Family court bundles — the e-bundle and the path to a clean file
REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-08-31
What a bundle is
The bundle is the single paginated collection of every document the court, the parties, and Cafcass need for a hearing. It is the judge's working document — the file they read before and during the hearing (see our bundle and 20-minute-reality guides).
The e-bundle era
Practice Direction 27A (updated 2026) makes electronic (e-bundles) the norm in most cases:
- A single PDF with a table of contents (working links) and continuous pagination
- Served by email or an e-filing service
- Filed by a set deadline before the hearing (check the direction in your order — commonly the working day before, or earlier for contested matters)
What goes in an e-bundle
1. Cover sheet and index — paginated 2. Chronological applications and orders made so far 3. Statements and evidence relied on 4. Cafcass reports, medical/school letters, disclosure 5. A chronology of key dates 6. The position statements for the hearing
Keep it lean — judges read in a limited window; bloat buries the point.
Building it as a litigant in person
- Scan any paper documents (a phone scanner app works)
- Combine into one PDF, in order
- Number pages continuously bottom-right
- Make the index match the page numbers exactly
- Link the TOC to each page where you can
- Serve it: to the court office, the other side, and Cafcass (as directed)
Common mistakes
- Missing or wrong page numbers (an index that doesn't match pages undercuts you)
- Out-of-order documents
- Including irrelevant material (40 pages of screenshots with no reference)
- Missing the filing deadline
- Serving the wrong/old version after documents changed
The golden rule for LiPs
A clean, correctly paginated, indexed e-bundle is one of the strongest credibility signals you can send. If the judge can find what they need in 20 seconds, they read your case with goodwill; if they have to fight the bundle, goodwill drains away. See our bundle-20-minute-reality guide for the practical build.
Official links
- PD 27A (bundles): https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/family
- e-filing guidance: https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money
This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory and is not affiliated with HMCTS or gov.uk.
Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.