This Practice Note explains what a Summary assessment of Costs is and sets out the key principles to understanding summary assessment, ie when summary assessment can be sought, the circumstances in which summary assessment will not take place and which members of the judiciary can undertake summary assessment of costs.

For guidance on:

1. •

   the summary assessment procedure, see Practice Notes: Summary assessment—the process and Summary assessment—statement of costs

2. •

   Requirements which are applicable in specific courts, see Practice Note: Summary assessment—court guides

Note that Detailed assessment, of which provisional assessment is part, is a different form of costs assessment. For insight, see: Summary assessment or detailed assessment? below, and Detailed assessment—overview.