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 Missouri, court costs encompass various fees associated with the use of the court system, including filing fees that are paid when a party submits documents to the court. These costs can include fees for filing a lawsuit, serving documents, and other procedural steps. Missouri law allows for the prevailing party in a lawsuit to potentially recover court costs from the losing party. This is in line with the principle that the party who wins the case is entitled to have their costs of court reimbursed by the losing party. However, it's important to note that court costs do not cover attorney fees or expert witness fees unless a statute or contract specifically provides for such recovery. The specific costs that can be recovered and the process for doing so are detailed in the Missouri Rules of Civil Procedure and relevant statutes. For example, deposition and transcription costs may be included as recoverable costs, but they are subject to the court's discretion and the applicable rules. It is advisable for parties involved in litigation to consult with an attorney to understand the full scope of recoverable costs in their particular case.