From 2 March 2026, the Family Court will implement a new Practice Direction 27A (PD27A) and this will bring some of the biggest changes to court bundle rules in years.
These changes will apply across all family proceedings, including children’s cases, financial remedy matters and public law proceedings and are set to improve efficiency and fairness.
If you are involved in Family Law proceedings, these reforms will affect how documents are prepared and filed.
What is changing with PD27A?
The PD27A reforms mainly focus on earlier preparation, tighter document control, default electronic bundles and clear sanctions for non-compliance.
The court is moving firmly away from oversized, last-minute paper files and towards more structured digital case management.
Electronic bundles become the default
From March 2026, court bundles will generally be electronic PDF files.
Paper bundles will only be used when specifically directed, for example, when a party cannot reasonably use digital technology.
E-bundles will need to meet strict standards and judges are expected to reject poorly prepared bundles.
To be compliant, they must:
- Be a searchable PDF
- Contain proper pagination and bookmarking
- Include a clear and clickable index
- Be formatted accessibly
Stricter control over what goes in
One of the biggest changes is that bundles must only contain the relevant and necessary documents for that specific hearing. They should not include every document just in case.
The new rules clarify that you should exclude certain materials unless the court gives permission and this includes:
- General correspondence between solicitors
- Social media messages
- Bank statements in full
- Entire social services files
- Photographs
This applies across all Family Law cases, including disputes involving children and financial settlements.
For financial remedy proceedings, mandatory documents such as composite case summaries (ES1), schedule of assets (ES2), chronologies and position statements must now follow strict page limits.
Clear responsibility for preparation
The applicant is generally responsible for preparing the bundle.
However, if the applicant is unrepresented but another party has a solicitor, responsibility may fall to the represented party.
Only in rare situations, where all parties are unrepresented and unable to prepare a bundle, will the court step in.
Earlier deadlines
Preparation for drafting bundles must begin sooner than many parties are used to.
The rules explain that:
- Bundle contents should be agreed at least seven working days before the hearing
- The final bundle must be filed at least five working days before
- Preliminary documents must be filed by 11 am on the working day before the hearing
Once filed, bundles cannot be amended without the court’s permission.
Failure to comply can result in hearings being removed from the list or adverse costs orders.
What do the new PD27A changes mean for Family Law cases?
The new bundle rules will mean fewer unnecessary documents, more focused hearings, reduced last-minute disruption and greater emphasis on preparation and settlement discussions for clients.
The court is also requiring parties to explain what steps they have taken to resolve issues outside court and this reflects a greater push towards mediation and negotiation.
For financial remedy cases in particular, position statements and skeleton arguments are now tightly regulated with page limits depending on the stage of proceedings.
How can we guide you through the new PD27A changes?
The new PD27A is a clear statement from the judiciary to prepare earlier and focus on the real issues.
If you are involved in family proceedings, you will need to understand these changes and our expert Family Law team can assist you with this.
We can help you recognise which documents are necessary, comply with the page limits and formatting rules, draft focused position statements and prepare electronic bundles to the required standards.
We can ensure you meet the required deadlines so you are not at risk of sanctions and guide you through the mediation and negotiation process if necessary.
If you need any further advice, contact Alison Green , Principal Consultant in our Family and Relationship Team on 0207 420 4193 or on alison.green@mackrell.com.
