Higher Courts Costs Scale (Supreme Court and District Court)
The Higher Courts civil costs scale is included in the Uniform Civil Rules at Schedule 6, rule 3; Refer to Rule 193.1 – the Rule reads as follows:
193.1—Scale of costs in a proceeding—Supreme Court and District Court
- Subject to the following subrules, costs between parties, whether ordered to be paid by the Court or payable by operation of these Rules, are to be determined on the standard costs basis and in accordance with the Higher Courts costs scale.
- However, if a proceeding is in the Fast Track List when costs between parties are awarded or become payable by operation of these Rules, unless the Court otherwise orders, costs are to be determined in accordance with the Fast Track costs scale.
- Subrule (1) is subject to the costs rules in Chapter 11 Part 2 Division 4.
- The Court may order that costs are payable on another scale, including the Magistrates Court costs scale, or another basis, including the indemnity basis or the solicitor/client basis.
The Uniform Civil Rules are available on the CAA website here.
Higher Court Costs Civil Scale Schedule 1 January 2021 to current
The Higher Courts Civil Costs Scale is included in the Uniform Civil Rules at Schedule 6, rule 3. A schedule showing the adjustments to costs under Schedule 6, rule 3 of the Uniform Civil Rules, prepared by the Society for ease of reference for legal practitioners, from 1 January 2021 onwards, is available here.
The Supreme Court Civil Supplementary Rules 2014 (SA) which contain the costs schedule that was effective until 17 May 2020 is available here.
A historical schedule showing adjustments to some costs under Schedule 2 of the Supreme Court Civil Supplementary Rules 2014 (SA), prepared by the Society for ease of reference for legal practitioners, effective to 17 May 2020, is available here.
The Fast Track costs scale is included in the Uniform Civil Rules at Schedule 6, rule 11; Refer to rule 316.
Magistrates Court Costs Scale
The Magistrates civil costs scale is included in the Uniform Civil Rules at Schedule 6, rule 5; Refer to rule 193.2 – the Rule reads as follow:
193.2—Scale of costs in a proceeding—Magistrates Court
- Subject to the following subrules, costs between parties, whether ordered to be paid by the Court or payable by operation of these Rules, are to be determined on the standard costs basis and in accordance with the Magistrates Court costs scale.
- However, if a proceeding is in the Minor Civil Division when costs between parties are awarded or become payable by operation of these Rules, unless the Court otherwise orders, costs are to be determined in accordance with the Minor Civil costs scale.
- Subrule (1) is subject to the costs rules in Chapter 11 Part 2 Division 4.
- The Court may order that costs are payable on another scale, including the Higher Courts costs scale, or another basis, including the indemnity basis or the solicitor/client basis.
Minor Civil Costs Scale
The Minor Civil costs scale is included in the Uniform Civil Rules at Schedule 6, rule 7; Refer to Rule 193.2(2).
Federal Courts and Tribunals Fees
As published in the Government Gazette Notices on 13 June 2025, the fee increases from 1 July 2025 for federal courts and tribunals can be accessed here.