A Taxing master is an independent person appointed by the Irish government, pursuant to section 3 of the Court Officers Act 1926, to assess the legal costs of a party to a legal matter.
The Taxing master provides an independent and impartial process of assessment of legal costs, which endeavours to achieve a balance between the costs involved and the services rendered. The party seeking to have a bill of costs put before the Taxing master, must lodge that bill with the Taxing master's office, together with a summons to tax and an order of the court/requisition to tax.
The position of the Taxing master and his/her office is governed by the Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961.[1] This was amended by the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011, whereby a taxing masters's term of office is for a period not exceeding 5 years.[2]
Every person represented by a solicitor in Ireland in a matter before the High Court is entitled to have their bill assessed by the Taxing master.[3] Should a client feel his bill is not fair or reasonable he should ask his solicitor in writing to have the matter taxed. However, where a client of a solicitor feels they have been overcharged they should make a complaint to the Law Society of Ireland.[4]
References
edit- ^ "Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act, 1961". Irishstatutebook.ie. 16 August 1961. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
- ^ http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2011/en/act/pub/0023/print.html#sec43
- ^ "The Courts Service of Ireland - Offices & Maps". Courts.ie. 25 February 2004. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
- ^ "Law Society of Ireland". Lawsociety.ie. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
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