Costs order
A court order deciding who must pay legal costs, or part of the legal costs, connected to a case or application.
Definition
Costs orders can affect settlement risk and litigation strategy. The wording matters because costs may be ordinary party-and-party costs, attorney-and-client costs, wasted costs, reserved costs, costs in the cause, or another order. Taxation or assessment may be needed before the amount is final.
In a South African legal context, costs order should not be treated as an isolated dictionary word. It usually sits inside a broader civil procedure process, and that process can affect what documents are needed, which deadlines matter, and what next step is sensible.
Key takeaways
A court order deciding who must pay legal costs, or part of the legal costs, connected to a case or application.
Civil Procedure
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How it applies
Costs order often matters when a person is dealing with Adverse costs order, Legal costs dispute, and Settlement risk. The term can shape how the problem is described, which facts matter, and what evidence should be gathered.
Related resources such as Civil Litigation Consultation Pack, Legal Fees Dispute Checklist, and Litigation Checklist help turn the concept into a practical preparation path before a consultation or formal step.
Related legal problems
This glossary provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice.
Common situations
Adverse costs order
Adverse costs order where the person needs to understand how costs order affects the next legal step.
Legal costs dispute
Legal costs dispute where the person needs to understand how costs order affects the next legal step.
Settlement risk
Settlement risk where the person needs to understand how costs order affects the next legal step.
Next steps
What usually happens next
Start by using the definition and related questions on this page to place the issue inside the correct civil procedure pathway.
Use the related resource path for Civil Litigation Consultation Pack, Legal Fees Dispute Checklist, and Litigation Checklist to prepare documents, dates, facts, or questions before speaking to a lawyer or firm.
When the matter is urgent, disputed, document-heavy, or deadline-sensitive, move from research into lawyer discovery through Litigation Lawyers Johannesburg or compare support through Litigation Firms.
Related resources
Resources and guides
Civil Litigation Consultation Pack
Prepare a civil procedure document pack by organising identity, authority, core matter records, official records, correspondence, financial records, deadline notes, and fee questions.
Civil ProcedureChecklistLegal Fees Dispute Checklist
Legal Fees Dispute Checklist for preparing documents, facts, dates, and questions connected to civil procedure.
Civil ProcedureChecklistLitigation Checklist
Litigation Checklist for preparing documents, facts, dates, and questions connected to civil procedure.
Civil ProcedureFAQs
Costs order FAQs
What is a costs order?
What is a costs order starts with the definition above, but the practical meaning depends on where it appears in the civil procedure process. Use the related Judgment term, resources, and lawyer searches to understand the next step.
Does losing always mean paying costs?
Does losing always mean paying costs depends on the facts, the documents involved, and where the matter sits in the civil procedure process, especially where it relates to adverse costs order. Start with the definition above, then use the related terms and resources to understand the next step.
What does costs in the cause mean?
What does costs in the cause mean starts with the definition above, but the practical meaning depends on where it appears in the civil procedure process. Use the related Judgment term, resources, and lawyer searches to understand the next step.
How are costs amounts worked out?
How are costs amounts worked out depends on the facts, the documents involved, and where the matter sits in the civil procedure process, especially where it relates to adverse costs order. Start with the definition above, then use the related terms and resources to understand the next step.
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Lawyers and firms
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