The Form H is not usually relevant when considering costs orders - it is
more a case management tool.
The Form H is relatively
straightforward in as much as the profit costs (professional fees of a
solicitor), disbursements (court fees, valuation fees and any other fees
other than..) and counsels (barrister's) fees are separate. All figures
shown should be inclusive of VAT.
The first section of the form
is for pre issue. These are the costs that are incurred before one of the
parties issues the
Form A
application.
The second section is costs after issue of the Form
A up to and including the FDR hearing (and any 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc. FDRs).
This section will include the court fee if you are the applicant.
The pre and post issue sections are sub-divided for previous and current
solicitors. This is based on the
assumption that your second or subsequent solicitor is completing the form.
If you are a litigant in person put the figures in the previous solicitor
section.
Whenever you complete a Form H you should put the
estimated costs that you will incur in attending the hearing for which the
Form H is being prepared. Being litigant in person there will be no
further costs unless you are using a
barrister or solicitor on an agreed fee.
Finally, there are two columns for publicly funded (on the left) and
indemnity (private) costs (on the right). You should complete the column
on the right unless you have received public funding at any stage in which
case post back here for guidance as you will need a mix of the two.
Charles