On 22/05/2013,
you requested for the version in force on 22/05/2013
incorporating all amendments published on or before 22/05/2013.
The closest version currently available is that of 15/03/1994.
PART IX
RECOVERY AND TAXATION OF COSTS
116. In this Part,
“solicitor” includes the executors, administrators and assignees of the solicitor in question.
117.
—(1) Any court in which a solicitor has been employed to prosecute or defend any suit, matter or proceeding may at any time declare the solicitor entitled to a charge on the property recovered or preserved through his instrumentality for his taxed costs in reference to that suit, matter or proceeding, and may make such orders for the taxation of the costs and for raising money to pay, or for paying, the costs out of that property as it thinks fit, and all conveyances and acts done to defeat, or operating to defeat, that charge shall, except in the case of a conveyance to a bona fide purchaser for value without notice, be void as against the solicitor.
(2) No order shall be made under subsection (1) if the right to recover the costs is barred by the Limitation Act [Cap. 163].
118.
—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, no solicitor, except by leave of the court, shall commence or maintain any action for the recovery of any costs due for any business done by him until the expiration of one month after he has delivered to the party to be charged therewith, or sent by post to, or left with him at his office or place of business, dwelling-house or last known place of abode, a bill of those costs, which bill shall be signed by the solicitor or, in the case of a partnership, by one of the partners, either with his own name or with the name or style of the partnership, or by a solicitor employed by that solicitor or partnership, or be enclosed in or accompanied by a letter, signed in the like manner, referring to the bill.
(2) Where a bill is proved to have been delivered in compliance with subsection (1), it shall not be necessary in the first instance for the solicitor to prove the contents of the bill and it shall be presumed until the contrary is shown to be a bill bona fide complying with this Act.
Court may authorise action for recovery of fees before expiration of one month after delivery of bills
119. The court may authorise a solicitor to commence an action for the recovery of his costs and also refer his bill of costs for taxation by the Registrar, although one month has not expired from the delivery of the bill, upon proof to its satisfaction that any party chargeable therewith is about to quit Singapore, or to have a receiving order made against him, or to compound with his creditors or to take any other steps or do any other act which in its opinion would tend to defeat or delay the solicitor in obtaining payment.
120.
—(1) An order for the taxation of a bill of costs delivered by any solicitor may be obtained on a petition of course by the party chargeable therewith, or by any person liable to pay the bill either to the party chargeable or to the solicitor, at any time within one year from the delivery of the bill, or, by the solicitor, after the expiry of one calendar month and within one year from the delivery of the bill.
(2) The order shall contain such directions and conditions as the court thinks proper, and any party aggrieved by any such order of course may apply by summons in chambers that the order may be amended or varied.
(3) In any case where a solicitor and his client consent to taxation of a solicitor’s bill, the Registrar may proceed to tax the bill notwithstanding that there is no order therefor.
121.
—(1) The costs of obtaining an order for taxation of costs, including the petition of course, order and service of order, but not including any court fees payable thereon or disbursements, if the order is obtained by the solicitor of the applicant, or by the solicitor, shall subject to subsection (2) be the sum of $25.
(2) If one of the parties holds out and does not agree to taxation, the costs of obtaining an order of court shall be the sum of $150.
122. After the expiration of one year from the delivery of a bill of costs, or after payment of the bill, no order shall be made for taxation of a solicitor’s bill of costs, except upon notice to the solicitor and under special circumstances to be proved to the satisfaction of the court.
[41/93]
123. All petitions by a party chargeable with or liable for a bill of costs shall, unless the bill has been already paid, contain a submission by that party to pay the amount thereof to the solicitor when taxed.
124.
—(1) An order for the delivery of a solicitor’s bill of costs, and for delivery up of any deeds, documents or other papers in the possession of the solicitor, subject to any lien which the solicitor may have, and for the taxation of the bill when delivered, may be obtained on a petition of course.
(2) Upon such petition being filed, the Registrar shall mark the order thereon forthwith, and draw up the order if necessary.
(3) Subject to this section, the court shall have the like jurisdiction as the High Court in England to make an order under subsection (1).
125. When application is made by a party other than the party chargeable, the court may order the solicitor to deliver to the party making the application a copy of the bill of costs, upon payment of the costs of making the copy.
126. Bills of costs for taxation as between solicitor and client shall be drawn in the manner provided by the Rules of the Supreme Court, and the taxation shall be governed by those Rules.
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127. The Registrar may allow interest, at such rate and from such time as he thinks just, on moneys disbursed by a solicitor for his client, and on moneys of the client in the hands of the solicitor and improperly retained by him.
128.
—(1) In case any order for taxation is made upon the application of the party chargeable or liable, or of the solicitor, the costs of the order and taxation, except when the order has been made after the expiration of one year, shall be paid according to the event of the taxation —
(a)
if the bill when taxed is less by a sixth part than the bill delivered, then the solicitor shall pay the costs;
(b)
if the bill when taxed is not less by a sixth part, then the party chargeable or liable, if the application is made by him, or if he attends the taxation, shall pay the costs.
(2) Every order for such a reference shall direct the Registrar to tax the costs of the reference, and to certify what, upon the reference, is found to be due to or from the solicitor in respect of the bill, and of the costs of the reference, if payable.
(3) The Registrar may certify specially any circumstances relating to the bill or taxation.
(4) The court may thereupon make any such order as it thinks right, respecting the payment of the costs of the taxation.
(5) Where such a reference is made, when it is not authorised except under special circumstances, the court may give any special directions relative to the costs of the reference.
129.
—(1) Rules made under section 72 shall make provision for requiring a solicitor, in such cases as may be prescribed by the said rules, either —
(a)
to keep on deposit in a separate account at a bank for the benefit of the client money received for or on account of a client; or
(b)
to make good to the client out of the solicitor’s own money a sum equivalent to the interest which would have accrued if the money so received had been so kept on deposit.
(2) The cases in which a solicitor may be required to act in accordance with any rules made pursuant to this section may be defined, among other things, by reference to the amount of any sum received or the period for which it is or is likely to be retained or both; and those rules may include provision for enabling a client (without prejudice to any other remedy) to require that any question arising under those rules in relation to the client’s money be referred to and determined by the Society.
(3) Subject to any rules made pursuant to this section, a solicitor shall not be liable by virtue of the relation between solicitor and client to account to any client for interest received by the solicitor on moneys deposited at a bank being moneys received or held for or on account of his clients generally.
(4) Nothing in this section, or in any rules made pursuant to this section, shall —
(a)
affect any arrangement in writing, whenever made, between a solicitor and his client as to the application of the client’s money or interest thereon; or
(b)
apply to money received by a solicitor being money subject to a trust of which the solicitor is a trustee.
130. Nothing in this Act shall affect the right, which is hereby declared, of the Government when represented by any of such persons as are mentioned in section 29(2)(a) to recover costs awarded to it in or respecting any cause or matter, and in any such cause or matter the costs of the Government shall be taxed in accordance with any rules for the time being in force for the taxation of the fees and costs of advocates and solicitors as if an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court who is not in the service of the Government had appeared on behalf of the Government.