Charging for Lending or Delivering Files, Titles and other Paper
(This Practice Guideline replaces 3(d) of the former Table of Fees although it does not recommend any actual fee). See Mandate Guideline
Where a solicitor is asked to lend Titles or other documents to another solicitor a fee may properly be charged for such lending to cover both the delivery and return of the documents. If more than three documents are lent, a fee for an inventory may properly be charged.
Delivering documents in response to clients mandate. Where files or documents are delivered by one solicitor to another in accordance with the clients written instructions or mandate, a fee may properly be charged. No charge should be made for delivering such papers direct to the client or former client, but any outlay incurred in posting or delivering by courier may properly be recovered from the client or former client.
Amount of fee which may be charged. The Society is not in a position to give guidance on the amount of fee which may be charged in either of the above situations, but in terms of Article 6 of the Code of Conduct, the fees charged shall be fair and reasonable in all the circumstances having regard to the various factors set out in Article 6.
It should be noted that where the Council are satisfied that a solicitor has issued an account for fees and outlays of an amount which is grossly excessive, whether or not the account has been paid, the Council may in terms of Section 39A of the Solicitors (Scotland) 1980 withdraw the solicitors practising certificate but only after enquiry and after giving the solicitor an opportunity of being heard. What is grossly excessive is a matter to be determined by the Auditor of the Court of Session at taxation.
November 2006
