Costs assessment - party

This information relates to costs assessment other than those made under the Legal Profession Act 2007. See our information on costs assessment (legal fees).

The court may order that costs be assessed if either:

• the court orders one litigant in a proceeding to pay the costs of the other litigant
• one person must pay another person’s costs under legislation or by agreement.

Costs in proceedings usually follow the event (i.e. costs are awarded to the successful party) unless the court considers another order is more appropriate. The court may fix the amount of costs to be paid or order that a costs assessor assess the amount.

Find more information about costs assessments for parties:

Applying for a costs assessment

How and where to file a costs statement, notice of objection and application for a costs assessment, and relevant fees

Before the costs assessment

Tasks you might perform before your costs assessment, including nominating a costs assessor, attending a directions hearing and getting the assessor’s consent

Getting the costs assessment

What happens during and after a costs assessment, how to get a default assessment and what to do if you disagree with the assessment