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Bill of Costs Form AO-133

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

V.

BILL OF COSTS

Case Number:

Judgment having been entered in the above entitled action on against

the Clerk is requested to tax the following as costs:

$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$

TOTAL

$

SPECIAL NOTE: Attach to your bill an itemization and documentation for requested costs in all categories.

DECLARATION

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing costs are correct and were necessarily incurred in this action and that the services for which fees have been charged were actually and necessarily performed. A copy of this bill was mailed today with postage prepaid to:

Signature of Attorney:

Name of Attorney:

For:

Date:

Name of Claiming Party:

Costs are taxed in the amount of and included in the judgment.

NANCY MAYER-WHITTINGTON, Clerk

Date

By:

Deputy Clerk

WITNESS FEES (computation, cf. 28 U.S.C. 1821 for statutory fees)

NAME AND RESIDENCE ATTENDANCE SUBSISTENCE MILEAGE Total Cost Each Witness
Days Total Cost Days Total Cost Days Total Cost
TOTAL

NOTICE

Section 1924, Title 28, U.S. Code (effective September 1, 1948) provides:
"Sec. 1924. Verification of bill of costs."
"Before any bill of costs is taxed, the party claiming any item of cost or disbursement shall attach thereto an affidavit, made by himself or by his duly authorized attorney or agent having knowledge of the facts, that such item is correct and has been necessarily incurred in the case and that the services for which fees have been charged were actually and necessarily performed."

See also Section 1920 of Title 28, which reads in part as follows:
"A bill of costs shall be filed in the case and, upon allowance, included in the judgment or decree."

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure contain the following provisions:
Rule 54(d)
"Except when express provision therefor is made either in a statute of the United States or in these rules, costs shall be allowed as of course to the prevailing party unless the court otherwise directs, but costs against the United States, its officers, and agencies shall be imposed only to the extent permitted by law. Costs may be taxed by the clerk on one day's notice. On motion served within 5 days thereafter, the action of the clerk may be reviewed by the court."

Rule 6(e)
"Whenever a party has the right or is required to do some act or take some proceedings within a prescribed period after the service of a notice or other paper upon the party and the notice or paper is served upon him by mail, 3 days shall be added to the prescribed period."

Rule 58 (In Part)
"Entry of the judgment shall not be delayed for the taxing of costs.

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What the Bill of Costs Form AO-133 is and when it applies

The Bill of Costs Form AO-133 is a standardized itemization used to present taxable costs and related documentation to a court after final judgment or a prevailing-party determination. It organizes line-item expenses, attaches supporting receipts, and gives the court the information needed to assess allowable costs under local and federal rules. Parties use it to request recovery of discrete litigation expenses such as filing fees, service costs, and transcript charges; requirements and acceptable items vary by court and local rule.

Why a properly prepared AO-133 matters

A complete, accurate Bill of Costs clarifies the amounts you seek, speeds judicial review, and reduces the risk of disallowance or dispute. It creates a transparent record of expenses and supporting evidence, helping the clerk and judge apply the correct statutory or local-rule standards when awarding costs.

Why a properly prepared AO-133 matters

Who typically prepares and signs an AO-133

The form is prepared by attorneys or pro se parties representing a prevailing party and reviewed by court clerks prior to taxation of costs.

  • Plaintiff's counsel preparing recoverable cost requests and assembling receipts.
  • Defense counsel reviewing and objecting to specific cost items on the opposing party's bill.
  • Court clerks and judicial staff verifying compliance with local rules and supporting documentation.

Parties should coordinate service on opposing counsel and confirm local filing procedures before submitting the AO-133 to avoid procedural returns.

Stepwise process to prepare and submit AO-133

Follow these sequential steps to assemble a complete bill of costs before filing and serving opposing counsel.

  • 01
    Gather Documentation: Collect invoices, receipts, and proof of payment for each cost line.
  • 02
    Complete Form: Populate AO-133 fields, confirm math, and attach item references.
  • 03
    File With Clerk: Submit per local court rules and electronic filing requirements.
  • 04
    Serve Opposing Party: Serve the bill and attachments as required; retain proof of service.

How to configure an online AO-133 workflow for eSubmission

Set up a repeatable digital workflow so each AO-133 is routed, authenticated, and archived consistently.

Field Configuration
Signer Assignment Assign attorney or party role; require name and bar number.
Authentication Use email link or SMS code; stronger auth for sensitive filings.
Template Create a reusable AO-133 template with required fields preplaced.
Notifications Enable alerts for filing, service, and completion status.

End-to-end eSubmission flow for the Bill of Costs

A typical online submission includes preparation, signer authentication, court filing, and record retention steps.

  • Upload: Upload the completed AO-133 and attachments in PDF format.
  • Place Fields: Add signature, date, and initials fields where required.
  • Authenticate: Authenticate signer via email link, SMS code, or stronger methods.
  • File and Archive: E-file with the clerk and store a certified copy for records.

Digital delivery, formats, and integration considerations

Confirm acceptable file formats and integration points before submitting electronically to the court or opposing counsel.

  • Accepted Formats: PDF is the preferred archival format; courts may accept PDF/A for long-term storage.
  • Integrations: Connectors like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and court e-filing portals streamline uploads.
  • Authentication Methods: Email link, SMS OTP, and multi-factor options balance convenience and security.

Ensure your platform produces an audit trail (timestamps, IP, signer identity) and stores the final signed PDF for future reference.

Anatomy of a professional Bill of Costs Form AO-133

A well-structured AO-133 is concise, document-backed, and aligned with the court's local rules to expedite taxation.

Case Header

Full court caption, docket number, and party names must match the case file exactly to ensure proper docketing and clerk processing.

Judgment Details

Include the judgment or order date and citation so the clerk can confirm the triggering event for costs under local rules.

Itemized Costs

Present each cost as a separate, dated line item with a concise description and amount to allow clerk verification and potential partial allowance.

Supporting Receipts

Attach legible receipts or invoices that correspond to each line; label attachments to match line-item references on the AO-133.

Certification Statement

Include any required attorney certification or declaration attesting to the accuracy of items and compliance with statutory standards.

Signature Area

Provide signer name, title, bar number (if counsel), signature date, and contact details for post-filing correspondence.

Essential data elements to include on the form

Case Number: Exact docket number
Party Names: Full legal names
Dates: Judgment and item dates
Cost Descriptions: Concise line-item text
Monetary Amounts: Per-line and total sums
Attachments: Receipts and invoices

Timing and filing windows to check before submission

Deadlines vary by jurisdiction; confirm local rules and the clerk's calendar before filing to avoid waiver or return.

Local Rule Deadline:

Check the court's local rule for the exact filing window.

Judgment Trigger:

Timing often runs from the date the judgment or order was entered.

Service Requirements:

Service on opposing counsel may be required before taxation.

Extension Options:

Some courts allow extensions for cause; request per local procedures.

Clerk Processing:

Allow time for clerk review and possible request for clarification.

Key milestones after judgment and before final taxation

Track these sequential milestones to ensure timely filing, service, and clerk action on the bill of costs.

01

Prepare Bill

Assemble AO-133 and supporting receipts promptly after judgment.

02

File With Court

E-file or submit to the clerk according to local rules.

03

Serve Opponent

Serve a copy and retain proof of service for the record.

04

Clerk Taxation

Clerk reviews, may allow, disallow, or refer to judge for decision.

Common preparation errors and how they affect the AO-133

  • Missing or illegible receipts that cannot be matched to a line item often lead to disallowance and delay the clerk's decision.
  • Mathematical errors or inconsistent totals trigger clerk queries and may cause partial reductions or returns for correction.
  • Incorrect case caption or docket number can result in misfiling or rejection by the clerk's office and require re-submission.
  • Failing to serve opposing counsel before taxation may forfeit the opportunity for objections or prompt a clerk to set a briefing schedule.

Consequences of an incorrect or incomplete Bill of Costs

Denial of Costs: Court may disallow claimed items
Reduced Award: Clerk can reduce totals on review
Sanctions Risk: Frivolous or unsupported claims risk sanctions
Refile Required: Clerk may return for correction
Delay to Judgment: Extended briefing or hearings postpone resolution
Increased Fees: Additional attorney time and costs for disputes

eSignature vendor comparison for preparing and submitting AO-133 (signNow first)

Compare core pricing and feature criteria for common eSignature vendors used to prepare and deliver court filing packages.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No envelope cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan

Real-world examples of AO-133 use and digital filing benefits

Illustrative customer stories show how firms streamline cost recovery and documentation.

Optica Ventures LLC

A small law firm digitized cost assembly to reduce processing time.

  • Reduced turnaround on cost claims by consolidating receipts.
  • Brian Fitzgibbons, COO, noted the interface is simple and easy to use while remaining effective for customers and staff.

Martin Properties

A property management company standardized cost submissions across cases.

  • Centralized templates lowered repeat work and errors.
  • Tim Martin described processing and executing documents online with compliance and consistent security across mobile and offline modes.

Frequently asked questions about completing and submitting AO-133

Answers to common points of confusion about e-signatures, required evidence, timing, and what happens if the bill is contested.


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