Part 31 DISCLOSURE AND INSPECTION OF DOCUMENTSC1C2C3C4C5C6C7C8C9C10C11C12C13C14C15C16C17C18C19C20C21C22C23
England and Wales
Contents of this Part
| Scope of this Part | Rule 31.1 |
| Meaning of disclosure | Rule 31.2 |
| Right of inspection of a disclosed document | Rule 31.3 |
| Meaning of document | Rule 31.4 |
| Disclosure limited to standard disclosure | Rule 31.5 |
| Standard disclosure—what documents are to be disclosed | Rule 31.6 |
| Duty of search | Rule 31.7 |
| Duty of disclosure limited to documents which are or have been in a party’s control | Rule 31.8 |
| Disclosure of copies | Rule 31.9 |
| Procedure for standard disclosure | Rule 31.10 |
| Duty of disclosure continues during proceedings | Rule 31.11 |
| Specific disclosure or inspection | Rule 31.12 |
| F1Ordering a party to request another person to disclose a document | Rule 31.12A |
| Disclosure in stages | Rule 31.13 |
| Documents referred to in statements of case etc. | Rule 31.14 |
| Inspection and copying of documents | Rule 31.15 |
| Disclosure before proceedings start | Rule 31.16 |
| Orders for disclosure against a person not a party | Rule 31.17 |
| Rules not to limit other powers of the court to order disclosure | Rule 31.18 |
| Claim to withhold inspection or disclosure of a document | Rule 31.19 |
| Restriction on use of a privileged document inspection of which has been inadvertently allowed | Rule 31.20 |
| Consequence of failure to disclose documents or permit inspection | Rule 31.21 |
| Subsequent use of disclosed documents F2and completed Electronic Documents Questionnaires | Rule 31.22 |
- 31.1Scope of this Part
- 31.2Meaning of disclosure
- 31.3Right of inspection of a disclosed document
- 31.4Meaning of document
- 31.5Disclosure ...
- 31.6Standard disclosure—what documents are to be disclosed
- 31.7Duty of search
- 31.8Duty of disclosure limited to documents which are or have been in party’s control
- 31.9Disclosure of copies
- 31.10Procedure for standard disclosure
- 31.11Duty of disclosure continues during proceedings
- 31.12Specific disclosure or inspection
- 31.12AOrdering a party to request another person to disclose a document
- 31.13Disclosure in stages
- 31.14Documents referred to in statements of case etc.
- 31.15Inspection and copying of documents
- 31.16Disclosure before proceedings start
- 31.17Orders for disclosure against a person not a party
- 31.18Rules not to limit other powers of the court to order disclosure
- 31.19Claim to withhold inspection or disclosure of a document
- 31.20Restriction on use of a privileged document inspection of which has been inadvertently allowed
- 31.21Consequence of failure to disclose documents or permit inspection
- 31.22Subsequent use of disclosed documents and completed Electronic Documents Questionnaires
- 31.23False, disclosure statements
Annotations
Textual amendments
- F1
Words in Pt. 31 Table of Contents inserted (6.4.2026) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2026 (S.I. 2026/97), rules 1(2)(a), 4(1)
- F2
Words in Pt. 31 Table of Contents inserted (1.10.2010) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No.2) Rules 2010 (S.I. 2010/1953), rules 1(2), 4(a)
Modifications
- C1
Pt. 31 applied (with modifications) (5.4.2010) by The Criminal Procedure Rules 2010 (S.I. 2010/60), Preamble, rule 61.9 (with rule 2)
- C2
Pt. 31 applied (with modifications) (30.6.2011) by The Investment Bank Special Administration (England and Wales) Rules 2011 (S.I. 2011/1301), rules 2, 230, 251 (with rule 5)
- C3
Pt. 31 excluded (30.6.2011) by The Investment Bank Special Administration (England and Wales) Rules 2011 (S.I. 2011/1301), rules 2, 55(12) (with rule 5)
- C4
Pt. 31 excluded (30.6.2011) by The Investment Bank Special Administration (England and Wales) Rules 2011 (S.I. 2011/1301), rules 2, 60(11) (with rule 5)
- C5
Pt. 31 modified (3.10.2011) by The Criminal Procedure Rules 2011 (S.I. 2011/1709), Preamble, rule 61.9
- C6
Pt. 31 modified (1.10.2012) by The Criminal Procedure Rules 2012 (S.I. 2012/1726), rule 61.9(3)
- C7
Pt. 31 excluded (7.6.2013) by The Energy Supply Company Administration Rules 2013 (S.I. 2013/1046), rules 1, 17(10) (with rules 3, 208)
- C8
Pt. 31 excluded (7.6.2013) by The Energy Supply Company Administration Rules 2013 (S.I. 2013/1046), rules 1, 21(10) (with rules 3, 208)
- C9
Pt. 31 modified (7.10.2013) by The Criminal Procedure Rules 2013 (S.I. 2013/1554), rule 61.9(3) (with rule 2.1)
- C10
Pt. 31 excluded (31.1.2014) by The Postal Administration Rules 2013 (S.I. 2013/3208), rules 1, 21(10) (with rules 3, 210)
- C11
Pt. 31 excluded (31.1.2014) by The Postal Administration Rules 2013 (S.I. 2013/3208), rules 1, 17(10) (with rules 3, 210)
- C12
Pt. 31 modified (6.10.2014) by The Criminal Procedure Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014/1610), rule 61.9(3) (with rule 2.1)
- C13
Pt. 31 modified (5.10.2015) by The Criminal Procedure Rules 2015 (S.I. 2015/1490), rule 33.40(3)
- C14
Pt. 31 excluded (5.7.2018) by The Housing Administration (England and Wales) Rules 2018 (S.I. 2018/719), rules 1.1, 3.34(1) (with rule 1.2)
- C15
Pt. 31 excluded (31.1.2019) by The Education Administration Rules 2018 (S.I. 2018/1135), rules 1, 3.34(1) (with rule 1.2)
- C16
Pt. 31 excluded (1.8.2020) by The Smart Meter Communication Licensee Administration (England and Wales) Rules 2020 (S.I. 2020/629), rules 1, 18(11), 24(11) (with rule 4(1))
- C17
Pt. 31 modified (5.10.2020) by The Criminal Procedure Rules 2020 (S.I. 2020/759), rule 33.40(3)
- C18
Pt. 31 excluded (12.11.2021) by The Payment and Electronic Money Institution Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2021 (S.I. 2021/1178), rules 2, 27(10)
- C19
Pt. 31 applied (with modifications) (12.11.2021) by The Payment and Electronic Money Institution Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2021 (S.I. 2021/1178), rules 2, 187, 192, 213
- C20
Pt. 31 excluded (12.11.2021) by The Payment and Electronic Money Institution Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2021 (S.I. 2021/1178), rules 2, 22(11)
- C21
Pt. 31 excluded (18.7.2023) by The Relevant Licensee Nuclear Company Administration (England and Wales) Rules 2023 (S.I. 2023/712), rules 1(2)(a), 18(12), 24(11) (with rule 2)
- C22
Pt. 31 modified (6.10.2025) by The Criminal Procedure Rules 2025 (S.I. 2025/909), rule 33.38(3)
- C23
Pt. 31 excluded (19.11.2025) by The Carbon Dioxide Transport and Storage (Licensed Operators) Administration (England and Wales) Rules 2025 (S.I. 2025/1135), rules 1(2)(a), 18(12), 24(11) (with rule 2(1))