Important Points to Note About the Information Provided
It should be noted that it is not possible to give definitive costs and the matters included below are indicative only. Where possible actual fees have been included for certain aspects of the processes but these should be viewed as a guide only. Fees often depend on the tier of court used and the steps involved in the individual case - FPC refers to Family Proceedings Court, and FCC refers to Family Care Centre. A full list of court fees charged can be found at the website of the Northern Ireland Court and Tribunals Service.
N/A is shown where the answer is Not Applicable and N/K is shown where the answer is Not Known.
Indicative costs in Northern Ireland
Indicative costs for court, appeals and alternative dispute resolution
Case Study |
Court |
||
Initial court fees |
Transcription fees |
Other fees |
|
Case A |
Applications to discharge an existing contact order Family Proceedings Court – £50 Family Care Centre – £75 High Court £100 |
Fees are £0.78 pence per folio or CD audio recording, £25 per hour (if proceedings are recorded) |
At the Family Proceedings Court, service of a summons is £10 or for personal service £13 and additional documents £3 each |
Case B |
Register order in High Court – no fee Depending on the legislation that the order was granted under, the application will either be treated as a new application or a variation of an existing order Application in respect of contact order Family Proceedings Court – £50 Family Care Centre – £75 High Court – £100 Application to vary an existing contact order Family Proceedings Court – £37.50 pence Family Care Centre – £57.50 pence High Court – £75 |
As above |
At Family Proceedings Court – service of a summons is £10 or for personal service £13 and Additional documents £3 each |
Case Study |
Appeals |
ADR |
|||
Initial court fees |
Transcription fees |
Other fees |
Is this option open for this type of case? |
Costs |
|
Case A |
Appeal from Family Proceedings Court to Family Care Centre – £75 Appeal from Family Care Centre to High Court – £100 Appeal against the decision of a Master - £200 Appeal against the decision of a Judge - £500 |
Fees are £0.78 pence per folio or CD audio recording; £25 per hour (if proceedings are recorded) |
N/A |
Court Children’s Officer available at court |
No fee charged Otherwise, ADR would be through external agencies with a professional charge |
Case B |
Appeal from Family Proceedings Court to Family Care Centre – £75 Appeal from Family Care Centre to High Court – £100 Appeal against the decision of a Master - £200 Appeal against the decision of a Judge - £500 |
As above |
N/A |
Court Children’s Officer available at court |
No fee charged Otherwise, ADR would be through external agencies with a professional charge |
Indicative costs for lawyer, bailiff and expert
Case Study |
Lawyer |
Bailiff |
Expert |
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Is representation compulsory? |
Average costs |
Is representation compulsory? |
Pre- judgement costs |
Post – judgement costs |
Is use compulsory? |
Cost |
|
Case A |
No – but High Court cases are normally more complex |
N/K |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
No |
N/K |
Case B |
No – but High Court cases are normally more complex |
N/K |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
No |
N/K |
Indicative costs for witness compensation, pledge or security and other relevant fees
Case Study |
Witness compensation |
Pledge or security |
Other fees |
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Are witnesses compensated? |
Cost |
Does this exist and when and how is it used? |
Cost |
Description |
Cost |
|
Case A |
Costs (e.g. loss of earnings) allowed at judicial discretion or agreed between parties |
N/K |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Case B |
Costs (e.g. loss of earnings) allowed at judicial discretion or agreed between parties |
N/K |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Indicative costs for legal aid and other reimbursement
Case study |
Legal Aid |
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When and under what conditions is it applicable? |
When is support total? |
Conditions? |
|
Case A |
The normal means and merits tests apply (see section on Legal Aid) |
See left |
See left |
Case B |
Legal aid is available only for proceedings that take place in Northern Ireland (see section on Legal Aid |
See left |
See left |
Case study |
Reimbursement |
|||
Can the winning party obtain reimbursement of litigation costs? |
If reimbursement is not total, what is the percentage in general? |
What costs are never reimbursed? |
Are there instances when legal aid should be reimbursed to the legal aid organisation? |
|
Case A |
Such costs would normally be included in any agreement between parties or as ordered by the judge |
N/K |
All costs have the potential to be included as part of a court order |
Clients may be liable to pay a contribution, depending on their income and capital (see Case Study 1A) |
Case B |
Such costs would normally be included in any agreement between parties or as ordered by the judge |
N/K |
All costs have the potential to be included as part of a court order |
As above |
Indicative costs for translation and interpretation
Case study |
Translation |
|
When and under what conditions is it necessary? |
Approximate cost? |
|
Case A |
If documents to be put before the court are not in English |
The Current rate is £120 per 1000 words for every language or 12p per word.
|
Case B |
If documents to be put before the court are not in English |
The Current rate is £120 per 1000 words for every language or 12p per word.
|
Case study |
Interpretation |
Other costs specific to cross – border disputes? |
||
When and under what conditions is it necessary? |
Approximate cost? |
Description |
Approximate cost? |
|
Case A |
If parties or witnesses do not speak or understand English |
Minimum payment of £30.00 per hour. |
Costs associated with service of documents |
Depends on where to be served, acceptable methods of service in the other Member State and how many attempts required |
Case B |
If parties or witnesses do not speak or understand English |
Minimum payment of £30.00 per hour. |
Costs associated with service of documents |
Depends on where to be served, acceptable methods of service in the other Member State and how many attempts required. |
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