What are Disbursements in a legal context?

Disbursements in a legal context refer to the expenses incurred in the course of litigation that may be reimbursed as part of court costs. This definition encompasses a broad range of costs that a lawyer may incur while representing a client in legal proceedings. These can include payments for court filing fees, expert witness fees, photocopying, travel expenses, and other costs associated with preparing and presenting a case.

The significant aspect of disbursements is that they are typically not part of legal fees for the lawyer's services, which are charged separately. Instead, disbursements are actual out-of-pocket costs that a lawyer pays on behalf of the client during the litigation process. Being reimbursable allows clients to recover certain expenses if they win their case or if the court orders costs to be paid.

Understanding disbursements is important in legal practice as it helps both clients and lawyers anticipate potential costs and manage financial aspects of legal proceedings more effectively.