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 Wisconsin, 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, motions, and other legal pleadings. Wisconsin Statutes and the Wisconsin Rules of Civil Procedure outline the specifics of which costs can be recovered. Typically, the losing party in a lawsuit may be required to pay the court costs of the prevailing party. This does not include attorney fees or expert witness fees, which are generally not considered court costs. However, certain expenses like deposition and transcription fees may be recoverable as taxable costs. The exact costs that can be recovered and the process for doing so are detailed in the state statutes and civil procedure rules. It's important for parties involved in litigation to understand these provisions, as they can significantly affect the financial outcome of a case.