Court Fees Increase from 13 July 2026 - What Costs Practitioners Need to Know
- Jul 15
- 3 min read
The Ministry of Justice has introduced revised court and tribunal fees with effect from 13 July 2026. Although many of the increases are relatively modest, firms dealing with detailed assessment proceedings, Legal Aid costs, Court of Protection matters and other civil litigation should ensure that the correct fees are now being used when filing applications with the court. Using outdated court fees can result in unnecessary delays, rejected applications and additional administration.
Key Costs-Related Court Fee Changes
The following changes are among those most relevant to legal costs practitioners.
Application | Previous Fee | New Fee |
Costs-only proceedings | £67 | £69 |
Solicitors Act costs assessment application | £67 | £69 |
Court of Protection – Request for Detailed Assessment | £99 | £102 |
Request for Default Costs Certificate | £80 | £82 |
Application to set aside Default Costs Certificate | £148 | £152 |
Appeal in detailed assessment proceedings | £283 | £290 |
Fixed Costs Determination | £398 | £408 |
Updated Detailed Assessment Fees
Where a party requests a detailed assessment (other than a legally aided assessment), the court fee continues to depend upon the amount of costs claimed.
The updated fees are:
Costs Claimed | Court Fee |
Up to £15,000 | £398 |
£15,000.01 – £50,000 | £801 |
£50,000.01 – £100,000 | £1,192 |
£100,000.01 – £150,000 | £1,595 |
£150,000.01 – £200,000 | £1,992 |
£200,000.01 – £300,000 | £2,988 |
£300,000.01 – £500,000 | £4,980 |
Over £500,000 | £6,640 |
Legal Aid Costs
One of the more significant changes for Legal Aid practitioners concerns detailed assessment fees. The fee for requesting a Legally Aided Detailed Assessment has increased from £237 to £296. Solicitors and Legal Aid providers should ensure that precedent documents, billing procedures and internal guidance have been updated to reflect the revised fee.
Court of Protection Costs
The fee for filing a Request for Detailed Assessment in the Court of Protection has increased from £99 to £102. Although the increase is relatively small, firms dealing with Court of Protection costs should ensure that precedent documents, fee schedules and internal processes are updated accordingly. Where applications are submitted with incorrect fees, unnecessary delays can occur whilst additional payments are requested.
Why These Changes Matter
Although many of the fee increases are relatively modest, they are still important.
Using outdated court fees may lead to:
rejected applications;
delays in issuing proceedings;
requests for further payment;
unnecessary administrative work;
delays to costs recovery.
For firms dealing with large numbers of detailed assessments, even small procedural errors can become expensive over time.
Practical Steps for Solicitors
We recommend firms:
update internal fee schedules;
amend precedent documents;
review automated workflows;
notify finance and accounts teams;
check application forms before filing;
ensure any guidance documents quote the latest court fees.
This is particularly important for firms regularly dealing with detailed assessments, Legal Aid costs and Court of Protection matters.
SPH Costs Comment
Whilst these increases are largely inflationary, they provide a useful reminder that costs practitioners should regularly review court procedures, filing requirements and precedent documents. SPH Costs assists solicitors, insurers, local authorities and Legal Aid providers throughout England & Wales with:
Detailed Assessment proceedings
Bills of Costs
Points of Dispute
Solicitors Act assessments
Legal Aid costs
High Costs Case Plans (HCCPs)
Court of Protection Legal Aid costs
Paying Party and Receiving Party costs
Costs negotiation and strategy
If you require assistance with any aspect of legal costs, our specialist team is available to help.
Related Reading
You may also find these resources helpful:
Detailed Assessment of Costs – CPR Part 47
Challenge a Bill of Costs
Common Costs Problems
Solicitors Act Assessment
Legal Aid Costs
Court of Protection Costs
Contact SPH Costs
