Is a court bundle needed from the respondent?

Hi all, my partner is due in court next Thursday and I know that his stbx`s solicitor is preparing a court bundle and wanted to know whether he needed to provide one as is self repping and is the respondent. if that`s the case, does he have to submit it to the court prior to the hearing. I have had a look in the wiki library about court bundles but was really hoping for a simplified answer to this if that`s at all possible and some information about what to expect.

Many thanks

The Applicant will provide him with an index to the bundle, from which he prepares his - although decent solicitors will just give him a bundle to save messing. The bundle is a neutral set of papers, which is why only one party prepares one.

Thanks ever so much Amanda xxx

Hi DL,
This is interesting. I was under the impression that both parties would have to prepare their own bundles but was surprised to learn that as the Respondent I don't. So, do I just wait for the bundle from the other side 1 month before the FH? Do I then file any material I want to submit as part of the FH in accordance to this bundle? Reason being that I have a lot of material that I also want to submit to the DJ and have already prepared the following (self-representation):

- Preliminary Documents (General Form of Order - AR, Notice of First Appointment, Decree Nisi, Decree Absolute)
- Notice of Change (Self Representation)
- Chronology
- Form H1
- Summary Note (with attachments)
- Statement of Issues (with attachments)

What do you suggest?

Regards

eyeza,

Practice rules, procedures and codes of conduct re bundles make for good reading, however in the real world of divorce are not always followed.

IME as a LIP I was furbished with a list of authorities/productions, documents and witness that would possibly be referred to in court (more often than not the opposition did not refer to much of what they lodged in process (bundle). This did not vary whether I was pursuer,, appellent, respondent. I did not play the game their way, whatever I was going to rely on in court, whether as pursuer/defender, appellent/respondent I copied to all parties in full in accordance with rules and procedures and lodged same timeously. Few brownie points for doing so but what was duly noted was the lack of preparation of oppsosing sols and counsel, their constant late admisission of authorities/productions and their "scrambling" around bundles whilst the court and I sat "impatiently" looking at the clock!

It may be time consuming, but in the long run it helps with "something you may later rely on in court" Good luck.

E

THE BUNDLE :the bundle is all letters gone between both sides and numbered for easy to follow purposes,it must be given to the respondent at least 1 week prior.
As Im self repping and at the final hearing stage now,

I will bring it to the judges attention that at the previous hearing the bundle was posted the day before the hearing and I hadnt had chance to read it ,because it was still in the post.This is bad practise and fround upon by judges.

if all the money in the world went to the rich and nothing left for the poor ,
then this world would be upside down for sure.

Sorry, are you saying that I should still go ahead with my bundle as a back-up?

Thanks