{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/civil-procedure-rules-1998/rule-31.7",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/civil-procedure-rules-1998/rule-31.7.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/1998/3132",
  "legislation_title": "The Civil Procedure Rules 1998",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/civil-procedure-rules-1998",
  "path": "rule/31.7",
  "kind": "rule",
  "number": "31.7",
  "heading": "Duty of search",
  "text": "(1) When giving standard disclosure, a party is required to make a reasonable search for documents falling within rule 31.6(b) or (c).\n(2) The factors relevant in deciding the reasonableness of a search include the following—\n(a) the number of documents involved;\n(b) the nature and complexity of the proceedings;\n(c) the ease and expense of retrieval of any particular document; and\n(d) the significance of any document which is likely to be located during the search.\n(3) Where a party has not searched for a category or class of document on the grounds that to do so would be unreasonable, they must state this in their disclosure statement and identify the category or class of document.\n(Rule 31.10 makes provision for a disclosure statement)",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Word in rule 31.7(3) substituted (1.10.2026) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2026 (S.I. 2026/817), rules 1(3), 10(3)(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Word in rule 31.7(3) substituted (1.10.2026) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2026 (S.I. 2026/817), rules 1(3), 10(3)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Rule 31.7 in force at 26.4.1999, see Signature"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/3132/rule/31.7",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T11:12:59.276840+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}