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Certain types of claims must be submitted using the Fastrak process.

If you have instructed an advocate (barrister) without instructing a litigator (solicitor) see Direct Access section below.

You must send claims to the Criminal Cases Unit (CCU) within 3 months of the court proceedings ending. The CCU may reject claims if you submit your claim late.

The CCU assesses costs incurred in the magistrates鈥� court and Crown Court claims from:

• a dismissed or acquitted defendant who has a costs order from the court
• an advocate appointed by the court to cross-examine a vulnerable witness
• an advocate appointed in the Crown Court and where legal aid has not been granted, or has been withdrawn, to put the case for the defendant where the defendant is unfit to plead
• a private prosecutor who has a costs order from the court

How to claim back costs

Type of claim	Claim for	Form and supporting documents
DCO magistrates鈥� court Fastrak	Dismissed defendant in magistrates鈥� court where the total claim is for 拢2000 or less. The 拢2000 limit includes counsel fees but excludes disbursements and VAT. All claims should be emailed to dcofastrak@justice.gov.uk	DCO1 and guidance
DCO magistrates鈥� court Non-Fastrak	Dismissed defendant in magistrates鈥� court over 拢2000. All claims should be emailed to dco@justice.gov.uk	DCO2 and guidance
DCO Crown Court appeal	Successful appeal against magistrates鈥� conviction or sentence. All claims should be emailed to dco@justice.gov.uk.	DCO2 and guidance
DCO Crown Court proceedings on indictment	Acquitted defendant refused legal aid on financial grounds on or after 27 January 2014. All claims should be emailed to dco@justice.gov.uk	DCO2 and guidance
DCO magistrates鈥� court and Barrister Direct Access	Dismissed defendant in magistrates鈥� court where a Barrister was instructed under the direct access scheme. All claims should be emailed to dco@justice.gov.uk	5913 and guidance
DCO crown court and Barrister Direct Access	Dismissed defendant in crown court where a Barrister was instructed under the direct access scheme. All claims should be emailed to dco@justice.gov.uk	5913A and guidance
Court appointee 鈥� magistrates鈥� court	Section 38 Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999. All claims should be emailed to courtappointee@justice.gov.uk	CA1 and guidance
Court appointee 鈥� Crown Court	Section 4A Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964 or section38 Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999. All claims should be emailed to courtappointee@justice.gov.uk	CA1 and guidance
Private prosecutor 鈥� magistrates鈥� court	Costs relating to indictable offences only. All claims should be emailed to privateprosecution@justice.gov.uk	PP1 and guidance
Private prosecutor - Crown Court	Costs incurred in Crown Court and magistrates鈥� court. All claims should be emailed to privateprosecution@justice.gov.uk	PP1 and guidance

Where defence costs are claimed under a DCO made in proceedings commencing either in the magistrates鈥� court or in the Crown Court on or after 1 October 2012 costs are payable only in accordance with the rates and scales set by the Lord Chancellor in the legal costs documents.

(MS Word Document, 126 KB) (MS Word Document, 132 KB)

Where prosecution costs are claimed under a Prosecution Costs Order (PCO) and where Court Appointee costs are claimed under a notice of appointment made in proceedings either in the magistrates鈥� court or in the Crown Court solicitors costs are payable in accordance with the Solicitors Guideline Hourly Rates

Expenses incurred in attending court by witnesses (including professional and expert witnesses), interpreters, and intermediaries, are paid locally by the court in accordance with the Guide to Allowances. These expenses are paid locally by the Court, in accordance with the Guide to Allowances and not by the CCU.

(MS Word Document, 187 KB)

Extension of time for submitting your central funds claim

You can request an extension of time by email at least 7 days before your claim is due.

• enter 鈥榚xtension of time鈥� in the subject header
• give details of why you need an extension and the date you need it for.
• E-mail: manchesterccu@justice.gov.uk

Reassessment of your central funds claim

If you disagree with the CCU鈥檚 decision you must ask for it to be reconsidered (a review or a redetermination) within 21 days of the assessment.

• make your request in writing and sign it
• specify what is disputed and why
• enclose relevant documents and information
• advise if you鈥檇 like to make an application to be heard
• email your request to the same email address your original claim was sent to

How to appeal

If you are dissatisfied with the decision on reassessment and your claim relates to proceedings in the magistrates鈥� court you may apply for a Judicial Review.

If you are considering applying or are applying for Judicial Review, notification should be sent via email to the Central Legal Team at CentralLegalTeamLAA@justice.gov.uk and the CCU at ccu@justice.gov.uk headed 鈥淛udicial Review鈥�.

If your claim is for:

• Prosecutor or defence costs incurred in the Crown Court
• costs incurred in the Crown Court as an appointed advocate

You can, within 21 days of the notification of the reassessment decision, request written reasons. If you are still dissatisfied with those reasons, you can appeal to the Costs Judge.

Email: scco@hmcts.gsi.gov.uk

Telephone 0207 947 6000

How to appeal to the Costs Judge

You can appeal to the Costs Judge within 21 days of receipt of the written reasons. You must complete the , specifying the disputed amounts. You must send a copy of your appeal to the CCU at ccu@justice.gov.uk

You should refer to the Senior Courts Costs Office guide

Use HMCTS CE-File system for appeals

Appeals and applications to the Senior Courts Costs Office (SCCO) must now only be made through the online CE-File system. These arrangements came into force on 20 January 2020 and apply to all associated documents and correspondence.

Paper appeals submitted will no longer be accepted by the SCCO. You should ensure your form A and a copy of the written reasons for the appeal are uploaded to HM Courts and Tribunals Service CE-File system. There is an issue fee of 拢123 (as from 8 April 2025), which may be paid by card or Payment by Account (PBA) number.

When issuing a new appeal on the CE-File system you must provide details of all the parties in the case. You should specify the Legal Aid Agency as the respondent. In the legal representative section you need to ensure that the Central Legal Team鈥檚 details are entered. It should not be necessary to enter these details manually. If you search 鈥楥entral Legal Team鈥�, CE-File will populate the relevant details.

In accordance with regulation 10(3) of the Costs in Criminal Cases (General) Regulations 1986 you must ensure that a copy of the appeal and all relevant supporting documents are served on the determining authority.

You need to serve a complete copy of the appeal documents that you upload to the CE File by sending them by email to Central Legal Team at CentralLegalTeamLAA@justice.gov.uk and the CCU at ccu@justice.gov.uk

It is important to note that under regulation 10(11), unless the Costs Judge otherwise directs, no further evidence shall be received on the hearing of the appeal. Also, no grounds of objection shall be valid which was not raised before the Determining Officer on redetermination.

You should also note that unless the Costs Judge otherwise directs:

• no further evidence shall be received on the hearing of the appeal

• no grounds of objection shall be valid which were not raised before the determining officer on redetermination

If appropriate, you should resubmit your claim in full following receipt of the Costs Judge appeal decision. You should include a copy of the judgment.

We will then consider your claim to see if any payment adjustment needs to be made. The Criminal Cases Unit will notify you when that has been done.

Guidance on the CE-File system is available on this HMCTS 51茶馆 page:

CE-File system information and support advice

Where to send claims for costs dealt with by the CCU

Claims for DCO fastrak (magistrates鈥� claims up to 拢2000 including counsel fees excluding vat and disbursements) must now be submitted on a DCO1 form and emailed to dcofastrak@justice.gov.uk

Claims for DCO magistrates鈥� and Crown Court claims over 拢2000 must be submitted on a DCO2 form and emailed to dco@justice.gov.uk

Direct access claims must be submitted on the editable PDF form 5913 and 5913A and emailed to dco@justice.gov.uk. Please ensure subject field states 鈥渄irect access claim鈥�.

Court Appointee claims must be submitted on a CA1 form and emailed to courtappointee@justice.gov.uk

Private Prosecution claims must be submitted on a PP1 form and emailed to privateprosecution@justice.gov.uk

General enquiries should be sent via email to ccu@justice.gov.uk

How payments are made by the CCU

Payments are made by our payment centre Shared Service Connect Limited (SSCL). For any enquiries or for information on authorised payments, contact SSCL on 0345 241 5351 and select option 2 (2p per minute). Alternatively they can be contacted by email MoJ-finance-ap-enquiries@gov.sscl.com

You will need to quote the reference number and the payment number, for example, M1234567/12345. Alternatively quote the MOJ reference number sent with your remittance advice, for example, MOJ LA AGENCY 12345678912.

To ensure you receive payment as quickly as possible it would assist if you provided bank details for a BACS payment. This information should be on letter-headed paper, signed by two partners and scanned/emailed to manchesterccu@justice.gov.uk

You will need to state the bank name, sort code, account name, account number and an email address for the remittance advice.

Claim back legal costs from Criminal Cases Unit (CCU) as a member of the public in receipt of a defendant鈥檚 cost order

If you are a solicitor claiming costs on behalf of your client, you should follow the guidance above.

Members of the public who are in receipt of a defendant鈥檚 costs order (DCO) from the court may claim payment direct from CCU.

If your claim is under 拢2,000 excluding VAT and disbursements such as solicitor鈥檚 travel expenses or expert fees you should complete form DCO1.聽Form DCO1 must be emailed to dcofastrak@justice.gov.uk

You will need to provide supporting documentation with your completed claim form. This explains what you must provide and how to complete your DCO1 claim form.

Claims above 拢2,000 should be claimed using form DCO2.聽Form DCO2 must be emailed to dco@justice.gov.uk. Your solicitor鈥檚 attendance notes (the records made by a solicitor to record discussions, events and other work where a fee is charged) must be provided with your DCO2 claim, along with all other mandatory documentation. Mandatory documentation is listed on the DCO2 form.

Claims should be submitted within 3 months of the conclusion of your case.

Please note that CCU can only assess and pay claims for legal expenses.聽The court is responsible for assessing and paying claims for personal expenses.聽Claims for personal expenses should be submitted to the court that heard your case.

Where defence costs are claimed under a DCO made in proceedings commencing either in the magistrates鈥� court or in the Crown Court on or after 1 October 2012, costs are payable only in accordance with the rates and scales set by the Lord Chancellor in the legal costs documents.聽This may mean your claim is reduced in line with these rates.

If you were partially acquitted, your claim will be apportioned accordingly.聽聽聽

Once your claim has been received, you will receive an email requesting your bank details for payment to be made directly into your account.聽If you do not provide bank details, we will send a cheque to the address you provided on the claim form.