In the legal context, if the court orders costs to be taxed, parties will have to attend a separate assessment hearing at a later date for the court to assess the amount of costs payable.
At the assessment hearing, the registrar will consider a document known as a Bill of Costs submitted by the receiving party (usually the winning party) to decide the quantum (amount) of costs payable by the paying party (usually the losing party).
The registrar will determine each disputed item in the Bill of Costs after hearing objections and submissions from each party.
A Bill of Costs includes fees, charges, expenses and remuneration (in 3 separate sections) for:
The Bill of Costs may be filed to claim one of the following:
The standard basis and the indemnity basis are the 2 methods for calculating the amount of costs taxed.
In general, costs awarded on the standard basis will be of a lower quantum (amount) than costs awarded on the indemnity basis.
Assessment on a standard basis means that the receiving party has to show that a particular item was reasonably incurred or reasonable in amount and therefore should be allowed.
If there is any doubt over whether the item was reasonably incurred or of a reasonable amount, the registrar will resolve the question in favour of the paying party.
The standard basis is the default basis of party-and-party costs. This means that if the court does not indicate that the party-and-party costs are being assessed on any other basis, the order of costs is being made on a standard basis.
The receiving party to be paid is seeking reasonable costs of $5,000 but the paying party disagrees and says reasonable costs should only be $3,000.
If there is doubt as to which amount is correct and both versions are reasonable, the registrar assessing the Bill of Costs will decide in favour of the paying party and fix it at $3,000.
The indemnity basis is the default basis of solicitor-and-client costs.
The receiving party to be paid is seeking reasonable costs of $5,000 but the paying party disagrees and says reasonable costs should only be $3,000.
If there is doubt as to which amount is correct and both versions are reasonable, the registrar assessing the Bill of Costs will decide in favour of the receiving party and fix it at $5,000.
The information here is for general guidance as the courts do not provide legal advice. If you need further help, you may want to get independent legal advice.
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