Assessment of Bill of Costs (from 1 April 2022)

Parties will have to attend an assessment hearing conducted by a registrar who will hear the Bill of Costs. If a party does not attend the assessment hearing, the registrar may proceed with the assessment or adjourn the proceedings.

What the registrar considers

The amount of costs to be allowed is subject to the registrar’s discretion. The registrar will consider all relevant circumstances, including the following:

• Any payment of money into court and the amount of such payment.
• The conduct of all parties, including conduct before and during the proceedings.
• The parties’ conduct in relation to any attempt to resolve the matter through mediation or any other form of alternative dispute resolution.
• The extent to which parties followed any applicable pre-action protocol or practice directions.
• The complexity of the civil case and the difficulty and novelty of the questions involved.

If a party is dissatisfied with the decision

If a party is dissatisfied with the decision of the registrar regarding the amount of costs granted, the party may apply to a judge to review the assessment within 14 days after the registrar's assessment decision.

Resources