saksomkostninger

Saksomkostninger are the costs that a party may be ordered to pay to the opposing party as a result of civil proceedings. The term is used in Danish and Norwegian legal contexts and refers to the expenses incurred in pursuing or defending a case, including court fees, service of process, translation, and the preparation of evidence.

In many systems, saksomkostninger also cover professional fees such as attorneys and experts, where permitted by law or contract. Not all costs are recoverable; the court will normally assess which costs are reasonable, necessary, and proportionate to the dispute.

A costs order is usually issued after a judgment or settlement. The order specifies who pays and the amount recoverable by the winner. The process to determine the exact sum is often called taxation or assessment of costs, conducted by a court or costs officer, which checks that claimed costs comply with tariff schedules and are reasonably linked to the case. Some jurisdictions cap certain expenses or use fixed tariffs.

The general rule in many Nordic systems is that the losing party pays the winning party’s saksomkostninger, but there are exceptions. In other systems, each party bears its own costs, or costs may be awarded based on conduct or settlement offers.

Practitioners should consider costs early in litigation, since offers to settle can influence outcomes, and cross-border matters may complicate recoverability.