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Australia's First Interactive Legal Cost Calculator

Know Your Legal Costs
Before You Litigate

Instantly estimate filing fees, solicitor costs, barrister fees, and total litigation expenses across VCAT, Magistrates' Court, County Court, Supreme Court, and Federal Court.

⚖ Calculate Your Costs How It Works →
8
Courts & Tribunals
8
States & Territories
2026
Fee Schedule
Free
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Free Estimator

Litigation Cost Calculator

Select your jurisdiction, court, and case details to get an instant cost breakdown.

Case Details

Fill in your matter details for an accurate estimate

List Claim Items (Breakdown) ? Click to open and list individual items. The total automatically updates the claim amount above.
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How It Works

Three Steps to Clarity

Understanding your potential legal costs shouldn't be complicated.

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1. Enter Your Details

Select your state, court or tribunal, matter type, and case specifics. Our calculator covers VCAT, Magistrates' Court, County Court, Supreme Court, Federal Court, and more.

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2. Instant Calculation

Our engine calculates filing fees, solicitor/barrister rates, expert witness costs, mediation fees, and disbursements based on current 2025/2026 published fee schedules.

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3. Get Your Breakdown

Receive a detailed cost breakdown with low-to-high ranges. Print your estimate, share it with your solicitor, or use it to decide if litigation is worth pursuing.

Comprehensive Coverage

Courts & Tribunals We Cover

Fee data from official published schedules across Australia.

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VCAT

Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal. Covers building disputes, residential tenancy, guardianship, planning, and general civil claims.

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Magistrates' Court

Civil claims up to $100,000 in most states. Lower filing fees but still requires careful cost planning.

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County / District Court

Claims from $100,000-$750,000+. Higher filing fees and typically longer proceedings with greater legal costs.

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Supreme Court

Major civil disputes, constitutional matters, and appeals. Highest filing fees and most expensive legal representation.

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Federal Court

Commonwealth matters, intellectual property, competition law, and admiralty. Federal fee schedules apply.

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Family Court

Property settlements, parenting orders, and family law matters. Special fee categories for consent orders and interim hearings.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about litigation costs in Australia.

VCAT filing fees range from $65.30 for minor residential tenancy matters to $716.10+ for larger civil disputes (2025/2026 fee schedule). Hearing day fees may also apply for multi-day hearings. If you're on a low income, you may be eligible for a fee waiver. Our calculator provides exact estimates based on your matter type and claim amount.
Solicitor hourly rates in Australia typically range from $250-$450/hr for general practitioners, $350-$600/hr for specialists, and $500-$900+/hr for senior partners at top-tier firms. Many solicitors also offer fixed-fee arrangements for specific tasks. Regional solicitors tend to charge less than metropolitan solicitors. Always request a written cost agreement before engaging.
Not always. For simple VCAT matters or small claims, a solicitor alone (or even self-representation) may be sufficient. However, for County Court, Supreme Court, or complex matters, a barrister is highly recommended for advocacy in court. Barrister daily rates typically range from $3,000-$8,000+ per day depending on seniority and specialisation.
Disbursements are out-of-pocket expenses your solicitor pays on your behalf. These include court filing fees, process server fees, photocopying, travel costs, witness expenses, search fees, and expert report fees. Disbursements are charged in addition to professional legal fees.
It depends on the court. In most courts (County, Supreme, Federal), the general rule is that "costs follow the event" — the loser pays a portion of the winner's costs (usually 50-70% on a standard basis). However, at VCAT, each party generally bears their own costs unless the other party's conduct was unreasonable. Our calculator shows potential cost recovery estimates.
Many courts and tribunals now require parties to attempt mediation or alternative dispute resolution (ADR) before proceeding to a hearing. VCAT has its own compulsory conference process. Courts may also order private mediation. Mediation costs are typically shared between the parties and range from $1,500-$5,000+ per session depending on the mediator.
Our calculator uses published 2025/2026 court fee schedules and industry-standard legal fee ranges compiled from the Law Institute of Victoria, NSW Bar Association, and other published sources. It provides a reasonable estimate for budgeting purposes. Actual costs may vary significantly based on the specifics of your case, your choice of legal practitioner, and unforeseen complications. Always obtain a formal cost estimate from your solicitor.
About

Why LegalClaimCost.com Exists

Built by Australians who've navigated the legal system firsthand.

Litigation is stressful enough without financial surprises. We built LegalClaimCost.com because we experienced the frustration of having no clear picture of what legal proceedings would cost before committing to them.

Our calculator draws from official court fee schedules, published solicitor and barrister rate guides, and real-world experience across VCAT, County Court, Supreme Court, and federal jurisdictions. We update our data annually to ensure accuracy.

LegalClaimCost.com is a free public service. We're supported by advertising, which allows us to keep this tool accessible to every Australian who needs to understand their legal costs.

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