PD27A chronology and e-bundle checklist
Last reviewed 30 October 2026
Short answer: Practice Direction 27A (England and Wales, in force 2 March 2026) caps a chronology at 10 pages (para 8.1). A PDF e-bundle is limited to 350 A4 pages and needs bookmarks, an index and OCR (para 11.2). This is a checklist, not legal advice.
Check the current text on justice.gov.uk and with the court or a solicitor before you rely on this page. We last read the practice direction on 30 October 2026. A 24 March 2026 amendment exists and we have not reviewed it.
Chronology
Short answer: At most 10 pages in an e-bundle (10 A4 sheets on paper), unless the court directs otherwise (para 8.1). Entries are short, one sentence if practicable, and cross-referenced to bundle pages (para 7.10(f)).
- 10 pages or fewer (10 A4 sheets if on paper)
- One sentence per entry where practicable
- Each entry points to the bundle page
- Where a single agreed chronology is expected, it is in a form all parties have agreed, with any disagreement recorded in it (para 7.15)
Which list applies to you depends on the type of case, so read the paragraph for your case type.
E-bundle format
Short answer: PDF, up to 350 A4 pages, with bookmarks, an index linked to the documents, and OCR on typed-text pages (para 11.2).
- PDF format (11.2(a))
- 350 A4 pages or fewer; more needs permission (11.2(b))
- Computer-generated page numbers
- Index, with each entry linked to the document (11.2(d))
- Bookmarks for ease of navigation (11.2(d))
- OCR on pages of typed text (11.2(e))
- Searchable where possible (11.2(d))
The 350 pages is a cap, not a target.
Writing the chronology
Short answer: Keep each entry to about one sentence and point to the bundle page where the detail is.
A simple layout works: date, one sentence on what happened, page reference. For example: "22 March 2025. Handover missed; the other parent said the child was unwell. Page 41."
- Put events in date order.
- Use plain words for what happened, not argument about it.
- Add page numbers once the bundle is final, because numbers shift when pages are added.
- Keep to the events that matter to what the court has to decide.
WhatsApp messages and the bundle
Short answer: Para 5.2 says WhatsApp and other text messages, and voice notes, must not be included in the bundle unless the court directs otherwise.
This matters if you were going to attach a long chat. Read Can WhatsApp messages go in a family court bundle? first. For a dated PDF of messages for another purpose, see how to export a WhatsApp chat to PDF with dates.
Final checks before you file
Short answer: Open the PDF yourself. Test the bookmarks, search for a name, check the index against the pages and count the chronology pages.
- Click three bookmarks and see that they land on the right page
- Search for a name to confirm the text is searchable
- Check the index page numbers against the pages
- Confirm every chronology page reference is right
- Ask your court or solicitor if anything in your order differs from this list
Make a pack builds numbered, bookmarked pages and a chronology of one-sentence entries that point to bundle pages. Check a pack checks that quotes and page references match. Neither replaces reading the practice direction.
VaultXT is not a law firm and cannot promise any court will accept a document.
Questions people ask
What is PD27A?
Practice Direction 27A, which covers bundles for family court hearings in England and Wales. Read it on justice.gov.uk.
Is the 10-page chronology limit strict?
It is a maximum set by para 8.1, unless the court directs otherwise. Check your own directions.
Is 350 pages a default?
No. It is a maximum for a PDF e-bundle; more needs permission (para 11.2).
Do I need an e-bundle if I have no solicitor?
Ask the court office what is expected in your case. They can explain process but cannot advise.
Does this apply to other courts?
No. It is for family proceedings in England and Wales.
Not legal advice. This is general information, not legal advice. VaultXT is not a law firm and cannot promise that any court, tribunal, scheme, bank or seller will accept a document.