An electronic hearing bundle, or e-bundle, is an organised set of court documents prepared as a navigable PDF for a particular hearing. The judge and other participants use its shared index and page numbers to find and refer to the same material. In England and Wales, the exact contents, filing method, deadline and responsible person depend on the court, type of case and any directions made in that case.
What an e-bundle does
An e-bundle is a common reference set for preparing for and conducting a hearing. Instead of searching through separate files, participants can use the index, page references, bookmarks and links to reach the relevant document. Searchable text also makes it easier to locate and select words in the PDF.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Litigation Ruled Canary Letter Size Legal Pads, 12 pads per package | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary describes its general court-bundle guidance as promoting consistent bundles that support efficient hearing preparation and management. That guidance is for court hearings, not tribunal hearings, and is subject to court-specific requirements and case directions. Read the Judiciary’s general guidance on electronic court bundles.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →What a usable e-bundle should look like
The Judiciary’s general guidance sets out these preparation features for court bundles within its scope:
#1 Best Overall
- 8-1/2" x 11-3/4"
- 50 sheets smooth watermarked per pad
- 80-point binder board backer
- Litigation Ruled
- PDF format and consistent pagination: use computer-generated page numbers, starting at page 1 and continuing through the final page. The displayed numbers should match the PDF page numbering. If a paper copy is also made, its pagination should match the electronic version.
- A linked index: hyperlink each index entry to the document it identifies.
- Bookmarks: bookmark significant documents and sections, using short descriptions that include the page number.
- Searchable scans: apply optical character recognition (OCR) to typed text in scanned pages. OCR makes the text searchable and selectable; it does not replace checking that the scanned page is legible.
- Readable page display: ensure pages are right-side up, landscape pages can be read from left to right, and the PDF opens at a 100% view.
- Manageable files: the general guidance says resolution should not exceed 300 dpi and the PDF should be optimised to avoid unnecessary file size.
The general guidance usually favours one hearing bundle and, where appropriate, a separate authorities bundle rather than several bundles. A court’s own instructions may require a different arrangement.
What belongs in the bundle
The court’s procedure and directions determine what should be included. A bundle is intended to collect material needed for the hearing, not every document connected with the dispute.
For example, in family proceedings, Practice Direction 27A says to include documents relevant to the hearing that the court needs to read or that will actually be referred to. It identifies categories normally left out unless the court directs otherwise, including general correspondence, emails and messages, recordings, financial records, contact notes, social-services files (apart from assessments relied on), and photographs. Particular items from those categories may still belong if the court needs to read them or they will be referred to. Parties should agree the contents if possible, subject to the direction’s exceptions. See Practice Direction 27A on family court bundles.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Who prepares it, and when is it filed?
There is no single answer that applies to every court hearing. Check the applicable practice direction, any order in the case, and the court’s filing instructions for responsibility, deadline, delivery channel and whether paper copies are also needed.
Family proceedings
In the Family Court and Family Division of the High Court in England and Wales, PD27A makes an e-bundle the default unless exceptional circumstances apply. If the responsible person cannot produce one, a paper bundle should be filed and served; the direction also identifies circumstances where paper copies must accompany an e-bundle.
Responsibility generally falls to the applicant, or, in cross-applications, the party whose application was first in time. If the applicant is a litigant in person and the respondent is represented, the represented respondent is generally responsible, subject to court directions. In exceptional circumstances, HMCTS may arrange a bundle where all parties are litigants in person and none can prepare it.
PD27A’s general timetable is to seek agreement on the bundle seven working days before the hearing and file and serve it five working days before. Preliminary documents not already filed are due by 11am on the working day before the hearing. The direction provides for filing through an available HMCTS portal, with email as an alternative if the portal facility is unavailable and applicable email guidance is followed. Case directions and exceptions may alter what applies.
Judicial review
For judicial review in England and Wales, PD54A calls for the parties to agree the contents of a paginated, indexed hearing bundle of relevant documents or extracts. If that bundle exceeds 400 pages, they must agree a core bundle containing the pleadings, the challenged decision or measure, and other documents considered essential. The hearing bundle is to be lodged at least 21 days before the hearing in electronic and hard-copy form; the authorities bundle has a separate seven-day deadline. The practice direction points to Administrative Court e-bundle guidance for electronic preparation. See Practice Direction 54A on judicial review.
Court of Appeal civil appeals
PD52C provides a different procedure for civil appeals to the Court of Appeal, including core and, if needed, supplementary appeal bundles, agreement on contents, pagination and filing timetables. Family and judicial-review limits and deadlines should not be applied to an appeal unless the relevant rules or case directions say so. See Practice Direction 52C on Court of Appeal appeals.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do if documents need to be added
Do not silently replace a bundle already sent to the judge. The Judiciary’s general guidance says to ask the court how it wants additions provided, append and paginate the new pages, and—unless the court directs otherwise—send both the new section and a revised bundle. This matters because the judge may have marked up the earlier version. In family proceedings, PD27A separately requires the court’s prior agreement before amending the bundle after filing.
Page limits and other rules are procedure-specific
Numbers in court directions are not universal e-bundle standards. Under family PD27A, the default maximum is 350 A4 pages unless the court permits more. Under judicial-review PD54A, a hearing bundle over 400 pages triggers agreement on a core bundle. These provisions apply to different proceedings and have different purposes; neither sets a general limit for all hearings.
Recommended Free Tools
Before assembling or sending a bundle, confirm the rules for the specific court and case. Requirements can vary with the proceeding, local instructions, current amendments and the judge’s directions.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
