Total time on a 250-page pack (BundleCreator's own estimate): 25-40 minutes if you know your PDF editor well. 60+ minutes if you do not.
A purpose-built completion-pack tool (including BundleCreator) does all four in one operation — upload, click Generate, download. Time saved (BundleCreator's own estimate): 20-30 minutes on every completion.
What goes wrong on completion day
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Searches not searchable | No OCR on scanned pages | OCR before assembly |
| Wrong page numbers | Sections numbered separately | Repaginate continuously |
| Drainage search wrong year | Old search not updated | Top up search, reupload |
| TA6 shows seller's redacted-but-uncovered phone number | Bad redaction | Re-redact properly — see Redacting Personal Data from TA Forms |
| Pack uploaded twice with different versions | No version control | Tag with date and time on the front sheet |
Frequently asked questions
Can I send the pack as multiple PDFs?
BundleCreator produces one PDF. Check the lender's requirements in the UK Finance Mortgage Lenders' Handbook (Part 1 and the lender's Part 2) before completion.
What about the buyer's solicitor — can I send them the pack as a zip?
Agree the format with the buyer's solicitor. A zip file with the originals plus a combined PDF is helpful — the originals for them to work with, the PDF for their own pack assembly.
How big can the pack be?
Check the lender's requirements in the UK Finance Mortgage Lenders' Handbook (Part 1 and the lender's Part 2) before completion. Larger files can be shared with the other side's conveyancer through a secure file-transfer service.
What if I am missing a document at completion?
Note it on the front sheet and add it when it arrives. The SDLT5 is issued online as soon as the return is submitted (a paper return takes longer), and the return is due within 14 days of the effective date. Lodge the AP1 within the priority period of the official search (30 working days, LRR 2003 r.131).
Do I need to include emails and correspondence?
No. The pack is about the legal completion documents, not the correspondence trail. Keep correspondence on the file but out of the pack.
Is OCR really necessary if my scans are clean?
Yes. Clean scans look fine on screen but they are still images. Without OCR, nobody can search them.
How BundleCreator helps
BundleCreator's Conveyancing template handles all four pack mechanics automatically:
- Upload each document — TA6, searches, mortgage offer, SDLT, AP1, etc.
- Section letters and document order assigned automatically per BundleCreator's suggested layout
- Pagination applied continuously across the whole pack
- OCR run on every page that needs it
- Bookmarks generated at section and document level
- Hyperlinked index built automatically
- Compression to keep the file size down
The output: one PDF, ready to save or share, in around 10-15 minutes from the moment all documents are uploaded, compared with 30-60 minutes manually (both BundleCreator's own estimates).
UK-hosted, AES-256 at rest, TLS 1.3 in transit. The personal data on the TA forms does not cross borders during processing.
Further reading
- Conveyancing Completion Pack: TA6, TA7, TA10, SDLT1, AP1 in the Right Order
- Redacting Personal Data from TA Forms: UK GDPR Compliance
- Conveyancing Document Tools for Sole Practitioners and Licensed Conveyancers
- HM Land Registry Practice Guide 49 — Return and rejection of applications for registration
Free tools mentioned in this article
Watch the short walkthrough
Short tutorial videos showing the exact BundleCreator features mentioned in this article.
Output
What Happens When You Click Download
When you click Download, BundleCreator does more than save a copy. It assembles the bundle, applies pagination in the style your court requires, re-generates the index, runs OCR for searchability, compresses to fit court file-size limits, and applies optional security like password protection and watermarking. This animated walkthrough shows each of the five steps that produce a single court-ready PDF.
Onboarding
Getting Started with BundleCreator
Your first thirty seconds in BundleCreator — the dashboard, the trial banner, the Create Bundle button top right, the area-of-law modal covering 24 areas of law plus a Pro-tips practice tile, and the editor with sections, document, toolbar, and the Sections / Continuous numbering toggle. Built for litigants in person and legal professionals across England and Wales.
Onboarding
Creating Your First Bundle
Create a bundle in three clicks — from the dashboard Create Bundle button, through the 23-area-of-law picker, to picking a hearing type and watching the editor open. This walkthrough uses the Pro-tips Starter Bundle as the example so you see the flow without real-case complexity.
About the Author
Stevie Hayes
Legal Technology Compliance Specialist & Founder
Former Head of Data Security at Holland & Barrett, a Governance, Risk and Compliance specialist, Stevie brings over 30 years of technology expertise—including delivery for Sky, Disney, and BT—to court bundle compliance. His five years navigating the UK Family Court, both with legal representation and as a litigant in person, revealed the gap between what courts require and what tools deliver.
Areas of Expertise:
ISO 27001 Information Security • Data Security & Compliance • Practice Direction 27A • UK Family Court Procedures