Costs Court

The Costs Court is a division of the Supreme Court of Victoria that deals with disputes pertaining to legal costs. Legal costs disputes can be either a:

• Lawyer-Client Dispute: A dispute between a client and their lawyer over the amount charged to the client for providing legal services
• Party-Party Dispute: A dispute over the amount of legal costs a successful party can recover from the unsuccessful party following a legal proceeding in any court or tribunal in Victoria

The process of an assessment or review of legal costs undertaken by the Costs Court is called a taxation.

To commence a proceeding in the Costs Court a Summons for Taxation must be issued.  A fee is payable at the time of issuing that Summons and further fees may be payable during the proceeding. A fee is required, unless you have a fee waiver.

Directions hearings

Lawyer-client matters, and any other matters deemed appropriate, are listed for a directions hearing. View details of upcoming directions hearings

Judges of the Costs Court

The Costs Court comprises of Associate Judges, a Judicial Registrar and two Costs Registrars.

Associate Judges

• The Hon Associate Justice Daly
• The Hon Associate Justice Gardiner
• The Hon Associate Justice Ierodiaconou
• The Hon Associate Justice Hetyey
• The Hon Associate Justice Irving
• The Hon Associate Justice Steffensen
• The Hon Associate Justice Barrett
• The Hon Associate Justice Gobbo
• The Hon Associate Justice Goulden
• The Hon Associate Justice Efthim (reserve)

Judicial Registrar

• Judicial Registrar Conidi

Costs Registrars

• Costs Registrar Walton
• Costs Registrar Van den Berg

Contact details

Phone: +61 (03) 8600 2155
Email:  costs.court@supcourt.vic.gov.au
Fax: +61 1300 040 223