Avoiding payment delays when charging for reports incurred by Safeguarders, Child Welfare Reporters and curators

This update is a reminder of the basis for charging for reports incurred by Safeguarders, Child Welfare Reporters and Curators in proceedings funded under civil legal aid.

We are continuing to receive accounts where charges have to be restricted for reports.

Our update on 15 January 2024 confirmed how Safeguarders, Child Welfare Reporters and Curators should charge their accounts.

This followed a taxation decision from the Auditor of Court, Tayside Central & Fife where the Auditor decided the framework outlined in Chapter 3 of the Table of Fees for Conveyancing and General Business should apply.

Our earlier update explained that work activities provided for in Chapter 3 are chargeable at the prevailing “unit” rate in the Act of Sederunt (Taxation of Judicial Expenses Rules) 2019.

To avoid the risk of delay in receiving payment please ensure the following:

• travel time is chargeable at 0.9 of a unit, as per Rule 3.5
• time spent travelling should be shown separately in the account from any meetings, attendances at court, etc
• there is no separate payment for signing a document
• an allowance for posts and incidents not exceeding 5% may be included in the account.

Please see our legal aid guidance on Outlays at Child Welfare/Safeguarder reporters and Curator reports for full information.

For more information

If you have any questions, please contact:

Steven Carrie

Senior Accounts Specialist

Email: carriest@slab.org.uk

Tel: 0131 240 2054