Legal fees taxed?

Does anyone know how you get your legal fees taxed?

If you are asking if the money your pay to lawyers is taxed the answer is yes bot VAT and tax on what profit the lawyer makes.

Is that what you are asking?.

Well if I think my solicitors have over-charged for what they have done, can I appeal?

You can ask for a breakdown of the bill, and if your still not happy you can complain through the practices procedure or ask to speak to the senior partner or complaints manager.

I think the question related to the assessment of a solicitors costs. Prior to 1999 the process of assessment was called 'taxation' where the court would scrutinse the solicitors costs and reduce or disallow any items that were deemed to be excessive or unnecessary.

For a client to challenge their own solicitors costs, they need to make an application to the court for a Solicitors Act assessment with a fee of £40.

There are costs consequences of making such an application if the fees are proved to be reasonable in amount.

More information will be required if my assumptions are incorrect.

Charles

Thanks for your advice.

My case is that my ex-partner put the wrong pleadings in, my then solicitor took him to court to get costs awarded to date but messed it up. I then went to another solicitors because I wasnt happy with the way they dealt with it and they saw my case through.

People have said that I wouldnt have to pay his legal costs for the period up to wrong pleadings, is this right and how do I get them amended?

If the court has made an order for costs against your ex e.g. "the respondent pay the costs of and occasioned by the amendment in any event, to be assessed if not agreed" then the "people" that you have spoken to are correct.

However, you say that your previous solicitor took your ex to court to get costs awarded to date but "messed it up". If by "messed it up" you mean that no costs were awarded then you cannot recover your costs from your ex.

If you can provide further details I can comment further.

Charles