The Ministry of Justice has confirmed a series of court fee increases due to take effect from 13 July 2026, subject to parliamentary approval. For practitioners already navigating a challenging costs landscape, the announcement is unlikely to come as a surprise, but the scale and breadth of the changes are worth examining closely.

In total, 170 fees will rise in line with inflation or 2024/25, whilst a further 27 fees will increase by an average of 34%. A small number of fees, four in total, will be reduced to reflect genuine reductions in their underlying costs.

The changes are not retrospective. They apply to fees paid on or after 13 July 2026.

Which Areas Are Affected?

The increases span a wide range of jurisdictions and proceedings, including:

• Civil proceedings
• Family proceedings
• Magistrates’ courts
• Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber)
• First-Tier Tribunal (Gambling)
• First-Tier and Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber)
• Non-contentious Probate
• Court of Protection
• Enrolment of Deeds
• Property Chamber

For costs practitioners specifically, a number of the changes are directly relevant to day-to-day proceedings.

Key Fee Changes Affecting Costs Proceedings

The following changes will be of particular interest to costs lawyers, costs draftsmen, and litigating solicitors:

Whilst the individual increases may appear modest in isolation, they add up across a busy caseload, and the 34% average rise applied to 27 specific fees represents a more significant step change for those matters.

The full list of court fee increases is available via the Ministry of Justice.

A Familiar Frustration

It would be difficult to report these increases without acknowledging the wider context in which they land.

Many practitioners will feel a sense of exasperation at further court fee rises at a time when other areas of costs recovery remain under pressure. Fixed Recoverable Costs continue to stagnate, the rates available under the FRC regime have failed to keep pace with the genuine cost of running litigation, and fee earner rates in many practice areas bear little resemblance to what is actually recoverable between the parties.

Against that backdrop, a further round of fee increases, particularly the more significant uplift applied to certain proceedings, adds to the overall burden on firms and their clients without any corresponding improvement in what can be recovered.

The increases are, of course, framed by the MoJ as a necessary response to the cost of running the court system. Inflation-linked adjustments to the majority of fees are a predictable feature of the annual cycle. But the average 34% rise applied to a subset of fees goes beyond inflation-tracking and will require careful consideration for those proceedings most affected.

Help with Fees: A Reminder

The Ministry of Justice has restarted the availability of the Help with Fees remission scheme for those with lower financial means. The scheme allows eligible applicants to pay reduced or no court fees depending on their financial circumstances, and remains available across civil and family proceedings.

For solicitors advising clients on the cost of bringing or defending proceedings, reminding clients of this scheme, and checking eligibility at the outset, remains good practice.

What Practitioners Should Do Now

With 13 July 2026 approaching, there are a few practical steps worth taking ahead of the changes coming into force:

Reviewing any pending fee payments. Where proceedings are imminent, and there is flexibility on timing, it may be worth considering whether fees can be paid before the new rates apply. The changes are not retrospective, so the date of payment determines which fee applies.

Update Internal cost estimates and client care letters. Any standard documentation that references court fee amounts should be reviewed and updated to reflect the new figures from 13 July 2026.

Factor the Increases into costs budgets. Where costs management orders are in place, or budgets are being prepared for submission, the updated fee levels should be reflected accurately.

Consider the impact on fixed costs matters. In proceedings subject to Fixed Recoverable Costs, rising court fees increase the overall cost of litigation without any corresponding uplift in what can be recovered from the other side – a point worth raising with clients at the outset.

How Greener Costs Can Help

At Greener Costs, we support law firms across England and Wales with all aspects of costs, from costs budgeting and detailed assessment to Court of Protection costs and solicitor-client disputes. If you have questions about how the July 2026 fee increases affect your practice of your clients’ matters, our team is happy to help.

Get in touch today

📞 01204 263047

✉️ info@greenercosts.co.uk