Who’s responsible for the cost of setting up a remote hearing?
Is there any guidance on who’s responsible for the costs involved in setting up a remote family hearing?
HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has issued guidance on telephone and video hearings.
Where costs relate to individual cases, the cost of setting up a remote hearing can be claimed as a disbursement.
However, if a firm purchases a licence to access a specific conferencing facility or platform, this is an administrative cost for the firm and not an individual disbursement.
If a client incurs additional costs to enable them to participate in a remote hearing – for example, additional data charges – these may be claimed as an individual disbursement.
For more information, see the government’s guidance on remote family hearings.
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Disclaimer
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this article, it does not constitute legal advice and cannot be relied upon as such. The Law Society does not accept any responsibility for liabilities arising as a result of reliance upon the information given.
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