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Bill of Costs

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BILL OF COSTS

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
Central District of California

V. Case Number:

Judgment having been entered in the above entitled action on against

the Clerk is requested to tax the following as costs:

Fees of the Clerk

Fees for service of summons and subpoena

Fees of the court reporter for all or any part of the transcript necessarily obtained for use in the case (Expedited or daily transcripts require prior Court Order.)

1. Trial Transcripts, if requested by the Court or prepared pursuant to stipulation

2. Deposition Transcripts

Fees and disbursements for printing

(The costs of copies of an exhibit attached to a document necessarily filed and served.)

Fees for witnesses (itemize on page 2 of 3)

Fees for exemplification and copies of papers necessarily obtained for use in the case

Docket fees under 28 U.S.C. 1923 (if incurred)

Costs as shown on Mandate of Court of Appeals

Compensation of court-appointed experts

Compensation of interpreters and costs of special interpretation services under 28 U.S.C. 1828

Other costs to be taxed pursuant to prior Court approval (please itemize)

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

Costs are taxed in the amount of

Clerk of Court

By

Date

WITNESS FEES

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

NAME, CITY AND STATE
ATTENDANCE
Days
Total Cost
SUBSISTENCE
Days
Total Cost
MILEAGE
Miles
Total Cost
Total Cost Each Witness

TOTAL

INSTRUCTIONS AND NOTICES REGARDING BILL OF COSTS

SPECIAL NOTE: An itemization and documentation to support the claims made in all categories shall be attached to the Application for Bill of Costs. Documentation shall include receipts, orders and stipulations of the parties. The claiming party shall ensure that any receipts are self-explanatory (i.e. receipts for service, to include the name of the individual). The Clerk's designee will disallow any expenses that do not have supporting documentation. It is the claiming party's responsibility to ensure that the total cost requested in all categories on Form CV-59 reflects the same total of the documentation submitted in support thereof. The Clerk's designee shall allow such items specified in the application which are properly recoverable as costs.

Amended Procedure for Filing Bill of Costs

Local Rule 54-3 - Within (15) days after entry of judgment, the party entitled to costs shall file a Notice of Application to the Clerk to Tax Costs and shall attach a proposed Bill of Costs on Form CV-59. The Bill of Costs and the Notice of Application to the Clerk to Tax Costs shall be prepared as two separate documents. All costs shall be specified so that the nature of the claim can be readily understood. The Bill of Costs will be electronically filed by the Clerk’s designee once determination of allowable costs are made.

Appearance Requirements

Local Rule 54-3.2 - Time of Application - The date and time for taxation of costs by the Clerk shall be not less than fourteen (14) nor more than twenty-one (21) days from the date notice is given to the other parties. If no objections to the Bill of Costs are filed, then no appearance by counsel is required. In the absence of an objection, any item listed will be taxed as allowed under Local Rule 54. When an objection is filed, the Clerk’s designee may determine that no hearing is required and the parties will be so notified. If a hearing is to be held, the Clerk’s designee may specify the form of the hearing and determine if telephonic appearances are appropriate.

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 him 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 Is and when it matters

A Bill of Costs is a court filing that itemizes expenses and taxable costs a prevailing party seeks to recover after judgment or dismissal. It typically lists fees such as filing fees, service costs, reporter and transcript charges, photocopy and exhibit costs, and other disbursements allowed by statute or local rule. Courts use the Bill of Costs to determine which expenses are recoverable, the amount allowed, and whether taxation or objections are required before the clerk issues a cost judgment.

Why a clear Bill of Costs changes post-judgment outcomes

A precise, well-supported Bill of Costs helps the court and clerk evaluate recoverable expenses, reduces objections, and speeds resolution of post-judgment collections. Proper documentation and statutory alignment improve chances that requested costs are allowed under governing rules.

Why a clear Bill of Costs changes post-judgment outcomes

Who prepares and reviews Bills of Costs

Litigation counsel, prevailing parties, and court clerks are the primary users who prepare, review, or tax Bills of Costs.

  • Plaintiff/Prevailing Party counsel prepares detailed cost entries and attaches invoices or receipts to justify amounts.
  • Defense counsel reviews and, if appropriate, files objections to specific line items or excessive amounts.
  • Court clerk reviews formality, applies local rules and statutes, and issues the official taxation of costs.

Accurate completion reduces clerical rejection and shortens the time to an enforceable costs judgment.

Core elements that belong in a professional Bill of Costs

A complete Bill of Costs identifies parties, the case number, statutory authority, detailed line items with dates, supporting receipts, and a verified signature or declaration attesting to accuracy.

Case Metadata

Caption, court name, case number, judge, and short case description so the clerk can match the Bill to the docket and ruling.

Statutory Basis

Cite the rule or statute authorizing costs (for example, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d), state statute, or local rule) to show recoverability authority.

Itemized Charges

Line-by-line entries for clerk fees, service of process, reporter fees, exhibits, copying, postage, and other allowable disbursements with dates.

Supporting Evidence

Attach invoices, receipts, court clerk receipts, and billing detail; unidentified amounts or missing receipts invite objections.

Calculations

Show subtotals, tax calculations, and a clear total; errors in arithmetic commonly delay taxation of costs.

Verification

Include a signed declaration, verification under penalty of perjury, or notarized acknowledgement if required by local rule.

Essential information to include on the form

Case Caption: Plaintiff v. Defendant
Court Identifier: Court name and division
Case Number: Docket or case number
Billing Date: Date costs were incurred
Amount Totals: Subtotals and overall total
Verifier: Name and signature

Step-by-step: completing and submitting a Bill of Costs

Follow this sequence to prepare a compliant Bill of Costs that the clerk can tax quickly and accurately.

  • 01
    Gather Records: Collect invoices, receipts, and clerk receipts.
  • 02
    Itemize Costs: Create a clear line-item list by date and category.
  • 03
    Prepare Declaration: Draft signer verification or declaration as required.
  • 04
    File and Serve: File with court clerk and serve opposing counsel.

Configuring a digital workflow for online completion

Set up fields, signer roles, and required attachments before sending. Use conditional fields for optional items to keep forms concise.

Field Configuration
Case Metadata Required text fields; prefill from case management system
Itemized Table Repeatable rows with date, description, amount
Attachments Require PDF uploads for receipts and invoices
Verification Signature block with optional notarization checkbox

Where to file and how the submission flows in court

A Bill of Costs is typically filed with the clerk in the court that entered judgment. Procedures vary by federal, state, and local rules.

  • Prepare: Assemble Bill and attachments
  • File: Submit to clerk via eFile or in person
  • Serve: Deliver copies to opposing counsel
  • Taxation: Clerk reviews and issues taxation order

Sharing options and platform requirements for eSubmission

Bills of Costs can be shared by court eFile systems, secure email, or eSignature platforms depending on local rules.

  • eFiling Systems: Court-specific portals required
  • Secure Email: Encrypted attachments recommended
  • eSignature Platforms: Supports signatures and attachments

Confirm the court's filing rules: some courts accept e-filed PDFs with electronic signatures under ESIGN/UETA, while others require in-person filings or specific verification steps.

Timing: common deadlines and filing windows

Deadlines vary by jurisdiction; observe the court's rules and any local deadline for submitting costs after entry of judgment or order.

Post-Judgment Filing Window:

Often 14–30 days after judgment; check local rule

Objection Period:

Opposing party typically has 7–14 days to object

Clerk Taxation:

Clerk acts after objections resolved or time expires

Enforcement:

Cost judgment may be enforced per state collection rules

Renewal:

State statutes govern how long cost judgments remain enforceable

Key milestones from judgment to taxed costs

Track these stages in sequence to monitor progress from filing to enforcement.

01

Judgment Entered

Final judgment or dismissal is recorded.

02

Bill Filed

Bill of Costs submitted to clerk.

03

Objections Filed

Opposing party may file objections.

04

Clerk Taxed

Clerk issues taxed costs and total amount.

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing a Bill of Costs

  • Missing supporting receipts or failing to correlate amounts with invoices, which leads to disallowance or reduction of requested costs.
  • Incorrect case identifiers or misnamed parties that result in the clerk rejecting or misfiling the Bill of Costs.
  • Arithmetic errors in totals and subtotals that require amendment and delay taxation of costs.
  • Submitting items that are not recoverable under the cited statute or local rule, prompting objections and reduction.

Consequences of an incorrect or unsupported Bill of Costs

Disallowance: Costs may be reduced or denied
Sanctions: Bad-faith billing may trigger sanctions
Ethics Exposure: Misrepresentations risk professional discipline
Delay: Clerk rejection extends resolution time
Additional Costs: Amendments and motions add fees
Collection Risk: Unenforceable entries waste resources

eSignature vendor comparison for preparing and signing Bills of Costs

Compare plan fundamentals important for high-volume court filings: starting price, trial availability, bulk send, audit trail, HIPAA support, and envelope or invite limits.

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 vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No

Frequently asked questions about Bills of Costs

Answers to common procedural and technical questions about preparing, filing, and e-signing a Bill of Costs in U.S. courts.


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