The Matrimonial Causes (Costs) (Amendment) Rules 1989

1

Subject to the following provisions of this rule, on any taxation of the costs of a litigant in person there may be allowed such costs as would have been allowed if the work and disbursements to which the costs relate had been done or made by a solicitor on the litigant’s behalf together with any payments reasonably made by him for legal advice relating to the conduct of or the issues raised by the proceedings.

SCHEDULE 2

PART Ipreparation

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
	High Court	County Court
ITEM
1 Writing routine letters	£3.50 per item	£3.00 per item
2 Receiving routine letters	£1.75 per item	£1.50 per item
3 Routine telephone calls	£3.50 per item	£3.00 per item
4 All other preparation work including any work which was reasonably done arising out of or incidental to the proceedings, interviews with client, witnesses, and other parties; obtaining evidence; preparation and consideration of, and dealing with, documents, negotiations and notices; dealing with letters written and received and telephone calls which are not routine
		Where the proceedings were conducted in the divorce registry or in another court on the South-Eastern Circuit at the time when the relevant work was done:
£38.50 per hour	£34.00 per hour
		All other circuits:
£36.00 per hour	£32.00 per hour
5 In addition to items 1–4 above, to cover the general care and conduct of the proceedings	+50%	+50%
6 Travelling and waiting time in connection with the above matters	£26.50 per hour	£24.50 per hour

PART IIconferences with counsel

7 Attending counsel in conference	£31.00 per hour	£27.00 per hour
8 Travelling and waiting	£26.50 per hour	£24.50 per hour

PART IIIattendances

9 Attending with counsel at the trial or hearing of any cause or the hearing of any summons or other application at court, or other appointment	£31.00 per hour	£27.00 per hour
10 Attending without counsel at the trial or hearing of any cause or the hearing of any summons or other application at court, or other appointment	£46.00 per hour	£43.00 per hour
11 Travelling and waiting	£26.50 per hour	£24.50 per hour

PART IVfees for junior counsel

12 With a brief on an unopposed application for an injunction, or procedural issue
Standard £74.00	£64.00
	Maximum £122.00	£106.00
13 With a brief on the trial of a cause or matter or on the hearing of an ancillary application or on a children appointment where the hearing lasts for
a one hour
Standard £111.00	£95.00
Maximum £223.00	£191.00
b a half day
Standard £154.00	£133.00
Maximum £254.00	£223.00
c a full day
Standard £307.00	£265.00
Maximum £488.00	£424.00
d more than a full day	Discretionary	Discretionary
14 For each day or part of a day on which the trial of a cause or matter, or the hearing of an ancillary application, or a children appointment, is continued after the first day	Discretionary	Discretionary
15 Conference (including time reasonably spent in preparation and conference, but not otherwise remunerated)	Standard £17.00 per ½ hour	Standard £15.00 per ½ hour
16 a Complex items of written work (such as advices on evidence, opinions and affidavits of a substantial nature, requests for particulars or answers)	Standard £80.00 per item	Standard £69.00 per item
b All other written work	Standard £48.00 per item	Standard £42.00 per item
17 Except where the court is within 25 miles of Charing Cross or where there is no local Bar in the court town, or within 25 miles thereof, for travelling time	Standard £15.40 per hour+ expenses	Standard £13.20 per hour+ expenses

PART Vtaxation and review of taxation

18 Preparing the bill (where allowable) and completing the taxation (excluding preparing for and attending the taxation).	£26.50–£74.00	£26.50–£42.50
19 Preparing for and attending the taxation (including travelling and waiting).	Discretionary	Discretionary
20 Review by registrar or judge (including preparation)	Discretionary	Discretionary