Starting a costs assessment
Rule 16-1(20) says a person seeking assessment of costs must obtain a date before a registrar and file an appointment in Form F55 with the bill of costs attached.
Service deadline
The filed F55 appointment and any supporting affidavit must be served at least 5 days before the appointment on the person against whom costs are assessed and every other person whose interest may be affected, as required by Rule 16-1.
What gets assessed
The registrar applies Rule 16-1 and the current Appendix B tariff or other relevant basis. Actual lawyer invoices and recoverable party-and-party costs are not the same thing.
Prepare the bill before booking blindly
A clear Form F71 bill of costs, supporting material for expenses and the order or agreement creating the costs entitlement make the assessment easier to understand.
Related guides
Form F71 bill of costs · Form F72 certificate · Supreme Court costs guide.