How to Prepare Court Bundles for Printing
Preparing court bundles for print can be time-consuming, especially when deadlines are tight or documents are still being updated. A little preparation before sending your files to print can help avoid delays, confusion and unnecessary extra costs. This guide covers the main things to check before sending a court bundle to a printer, including file format, page order, dividers, lever arch files, colour pages and delivery deadlines. Please note: this guide is about preparing bundles for printing. Court requirements can vary, so always check the relevant court directions or your own internal requirements before finalising the bundle.
What is a court bundle?
A court bundle is a set of documents prepared for use in legal proceedings. It may include statements, evidence, exhibits, correspondence, orders, forms, photographs or other supporting documents. Printed bundles are usually arranged in a clear order, separated into sections, hole punched and placed into lever arch files. Larger bundles may be split across several files with dividers and spine labels so they are easy to follow.
Before sending your court bundle, check that the file is complete, in the correct order and paginated properly. Make sure section breaks, dividers, colour pages, A3 pages and blank pages are clearly marked where needed. Please also include the number of sets required, delivery address and deadline, especially if same-day printing or timed courier delivery is needed.
Send your bundle as a PDF
PDF is the best format for court bundle printing, as it helps preserve the page order, layout and formatting. Where possible, send one final PDF in the correct order. If you need to send several separate files, name them clearly, for example:
- 01 – Index
- 02 – Statements
- 03 – Exhibits
- 04 – Correspondence
- 05 – Authorities
Clear file names help avoid confusion, especially when there are multiple sections or last-minute updates.
Check page order and pagination
Court bundles usually need clear page numbering. Before sending your file to print, check that the pagination runs correctly and that all pages are included. If your bundle is being printed double-sided and separated with dividers, each new section should usually start on an odd page number, on the right-hand side of the open file. This may mean adding blank pages so the next section starts in the correct position. An easier way to avoid this issue is to print the bundle single-sided, as each page will then start on a new sheet and dividers can be inserted more straightforwardly.
It is also worth checking that:
- blank pages are intentional
- section title pages are included where needed
- A3 pages are in the correct position
- colour pages are easy to identify
- index pages match the final order of the bundle
If pages are added or removed close to the deadline, please double-check that the index has been updated too, as this is an easy detail to miss.
Printing options to check
Before requesting a quote, check whether your bundle should be printed single-sided or double-sided. Single-sided printing is usually simpler for bundles with dividers, while double-sided printing can reduce the number of sheets and files. Most bundles are printed in black and white, but colour may be needed for photographs, plans, maps, screenshots, highlighted pages or exhibits. If only certain pages need colour, let us know which ones. We can print court bundles in A4, A3 and A5, with suitable folders available for each size
Lever arch files, dividers and spine labels
As standard, we usually supply court bundles inserted into lever arch files, with dividers between sections and labelled spines for easy identification. We can use plain, numbered or lettered dividers depending on how your bundle is organised. Larger bundles may need to be split across multiple files, and as a rough guide, a standard lever arch file will usually hold up to around 350 sheets.
Confidential legal printing
Legal documents often contain sensitive and confidential information, so it is important to use a printer that understands how this type of work should be handled. At Original Copy Centre, legal and confidential work is produced in-house by our own team and is not outsourced. Waste copies are cross-shredded, and we can email our confidential work policy on request.
Urgent court bundle printing
Court bundles are often needed at short notice. If your bundle is urgent, send the files as early as possible and make the deadline clear in your email. Where possible, we can start urgent legal printing the same day. We can also arrange courier delivery to courts, chambers, offices or clients, including same-day courier delivery into London when suitable.
What to send when requesting a quote
To help us quote accurately, please include as much of the following information as possible:
- your PDF files or a file transfer link
- number of pages
- number of sets required
- black-and-white or colour printing
- single-sided or double-sided printing
- whether lever arch files are needed
- approximate number of sections or dividers
- whether spine labels are required
- delivery address
- deadline or required delivery time
- whether same-day courier delivery is needed
The more information you provide at the start, the quicker we can quote and advise on turnaround.
Need court bundles printed?
We provide court bundle printing, legal document copying, lever arch files, dividers, spine labels, hole punching and courier delivery for solicitors, barristers, legal teams and professional clients. If your bundle is ready to print, please email your files, delivery details and deadline to us and we’ll reply with a quotation and realistic turnaround time.