Court Fees

Fees apply for:

  • Filing a Summons
  • Filing an interlocutory application
  • Mediation
  • Taxation hearing or assessment
  • Application for review or reconsideration

Legal costs for costs disputes are separate from court fees.

How can Blue Ribbon Legal assist you?

At Blue Ribbon Legal, we assist lawyers and clients with costs disputes in Victoria. Our solicitors specialise in costs law. We advise on disputes, early resolution, and appearances in the Costs Court. We also prepare bills of costs and Notices of Objection.

If you are involved in a costs dispute in Victoria, we can assist you. Please get in touch with our legal costs team.

Taxation

If the matter proceeds to taxation, the Costs Court assesses the bill in detail. It reviews all supporting documents and arguments from both parties.

If the bill is reduced by 15% or more, the Court may deny recovery of costs for preparing and attending taxation. The Court may make a different order if appropriate. Courts often consider Calderbank offers and formal offers of compromise in these decisions.

Review of Costs Court Decisions

There is a 14-day time limit to seek a review or reconsideration of a Costs Court decision.

Court Fees

Fees apply for:

  • Filing a Summons
  • Filing an interlocutory application
  • Mediation
  • Taxation hearing or assessment
  • Application for review or reconsideration

Legal costs for costs disputes are separate from court fees.

How can Blue Ribbon Legal assist you?

At Blue Ribbon Legal, we assist lawyers and clients with costs disputes in Victoria. Our solicitors specialise in costs law. We advise on disputes, early resolution, and appearances in the Costs Court. We also prepare bills of costs and Notices of Objection.

If you are involved in a costs dispute in Victoria, we can assist you. Please get in touch with our legal costs team.

Mediation

Mediations run for 1 to 3 hours depending on the complexity of the matter.

The respondent must file and serve a Notice of Objections at least 7 days before mediation. The notice must list each disputed item and state the grounds for objection.

Parties must attend with authority to settle. Their advising solicitors must also attend.

If the matter does not settle, the mediator may list it for taxation for 1 or more days.

Taxation

If the matter proceeds to taxation, the Costs Court assesses the bill in detail. It reviews all supporting documents and arguments from both parties.

If the bill is reduced by 15% or more, the Court may deny recovery of costs for preparing and attending taxation. The Court may make a different order if appropriate. Courts often consider Calderbank offers and formal offers of compromise in these decisions.

Review of Costs Court Decisions

There is a 14-day time limit to seek a review or reconsideration of a Costs Court decision.

Court Fees

Fees apply for:

  • Filing a Summons
  • Filing an interlocutory application
  • Mediation
  • Taxation hearing or assessment
  • Application for review or reconsideration

Legal costs for costs disputes are separate from court fees.

How can Blue Ribbon Legal assist you?

At Blue Ribbon Legal, we assist lawyers and clients with costs disputes in Victoria. Our solicitors specialise in costs law. We advise on disputes, early resolution, and appearances in the Costs Court. We also prepare bills of costs and Notices of Objection.

If you are involved in a costs dispute in Victoria, we can assist you. Please get in touch with our legal costs team.

The Costs Court may estimate the likely total outcome. The Court does this without the parties present and without assessing each item in the bill.

The Court provides the estimate to the parties in writing. Either party may object within 21 days.

If no objection is made, the Court may make an order based on the estimate.

Mediation

Mediations run for 1 to 3 hours depending on the complexity of the matter.

The respondent must file and serve a Notice of Objections at least 7 days before mediation. The notice must list each disputed item and state the grounds for objection.

Parties must attend with authority to settle. Their advising solicitors must also attend.

If the matter does not settle, the mediator may list it for taxation for 1 or more days.

Taxation

If the matter proceeds to taxation, the Costs Court assesses the bill in detail. It reviews all supporting documents and arguments from both parties.

If the bill is reduced by 15% or more, the Court may deny recovery of costs for preparing and attending taxation. The Court may make a different order if appropriate. Courts often consider Calderbank offers and formal offers of compromise in these decisions.

Review of Costs Court Decisions

There is a 14-day time limit to seek a review or reconsideration of a Costs Court decision.

Court Fees

Fees apply for:

  • Filing a Summons
  • Filing an interlocutory application
  • Mediation
  • Taxation hearing or assessment
  • Application for review or reconsideration

Legal costs for costs disputes are separate from court fees.

How can Blue Ribbon Legal assist you?

At Blue Ribbon Legal, we assist lawyers and clients with costs disputes in Victoria. Our solicitors specialise in costs law. We advise on disputes, early resolution, and appearances in the Costs Court. We also prepare bills of costs and Notices of Objection.

If you are involved in a costs dispute in Victoria, we can assist you. Please get in touch with our legal costs team.

Legal costs disputes can be either:

  • Lawyer-Client Dispute: A dispute between a client and their lawyer over the amount charged for legal services
  • Party-Party Dispute: A dispute over the legal costs a successful party can recover from the unsuccessful party after a legal proceeding in Victoria

There are currently 10 Associate Judges of the Costs Court. The Court also includes a Judicial Registrar and 2 Costs Registrars.

The Costs Court assesses legal costs through a process called taxation.

A Summons for Taxation starts proceedings in the Costs Court. You must file an information form with the Summons. Different forms apply to Lawyer-Client and Party-Party disputes. In Party-Party disputes, you must also file a detailed bill of costs.

Lawyer-Client Disputes

After filing a Summons, the Judicial Registrar lists the dispute for directions. At this hearing, the Registrar sets a timetable for documents and submissions. The Registrar also considers whether mediation should occur.

Mediation may take place in person, via Zoom, or in a hybrid format.

The Costs Court’s website notes:

“You may consider representing yourself in a lawyer-client costs dispute before the Costs Court. Cost matters can be very complex and technical. It is strongly recommended that you seek legal advice from either another lawyer or a specialist costs lawyer/consultant.”

If the Court reduces the bill in a lawyer-client dispute by 15% or more, it may order the lawyer to pay the client’s costs. If the reduction is less than 15%, the Court may order the client to pay the costs of the proceedings. These costs include filing fees, ongoing court fees, and legal costs.

Note: Time limits apply to starting proceedings in the Costs Court for lawyer-client disputes.

Party-Party Disputes

After filing the Summons, bill of costs, and information sheet, the Court lists the matter for:

  • Assessment in chambers if the bill is under $100,000
  • Mediation if the bill exceeds $100,000

Mediation is usually held online under current court protocol. The Court may allow in-person or hybrid mediation if the parties request it and provide reasons. Parties should notify the taxing officer as soon as possible. Mediations are generally listed about 6 weeks after filing.

If one party represents themselves, the Court may list the matter for a directions hearing instead.

Assessment

The Costs Court may estimate the likely total outcome. The Court does this without the parties present and without assessing each item in the bill.

The Court provides the estimate to the parties in writing. Either party may object within 21 days.

If no objection is made, the Court may make an order based on the estimate.

Mediation

Mediations run for 1 to 3 hours depending on the complexity of the matter.

The respondent must file and serve a Notice of Objections at least 7 days before mediation. The notice must list each disputed item and state the grounds for objection.

Parties must attend with authority to settle. Their advising solicitors must also attend.

If the matter does not settle, the mediator may list it for taxation for 1 or more days.

Taxation

If the matter proceeds to taxation, the Costs Court assesses the bill in detail. It reviews all supporting documents and arguments from both parties.

If the bill is reduced by 15% or more, the Court may deny recovery of costs for preparing and attending taxation. The Court may make a different order if appropriate. Courts often consider Calderbank offers and formal offers of compromise in these decisions.

Review of Costs Court Decisions

There is a 14-day time limit to seek a review or reconsideration of a Costs Court decision.

Court Fees

Fees apply for:

  • Filing a Summons
  • Filing an interlocutory application
  • Mediation
  • Taxation hearing or assessment
  • Application for review or reconsideration

Legal costs for costs disputes are separate from court fees.

How can Blue Ribbon Legal assist you?

At Blue Ribbon Legal, we assist lawyers and clients with costs disputes in Victoria. Our solicitors specialise in costs law. We advise on disputes, early resolution, and appearances in the Costs Court. We also prepare bills of costs and Notices of Objection.

If you are involved in a costs dispute in Victoria, we can assist you. Please get in touch with our legal costs team.

The Costs Court is a division of the Supreme Court of Victoria that deals with legal costs disputes.

Legal costs disputes can be either:

  • Lawyer-Client Dispute: A dispute between a client and their lawyer over the amount charged for legal services
  • Party-Party Dispute: A dispute over the legal costs a successful party can recover from the unsuccessful party after a legal proceeding in Victoria

There are currently 10 Associate Judges of the Costs Court. The Court also includes a Judicial Registrar and 2 Costs Registrars.

The Costs Court assesses legal costs through a process called taxation.

A Summons for Taxation starts proceedings in the Costs Court. You must file an information form with the Summons. Different forms apply to Lawyer-Client and Party-Party disputes. In Party-Party disputes, you must also file a detailed bill of costs.

Lawyer-Client Disputes

After filing a Summons, the Judicial Registrar lists the dispute for directions. At this hearing, the Registrar sets a timetable for documents and submissions. The Registrar also considers whether mediation should occur.

Mediation may take place in person, via Zoom, or in a hybrid format.

The Costs Court’s website notes:

“You may consider representing yourself in a lawyer-client costs dispute before the Costs Court. Cost matters can be very complex and technical. It is strongly recommended that you seek legal advice from either another lawyer or a specialist costs lawyer/consultant.”

If the Court reduces the bill in a lawyer-client dispute by 15% or more, it may order the lawyer to pay the client’s costs. If the reduction is less than 15%, the Court may order the client to pay the costs of the proceedings. These costs include filing fees, ongoing court fees, and legal costs.

Note: Time limits apply to starting proceedings in the Costs Court for lawyer-client disputes.

Party-Party Disputes

After filing the Summons, bill of costs, and information sheet, the Court lists the matter for:

  • Assessment in chambers if the bill is under $100,000
  • Mediation if the bill exceeds $100,000

Mediation is usually held online under current court protocol. The Court may allow in-person or hybrid mediation if the parties request it and provide reasons. Parties should notify the taxing officer as soon as possible. Mediations are generally listed about 6 weeks after filing.

If one party represents themselves, the Court may list the matter for a directions hearing instead.

Assessment

The Costs Court may estimate the likely total outcome. The Court does this without the parties present and without assessing each item in the bill.

The Court provides the estimate to the parties in writing. Either party may object within 21 days.

If no objection is made, the Court may make an order based on the estimate.

Mediation

Mediations run for 1 to 3 hours depending on the complexity of the matter.

The respondent must file and serve a Notice of Objections at least 7 days before mediation. The notice must list each disputed item and state the grounds for objection.

Parties must attend with authority to settle. Their advising solicitors must also attend.

If the matter does not settle, the mediator may list it for taxation for 1 or more days.

Taxation

If the matter proceeds to taxation, the Costs Court assesses the bill in detail. It reviews all supporting documents and arguments from both parties.

If the bill is reduced by 15% or more, the Court may deny recovery of costs for preparing and attending taxation. The Court may make a different order if appropriate. Courts often consider Calderbank offers and formal offers of compromise in these decisions.

Review of Costs Court Decisions

There is a 14-day time limit to seek a review or reconsideration of a Costs Court decision.

Court Fees

Fees apply for:

  • Filing a Summons
  • Filing an interlocutory application
  • Mediation
  • Taxation hearing or assessment
  • Application for review or reconsideration

Legal costs for costs disputes are separate from court fees.

How can Blue Ribbon Legal assist you?

At Blue Ribbon Legal, we assist lawyers and clients with costs disputes in Victoria. Our solicitors specialise in costs law. We advise on disputes, early resolution, and appearances in the Costs Court. We also prepare bills of costs and Notices of Objection.

If you are involved in a costs dispute in Victoria, we can assist you. Please get in touch with our legal costs team.