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You can apply for a detailed assessment if you鈥檝e been awarded costs from a court case but cannot agree with the other party what you should get.

You must tell the other party before you apply, so you can try to agree before the assessment hearing. If you still cannot agree the detailed assessment will say how much the other party should pay you.

Tell the other party

You must first tell (鈥榮erve鈥�) the other party and anyone else with a financial interest in your case (for example your solicitor) that you鈥檙e applying for a detailed assessment. You must do this in writing within 3 months of getting the original court order that awarded you costs.

Send each person:

• a completed commencement of assessment form (N252)
• details of the costs you鈥檙e claiming (your 鈥榖ill of costs鈥�)
• copies of fee notes from your solicitor and any expert witnesses whose fees are on the bill
• receipts or invoices for any expenses on your bill that are 拢250 or more

Try to agree the bill of costs

The other party will have 21 days to reply. They might send you a list of their 鈥榩oints of dispute鈥� if they disagree with anything in your bill of costs. This will usually say which costs they disagree with and if they鈥檇 like to offer you a reduced amount.

You can try to agree on a reduced bill of costs with the other party outside of court by sending them a list of your 鈥榩oints of reply鈥�. You must do this within 21 days of getting the points of dispute.

You can ask the court for a detailed assessment if you still cannot agree your costs with the other party.

If the other party does not send you points of dispute

You can apply to the court for a default costs certificate if the other party does not send you any points of dispute. You will not have to get a detailed assessment.

You can apply for a certificate from 21 days after the other party gets your commencement of assessment form.

Download and fill in:

• request form (N254)
• default costs certificate (N255)

Where to apply for a certificate

If your case was in the High Court, Court of Appeal or London County Court, you should send your completed forms:

• to the Senior Courts Costs Office (SCCO) if you鈥檙e in London
• to your local District Registry (a court that deals with certain High Court cases) if you鈥檙e outside London

If your case was in a county court outside London, you should apply in that court.

What happens next

Copies of the certificate will be stamped with an issue date and sent to both you and the other party. The certificate will order the other party to pay your costs in full within 14 days of the issue date.

You can apply to get a hearing date for your detailed assessment once you鈥檝e had a document with points of dispute from the other party.

You must apply for the detailed assessment within 6 months of getting the original court order that awarded you costs.

Download and fill in request form (N258).

You must also pay a court fee. How much you pay will depend on the size of your solicitor鈥檚 bill.

Amount on your solicitor鈥檚 bill	Fee
拢15,000 or less	拢398
拢15,000.01 to 拢50,000	拢801
拢50,000.01 to 拢100,000	拢1,192
拢100,000.01 to 拢150,000	拢1,595
拢150,000.01 to 拢200,000	拢1,992
拢200,000.01 to 拢300,000	拢2,988
拢300,000.01 to 拢500,000	拢4,980
拢500,000.01 or more	拢6,640

Send a cheque made payable to 鈥�HMCTS鈥� with your form and any documents relevant to your request. You鈥檒l be asked on the form to send the document that gives you the right to a detailed assessment - this is the original order for costs given by the court.

You鈥檒l get a letter from the court saying when and where the hearing will take place.

Where to apply for a detailed assessment

If your case was in the High Court, Court of Appeal or London County Court then you should send your completed forms, documents and cheque to:

• the Senior Courts Costs Office (SCCO) if you鈥檙e in London
• your local District Registry (a court that deals with certain High Court cases) if you鈥檙e outside London

If your case was in a county court outside London, you should apply in that court.

At the hearing

Each party will present their case to a Costs Judge (or District Judge if the hearing is being held outside London). They will listen to both sides before deciding on the final amount to be paid.

The court will usually order the other party to pay your detailed assessment costs, but it can make a different decision. If the assessment says you鈥檙e owed lower costs (from the original case) than the other party has offered to pay you, the court may order you to pay the costs the other party has been charged since they made their offer.

If you disagree with the decision

You can make an appeal if you disagree with the court鈥檚 decision.

You must ask for permission before you appeal if your case was heard by a Costs Judge or District Judge. You can ask the judge at the hearing or apply for permission from the appeal court. Read leaflet EX340 for more information.

You must appeal within 21 days of getting the court鈥檚 decision - ask the court for an extension if you need one.

Get help and advice

You can get free legal help and advice from:

• your local
• your local
• the