Taxation of Legal Costs in South Africa

Product Details:
Author(s):
Francis-Subbiah, R
Year Published:
2014
Edition
1st Edition
Type:
Print | Soft Cover
Language:
English
About this publication
Taxation of Legal Costs in South Africa provides clear and practical guidance on taxation of costs, which will assist the legal practitioner, the taxing master, the judicial officer and the lay public to determine reasonable costs in line with the existing legal system.
Taxation is about the quantification of legal costs and therein lies the crux of any costs issue. The book explains how the process of taxation exercises control over costs that are legally recovered so that fees and costs are reasonable. Taxation of Legal Costs in South Africa identifies the key aspects of costs and all aspects of taxation. It records and integrates the practices, rules, tariffs and judgments of court to provide a practical resource. The discretion that is applied in taxing bills of costs and the principles relied upon in reviewing taxations are discussed extensively. The book analyses maximum tariffs that legal practitioners may charge, which have a significant impact on both the public and the legal profession. The author also offers practical suggestions for solutions to challenges that arise in practice. Taxation of Legal Costs in South Africa aims to be a practical and complete work on the subject of taxation.
Content
Table of cases
Table of statutes
Taxation in general
Attorney’s costs and alternative methods to taxation
Parties at taxation
Process of taxation
The taxing master in general
The discretion of the taxing master demystified
Review of taxation
Party and party costs
Attorney and client costs
Attorney and own client costs
Specific costs terminology
Wasted costs and unnecessary costs
Pre-litigation costs
Perusals and copies
Waiting and travelling costs
Trial actions
Applications
Counsel’s fees
Counsel’s fees in the High Court
Two sets of attorneys
Witnesses and qualifying fees
Taxation of claims arising from motor vehicle accidents and debt recovery costs, collection charges or commission
Civil appeals and taxation in the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court of Appeal
Miscellaneous
Precedent bills of costs
Annexures – tariff rules
Interest / Benefit to
Legal practitioners
The taxing master
Judicial officers
The general public