Guidance

Summary assessment of court costs: a guide for judges

How to make a summary decision on court costs in a fast track case or after a short hearing lasting up to a day.

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

Guide to summary assessment of costs - 2021

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email web.comments@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Guide to summary assessment of costs - 2005

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email web.comments@justice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

The guide outlines how to go about carrying out an assessment, and includes information on:

  • when to make costs orders
  • insurance cover and conditional fee agreements
  • costs for litigants in person
  • payments involving a patient or child
  • how to assess solicitors’ fees

To work out costs for different regions and pay grades, refer to the solicitors’ guideline hourly rates (previously published as appendix 2 of the guide).

Updates to this page

Published 25 November 2011
Last updated 1 October 2021 + show all updates
  1. Added new Guide to summary assessment of costs for 2021.

  2. First published.

Sign up for emails or print this page