Organising Evidence for Family Court

This article explains, in general terms, how to organise documents for family proceedings. It does not tell you what evidence you need in your individual case—that depends on the issues and the court’s directions, and is a matter for legal advice.

Follow the specific directions given in your case, and the advice of your solicitor, over anything in this article.

The court will give directions about what evidence to file, in what form, and by when. Follow these directions exactly. Missing deadlines or filing the wrong material can harm your case and frustrate the court.

If you cannot meet a deadline, ask for an extension through the proper process in advance—not after the deadline has passed.

Good evidence is relevant to the issues in the case, accurate, and proportionate in quantity. Flooding the court with every document you have ever received makes it harder, not easier, to understand your case.

Before including anything, ask: does this directly help the court decide a live issue? If not, consider leaving it out.

A chronology is a short, dated list of the key events relevant to the case. Each entry has a date, a brief description, and a reference to any supporting document. Keep it concise—key events, not every detail.

A clear chronology helps the court see the sequence of events quickly. It is one of the most useful documents you can prepare.

A document index (or bundle index) lists each document, its date, and a reference number or tab. It lets the court find any document quickly. Number documents consistently and keep the index up to date.

Only include documents the court needs. If the court has directed a specific bundle, follow that direction rather than adding extra material.

Be clear about what you know directly and what you are assuming or have heard from others. Presenting assumptions as facts undermines your credibility and can mislead the court.

Where you are relying on something someone else told you, say so. Where you have direct knowledge, say so. The distinction matters.

Keep original documents—letters, emails, records, official correspondence—where you have them. Originals carry more weight than copies or summaries, and some documents must be originals.

Store them safely and in order. Do not alter, annotate or deface original documents.

If you rely on screenshots of messages or online content, make sure each one shows the date, the sender and enough context to be understood. A screenshot without context can be misleading or hard to follow.

Do not edit screenshots or crop them in a way that changes their meaning. Present them as they are, with a brief note of what they show.

Editing documents, cropping out inconvenient parts, or presenting only the material that suits you is a form of misleading the court. It is likely to be noticed and to damage your case.

Present documents fairly. If a document contains something unhelpful to you, do not hide it. The court values honesty more than a polished case.

Be careful with documents that identify or relate to children, victims, survivors or third parties. Do not include private addresses, children’s records, or sensitive personal information unless the court has directed it and it is necessary.

Publishing or sharing confidential court material outside the proceedings can be a contempt of court and can put people at risk. Keep case material within the proceedings.

Filing the same documents repeatedly, or sending long submissions that do not address the live issues, frustrates the court and does not help your case. Make each filing count.

If you have already made a point with supporting documents, you do not usually need to make it again unless something new has happened.

Prepare a position statement or a formal bundle only where the court has directed it or your solicitor has advised it. Filing material the court has not asked for can be unhelpful.

A position statement should be short, focused on the live issues, and free of personal attacks. It is a tool to help the court, not a place to relitigate every grievance.

A qualified family solicitor can help you identify what evidence is relevant, prepare a chronology and bundle, and present your case proportionately. If you cannot afford one, check whether you qualify for legal aid.

Legal advice is especially important where the case involves allegations of abuse or child-protection concerns. Do not rely on this article alone in those circumstances.

Evidence that you have completed a behaviour-change programme, attended courses, or made changes in your life is worth presenting where it is relevant. But it does not guarantee a particular outcome. The court weighs it alongside all the other evidence, including any ongoing risk.

Present completed work honestly and proportionately. Do not treat it as a certificate that entitles you to a result. The court’s decision is based on your child’s welfare, not on the volume of certificates you can produce.