When must I seek federal attorney’s fees or review the clerk’s taxed costs?

The ordinary fee-motion period starts at judgment entry. Confirm entry under Rule 58(c), including any separate-document requirement.

The costs-review period follows the clerk’s action taxing costs. It does not use judgment entry or the date a party later reads that action.

The clerk’s 14-day notice before taxing costs is another procedural step. Do not substitute that notice period for the following 7-day costs-review period.

1. For attorney fees, use judgment entry. For costs review, use the clerk’s actual taxation action.
2. Exclude that day.
3. Count 14 calendar days.
4. A final Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday carries the period to the next day that is not. Check additional state holidays and clerk inaccessibility.

Count 14 days for the ordinary fee-motion branch and 7 days for the costs-review branch. The clocks run from judgment entry or the clerk’s action. Rule 6(d)’s additional service time is not triggered merely because a notice relating to these events was mailed.

Fictitious example

Judgment was entered August 3. The ordinary fee-motion period applies without a different statute or order. Exclude August 3. August 4–17 supplies 14 days. The last day is Monday, August 17.

Fictitious dates. No additional state holiday, closure or different case order is assumed.

Statute or court order

Rule 54(d)(2)(B) expressly permits a statute or court order to provide a different fee-motion requirement. Do not use the ordinary 14-day calculation where a different time controls.

Fees proved as damages

Under Rule 54(d)(2)(A), the motion procedure does not replace proving fees at trial where substantive law requires them as an element of damages.

Sanction claims

Rule 54(d)(2)(E) excludes claims for fees and expenses as sanctions for violating the rules or under 28 U.S.C. § 1927 from subparagraphs (A)–(D). This ordinary fee calculator does not establish a sanction deadline.

Extension application

Rule 6(b)(1) permits an extension for good cause where the court acts or the request is made before expiry. A later request requires a motion and excusable neglect. An application or agreement does not establish that an extension has been granted. Check the controlling statute and order.

Local procedures

Rule 54(d)(2)(D) permits local procedures for resolving fee issues. Read the district’s actual motion, costs and service requirements.

• This calculation does not decide entitlement to fees or taxable costs.
• It does not replace a different statutory or ordered date, calculate the clerk’s notice or create an automatic extension.

• Choose attorney fees or review of the clerk’s taxed costs.
• Preserve judgment-entry evidence or the clerk’s actual taxation action.
• Read the statute, operative orders and district local rules.
• For a fee motion, specify the judgment and grounds for the award.
• State the amount sought or a fair estimate, and disclose a fee agreement if the court orders it.
• File the fee motion or serve the costs-review motion as the selected rule requires.
• Preserve filing and service evidence and verify any separate appeal deadline.
• Rule 54(d)(2)(B) requires filing the fee motion. Rule 6(a)(4) supplies the ordinary filing cutoff, subject to a different prescribed time. Rule 54(d)(1) instead requires serving the costs-review motion. Check the applicable service method and local filing requirements; filing alone does not satisfy that service requirement.