Court Bundle Rules Guidance for Litigants in Person

Family Court Bundle Example & PD27A Rules: Step-by-Step Guide for Litigants in Person

Who this is for. When a family court judge orders you to prepare an "electronic court bundle complying with Practice Direction 27A", it can feel overwhelming. If your bundle is unpaginated, messy, or exceeds statutory page limits, the court may reject it. This guide provides a complete example and breakdown of how to build a compliant bundle in plain English.

1. The Golden Rules of Practice Direction 27A (PD27A)

• The 350-Page Limit: Unless the court grants explicit prior permission, your core bundle must not exceed 350 pages. Do not pack every text message or bank statement into the bundle.
• Continuous Pagination: Every page in the bundle must be numbered sequentially from page 1 to the final page (e.g. 1 to 142).
• Searchable Single PDF: For electronic hearings, the bundle must be compiled as a single, searchable PDF document with electronic bookmarks matching the index.
• The 20-Minute Judicial Reading Rule: Judges have roughly 20 to 30 minutes to read your bundle before walking into the courtroom. A clear index and chronology is what wins cases.

2. Standard Section Dividers (The 5 Core Sections)

Every PD27A bundle must be partitioned into the following standard sections:

Section A: Preliminary Documents

• Case summary (neutral 1-page overview of parties and background).
• Statement of Issues (the specific questions the judge must decide today).
• Chronology of key events (dates, facts, no emotional adjectives).
• Position Statements for the current hearing.

Section B: Applications and Orders

• The original application form (e.g. Form C100 or Form FL401).
• All previous court orders made in the proceedings, listed in chronological order.

Section C: Witness Statements

• The Applicant’s witness statements.
• The Respondent’s witness statements.
• Any third-party or police disclosure statements.

Section D: Expert & Professional Reports

• Cafcass Section 7 Welfare Report or Safeguarding Letter.
• Local authority Section 37 report (if applicable).
• Medical or drug testing toxicology certificates.

Section E: Essential Supporting Evidence (Exhibits)

Only include documents strictly relevant to the disputed issues (e.g. agreed mediation notes, key school attendance reports, or tenancy agreements).

3. Example Bundle Index Format

Building your bundle or statement? EvidenceCanvas is an online tool for people who represent themselves in the family court. It helps you turn your evidence into a dated chronology, an indexed exhibit bundle and a draft statement. You review and finish each document yourself.

It is a paid tool with monthly plans and one-off options, and a limited free plan to try it. Check the current prices on its website before you choose a plan. It is not a law firm, it does not give legal advice and it cannot tell you how your case will turn out. If you can get legal advice or legal aid, consider that first.

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