Court costs are generally the fees required to be paid to courts and their officers and are often included in filing fees—fees that must be paid when a litigant files a document with the court, such as a plaintiff’s complaint or petition, or a defendant’s counterclaim. Court costs are often assessed against the losing party in a lawsuit, and the winning or prevailing party is said to be entitled to recover costs of court. Other costs, such as deposition costs for the court reporter and transcription costs may be recoverable by a prevailing party under the broader concept of recoverable costs or taxable costs—in other words, costs that may be taxed against the losing party. Court costs generally do not include attorney fees or expert fees. The specific costs that may be recovered in litigation are often specified in the rules of civil procedure for the relevant state or federal jurisdiction.

In Florida, court costs encompass various fees associated with the use of the court system, including filing fees that are paid when a party submits documents like complaints, petitions, or counterclaims. These costs are typically assessed against the losing party in a lawsuit, and the prevailing party is entitled to recover these costs. Florida law and the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure outline the specific costs that can be recovered, which may include fees for filing, service of process, and certain expenses related to the taking of depositions, such as court reporter and transcription fees. These are considered taxable costs that can be charged to the losing party. However, court costs do not cover attorney fees or expert witness fees unless there is a statutory provision, contract, or court order that provides for their recovery. The exact costs recoverable and the procedures for their recovery are detailed in the Florida Statutes and the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure.