Disclosure: scoping and conducting a search for documents

This practice note explains the meaning of a "reasonable search" in the context of an order for standard disclosure, in cases subject to the disclosure regime governed by Civil Procedure Rule (CPR) 31, Practice Direction (PD) 31A and PD 31B. It provides guidance on how to conduct and manage such a search in practice. Much of the practical guidance in this note is likely also to be of relevance where an order for something other than standard disclosure has been made

Disclosure in the B&PCs: this note does not relate to cases subject to PD 57AD ("Disclosure in the Business and Property Courts"). PD 57AD took effect on 1 October 2022, replacing what was PD 51U, and implementing, on a permanent basis, the procedures that operated, from 1 January 2019 until 1 October 2022, under the Disclosure Pilot Scheme (PD 51U). For details of our resources considering the approach to disclosure under PD 57AD (and its predecessor, PD 51U), see Disclosure in the B&PCs toolkit.