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 Tennessee, court costs encompass a variety of fees that are associated with the use of the court system. These can include filing fees, which are required when a party submits a document to the court, such as a lawsuit or a legal response. Tennessee law allows for the prevailing party in a lawsuit to potentially recover court costs from the losing party. This means that the party who wins the case may be entitled to have their court costs paid by the other side. However, it's important to note that court costs typically do not cover attorney fees or expert witness fees, unless there is a specific statutory provision that allows for such recovery. The exact costs that can be recovered and the process for doing so are detailed in the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure and other relevant statutes. For instance, costs for depositions and transcriptions may be included under recoverable or taxable costs, which are expenses that the court may order the losing party to pay. It's essential for parties involved in litigation to understand which costs may be recoverable in their specific case and the procedures to claim them.