Summary assessment

Q v Q (Family Proceedings: Costs Order) (F D TLR 16 July)

The general rule in Costs Practice Direction 13.2 that there shall be a summary assessment of the costs of a hearing which lasts for not more than one day, does not imply that there shall be a detailed assessment of costs in hearings that last longer than one day. Indeed, paragraph 13.1 of the Practice Direction prescribes that the exercise of the power to make a summary assessment must be considered in every case. In family cases in particular, the aggravation of the detailed assessment of costs could run counter to the design of reducing contention and achieving satisfactory resolution of disputes.