Feb 2 • Templates & Checklists
📁 Court Bundle Structure Explainer (Litigants in Person) England & Wales – Private Family Law
What a bundle is (in plain terms)
A court bundle is simply the organised set of documents the judge will read before and during a hearing.
It is not:
- a dumping ground for everything you have
- a place to prove you are right
- a record of every message ever sent
A good bundle helps the judge understand the case quickly and efficiently.
A bad bundle overwhelms the judge and undermines your credibility.
Why bundle structure matters
Judges are time-limited.They do not read documents in full the way litigants expect.
They look for:
- structure
- relevance
- compliance with directions
If your bundle is chaotic, repetitive, or bloated, the court may:
- skim
- miss key points
- restrict how much it will consider
Good structure makes your case easier to manage — which matters.
The default family court bundle structure
Unless the court directs otherwise, a private law family court bundle is usually structured like this:
Section A — Case Overview
(Short, orienting documents)
- Latest case summary or case map (if filed)
- Latest position statement(s)
- Case management orders
Purpose: To tell the judge what this hearing is about.
Section B — Applications & Orders
(Formal procedural documents)
- Application form(s) (e.g. C100, C1A)
- All relevant court orders (in date order, most recent first)
Purpose: To show what has been applied for and what the court has already directed.
Section C — Statements
(Evidence in narrative form)
- Applicant’s statement(s)
- Respondent’s statement(s)
Only include:
- statements directed by the court
- the latest versions (unless earlier versions are relevant)
Purpose: To present each party’s evidence clearly.
Section D — Cafcass / Reports
(Independent professional material)
- Safeguarding letter
- Section 7 report
- Any addendum reports
Purpose: To give the court professional input and recommendations.
Section E — Chronology & Schedules
(Orientation tools)
- Agreed or single-party chronology
- Any schedules (e.g. allegations, issues) if directed
Purpose: To help the judge locate events and issues quickly.
Section F — Exhibits
(Supporting evidence)
- Screenshots
- Emails
- Letters
- Records
These should:
- be clearly labelled
- be referenced in statements
- be limited to what actually matters
Purpose: To support specific factual points — not to tell the whole story.
What not to include in a bundle
Avoid:
- duplicate documents
- WhatsApp dumps with no explanation
- irrelevant historic material
- emotional letters not relied on
- documents the court has not permitted
Including too much is often worse than including too little.
How big should a bundle be?
There is no magic number, but as a guide:
- First hearings: often under 100 pages
- Review hearings: smaller
- Final hearings: only as large as strictly necessary
Judges routinely restrict over-large bundles.
If you think “the judge needs all of this”, pause and reassess.
Pagination, indexing & format (important)
If you are responsible for the bundle:
- Paginate the bundle clearly (A1, A2… or 1, 2, 3…)
- Include an index at the front
- Put documents in logical order
- Use a single PDF if directed
- Name the file clearly
If the other party is responsible, still check the bundle and raise problems early.
Electronic bundles (most common)
If filing electronically:
- Keep file size manageable
- Avoid scanned photos where possible
- Ensure pages are legible
- Test the PDF before sending
A bundle that cannot open properly is worse than no bundle at all.
The golden rule
Every document in the bundle should answer one question:
“How does this help the court decide what it needs to decide at this hearing?”
If you cannot answer that, it probably does not belong there.
Practical reassurance
You do not need a “perfect” bundle. You need a usable one.
A well-structured, proportionate bundle:
- helps the judge
- reduces stress
- improves case management
- quietly strengthens your position
That is the aim.
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📁 Court Bundle Structure Explainer (Litigants in Person) England & Wales – Private Family Law
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Procedural guidance for litigants in person navigating the family court system in England & Wales. Preparation, structure, clarity.
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