The new PD27A: a step change in Family Court bundle and document management

PD27A can be found, in full, here: https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/family/practice_directions/pd_part_27a

Revised Practice Direction

The revised Practice Direction 27A (“PD27A”), now in force across the Family Court and the Family Division of the High Court, introduces a comprehensive and highly structured framework for the preparation, filing, and presentation of court bundles. Its overarching purpose is to ensure consistency, efficiency, and accessibility in the management of documentation across England and Wales. The new PD27A applies to both paper and electronic bundles, but the clear emphasis is on the use of e‑bundles as the default format, with paper bundles retained only where necessary for witnesses, litigants in person, or judicial preference. This marks a decisive move towards modernised digital working practices within the family justice system.

In defining the scope and application of the new requirements, PD27A makes clear that its provisions supplement existing guidance, including Practice Directions 12A, 12B, 30A and 41C. The Practice Direction applies to all types of family proceedings, including financial remedy, private law, and public law matters, with bespoke rules for each category which require full consideration by those working in family proceedings. This reflects a growing judicial concern regarding the burden of excessive, late, or poorly organised bundles.

One of the most significant updates is the strict control of bundle contents and filing deadlines, with PD27A expressly prohibiting the inclusion of certain classes of documents—such as emails, text messages, social media communications, contact notes, photographs, and financial records—unless specifically required for the hearing, or subject to judicial permission. The Practice Direction also mandates rigorous page limits for key documents and sets out detailed structural requirements for bundles in both financial remedy and non‑financial proceedings. Notably, bundles in financial remedy cases must be numbered consecutively in Arabic numbering, while all other proceedings must use Bates numbering. This clearer framework reflects a judicial drive to reduce unnecessary reading and improve the navigability of hearing materials.

The new PD27A also introduces enhanced digital standards for e‑bundles, which must be provided in searchable PDF format, fully OCR‑enabled, bookmarked, correctly oriented, and, as has long been the case, they must be limited to 350 pages without specific permission to exceed the cap. The bundle must now be sent to parties with view to the content being agreed 7 days prior to a hearing and they must be filed and served 5 days prior to the relevant hearing. The Practice Direction emphasises accessibility, prescribing the use of legible fonts (preferably Arial as this is commonly more accessible for neurodiverse people), adequate spacing, and reasonable resolution to avoid technical issues during hearings. Each document filed should be prepared with numbered paragraphs; whilst this provision is included in respect of documents to be included in a paper bundle, given the requirement that a paper bundle must be provided for any hearing at which evidence may be heard, it seems that in practice, the use of numbered paragraphs will equally apply to documents included in e-bundles too.

This summary is intended only to give a flavour of the changes brought in by the new PD27A. All practitioners working in family proceedings should take the time to read the practice direction in full, particularly given the reinforcement of judicial control over compliance: and the provision that non‑compliance may result in cases being removed from the list, adjourned, or subject to adverse or wasted costs orders.

Ashley Lord is Head of Public Law Children and a barrister at Spire Barristers.