Guides / England and Wales

Court bundle checklist for litigants in person (England and Wales)

For courts and tribunals in England and Wales. Here is a practical way to organise your papers so you, the other side and the judge can find everything quickly.

The quick version

Keep every document in one binder, split into the sections below.
Write down every date and deadline the moment you get it.
Give each piece of evidence a reference and use it everywhere.
Number the pages and keep an up-to-date index at the front.

Get the ready-made England and Wales binder on Etsy, or build a personalised sample online.

Dates and deadlines to track

Claim issued
Response deadline
Disclosure deadline
Witness statement deadline
Hearing date

Always use the exact dates in your court or tribunal letters and orders. Count working days with our free working days calculator.

How to section your binder

Section A: Case summary & issues

A brief overview of the case and the key issues in dispute.

What to file: Case reference numbers; Names of parties; Short summary of what the case is about; List of the main issues the court or tribunal is being asked to decide.

Section B: Statements of case

Formal documents setting out each party's position.

What to file: Claim Form / Claimant's claim; Defence / Response; Reply (if applicable); Amended statements of case.

Section C: Chronology

A timeline of key events relevant to the dispute.

What to file: Chronology table (date, event, party, evidence reference); Any updated versions of the chronology.

Section D: Court orders & directions

Official instructions issued by the court or tribunal.

What to file: Case management orders; Directions notices; Hearing notices; Correspondence confirming procedural steps.

Section E: Evidence

Documents relied upon to support factual assertions.

What to file: Emails, letters, messages; Contracts, invoices, receipts; Screenshots or photographs; Other relevant documents.

Section F: Witness statements

Written statements setting out evidence from witnesses.

What to file: Your own witness statement; Witness statements from others; Signed and dated final versions.

Section G: Correspondence

Communications relating to the dispute.

What to file: Letters and emails exchanged between parties; Correspondence with the court or tribunal.

Section H: Costs, fees & remedies

Financial information relevant to the case.

What to file: Court or tribunal fees paid; Costs schedules (if applicable); Schedule of loss or remedy calculations.

Section I: Hearing notes

Preparation and notes for hearings or mediation.

What to file: Key points to raise; Questions for witnesses; Notes taken during hearings.

What this binder is for

Case Ready is a document organisation and preparation tool designed to help individuals present their case materials in a clear, structured manner designed with reference to court and tribunal bundle conventions in England and Wales.

Organise documents logically
Keep materials in order
Prepare for hearings and deadlines

What this binder is not

Case Ready:

Does not provide legal advice
Does not tell you what arguments to make
Does not guarantee any outcome

If you require legal advice, you should seek assistance from a qualified legal professional.

Using this binder

This binder is designed to reflect the typical structure of a court or tribunal bundle. You should:

File documents in the appropriate section
Keep documents in date order unless otherwise directed
Follow any specific instructions issued by your court or tribunal

Always check court orders, tribunal guidance, and official rules or practice directions. These take priority over any general structure.

Pagination & referencing

Many courts and tribunals expect documents to be paginated, indexed and clearly referenced. Where possible:

Number pages sequentially
Label documents consistently
Refer to evidence using clear references (for example "E1", "E2")

Chronology & evidence

Chronologies and evidence logs are commonly used to assist judges, tribunal panels and mediators. They help decision-makers understand:

What happened
When it happened
Where supporting documents can be found

Hearings & practicalities

On the day of a hearing:

Bring the required copies of documents
Keep this binder accessible
Use it to locate documents quickly

Court staff and judges expect parties to be organised and respectful of procedure.

Who this is for

Case Ready is suitable for organising papers in small claims, employment and other tribunals, and mediation. It is not designed for complex multi-track litigation without legal representation.

Family court, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Family court bundles in England and Wales follow their own section order and leave out some document types unless the court orders otherwise. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own procedures. Where your court or tribunal sets its own bundle rules, follow those.

Before your hearing

Documents are filed in the right sections
Pages are numbered in sequence
Evidence is labelled and easy to reference
The chronology is clear and up to date
Court orders and deadlines are recorded
Documents are in date order unless directed otherwise
Confidential material is kept separate
Copies are ready for the hearing
The binder is easy to navigate quickly

Save time with Case Ready

Case Ready is a printable, fillable case binder for England and Wales: front sheet, dividers, key dates sheet, evidence index and more, with your case details on every page. Type into it on screen or print it at home.

See Case Ready on Etsy | Try the online builder

This binder is a general organisational aid. Court procedures can vary by court, tribunal and case type. You are responsible for ensuring compliance with court rules, practice directions and orders made in your case. Nothing in this binder is legal advice.