How to prepare a trial bundle and index

Summary

Need to prepare a bundle for a civil court hearing? A step-by-step guide to creating a compliant paper bundle, drafting an index, and organising your evidence. You will not need one in a small claim. The information in this guide applies to England and Wales. 1 Is this guide for you? 2 What is a trial bundle and index? 3 Does it have to be me who prepares the bundle and index? 4 What do I include in the bundle? 5 The order the court expects documents to be in 6 How do I agree the bundle with the other side? 7 What to do with the completed index and bundle 8 Using your trial bundle 9 An example of an index 10 Top tips for creating your bundle 11 FAQs about trial bundles and indexes 12 More help and advice 13 What does it mean? 14 About this guide * Gather all the relevant documents and electronic messages you need beforehand. * Include any documents the other side wants included. * Put them in the right order and then share with the other side. * Ask a friend to help you check your bundle documents are in the right order and match the page numbers listed in your index. * Check the deadlines when you need to send your bundle to the court and other side. * Consider using a trial.

Key information

• •Gather all the relevant documents and electronic messages you need beforehand.
• •Include any documents the other side wants included.
• •Put them in the right order and then share with the other side.
• •Ask a friend to help you check your bundle documents are in the right order and match the page numbers listed in your index.
• •Check the deadlines when you need to send your bundle to the court and other side.
• •Consider using a trial bundle in your small claims case, even though you don’t need one, to organise your papers.
• •What a trial bundle contains.
• •How to prepare a trial bundle that the court will accept.
• •Who can prepare the trial bundle.
• •The differences between a paper bundle and electronic bundle.
• •What an index is and how to draft one.
• •How to organise your evidence in the best way for your case.

Practical guidance

• •Source: [How to prepare a trial bundle and index](https://www.advicenow.org.uk/get-help/going-court/small-claims-and-civil-court/how-prepare-trial-bundle-and-index)

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