Notices ; ;Court of Protection practice note: solicitors agreed costs ;In September 1990, a practice was introduced whereby, if a solicitors bill for costs incurred in the Court of Protection did not exceed 500, excluding VAT and disbursements, the solicitor could submit the bill to the court and suggest that the figure should be accepted by way of costs.

;If the bill appeared to be reasonable, the court would agree to the costs sought.

However, if the court were unwilling to agree the proposed figure, it would direct that the costs should then be ;taxed.

;The maximum figure for agreed costs, excluding VAT and disbursements, was raised to 750 with effect from 23 March 1992, and to 1000 with effect from 1 October 1994.

;It has now been agreed with the Law Society and the senior costs judge that the maximum figure for agreed costs will be increased to 2500 (excluding VAT and disbursements) with effect from 1 January 2001.

;Solicitors are reminded that, when seeking agreement of their costs, they should send to the court a narrative bill with a summary of the work done, the hours spent and the level of fee-earner concerned, together with counsels fee notes and vouchers for any disbursements.

;Hitherto the court has permitted this procedure to be adopted where an order for taxation or detailed assessment has already been made in the context of a formal application.

As regards the bill of a party other than the receiver or attorney, when it is sent to the court for agreement, solicitors should confirm that a copy has also been sent to the receiver or attorney, as the case may be.

The receiver or attorney may, within 21 days of the date on which the bill was sent, request the court to require the detailed assessment to be carried out pursuant to the order.

;As has previously been the practice, costs will generally not be agreed in respect of work for which there is already provision for fixed costs, except in such circumstances as may appear just and equitable to the court.

;This note applies to bills submitted to the court on or after ;1 January 2001, whenever the work comprised in the bill was done, but does not apply in cases where a detailed assessment is already pending on 1 January 2001.