Interim bills: when are they assessable?

• A. Only at the final bill.
• B. After payment is made.
• C. At the time of an interim bill or after the final bill, regardless of payments.
• D. Never.

Answer: (C)

Interim bills can and should be reviewed for reasonableness as part of the costs assessment process. The idea is that the costs an practitioner charges during the course of a matter can be checked not only when the final bill arrives but also when an interim bill is issued. So you assess them when the interim bill is served, and you can still assess after the final bill is issued as well. The important point is that whether the client has paid anything in the interim does not prevent a later assessment of the interim charge. This system protects clients from excessive or unjustified fees and helps ensure ongoing accountability for costs.

In other words, interim bills are assessable at the time they are issued or after the final bill, regardless of any payments made.