How to Prepare a Court Bundle as a Litigant in Person
A step-by-step guide to preparing a court bundle as a litigant in person — what to include, how to paginate, how to create the index, and the most common mistakes to avoid.
How to Prepare a Court Bundle as a Litigant in Person
A court bundle is the single, organised collection of documents that everyone at your hearing will work from. Getting it right signals that you are prepared and credible. Getting it wrong wastes court time and can irritate the judge before proceedings have even begun.
What is a Court Bundle?
A court bundle is a compilation of all documents relevant to the hearing: correspondence, contracts, statements, orders, and exhibits. Every page is numbered consecutively and the whole thing is indexed so that any document can be found in seconds.
What Goes in a Court Bundle?
Contents vary by case type, but a typical civil or family bundle includes statements of case, any court orders and directions already made, witness statements signed and dated, exhibits to witness statements, expert reports if applicable, relevant correspondence, and any contracts or documents central to the dispute.
Paginating the Bundle
Number every page consecutively from start to finish using one continuous numbering sequence. Place page numbers at the bottom centre or bottom right of each page. Apply page numbers digitally before printing.
Common Mistakes
Filing late, not agreeing contents with the other side in advance, including irrelevant documents, inconsistent pagination, no index, and illegible documents.
This article provides general legal information only. It is not formal legal advice and does not create a solicitor-client or barrister-client relationship. If you need advice specific to your circumstances, please consult a qualified legal professional.
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This guide is for general information only. For advice tailored to your situation, instruct a Direct Access barrister.