Article 4 Fees to be taken in proceedings in county courtsI1

Without prejudice to paragraph (3) the fees set out in column 3 shall be payable in proceedings in county courts in respect of the items set out opposite thereto in column 2.

The fees prescribed by this Order in respect of any proceedings shall be payable by the party at whose instance the proceeding is taken and before it is taken.

The fees prescribed in Schedule 1 shall not be payable in respect of proceedings under the Marriages Act (Northern Ireland) 1954^f1 or other proceedings which are exempt by statute.

If any question arises with regard to the payment of a fee, the chief clerk may report the matter to the Lord Chancellor and obtain his directions thereon.

Where it appears to the Lord Chancellor that the payment of any fee specified in Schedule 1 would, owing to the exceptional circumstances of the particular case, involve hardship, he may reduce or remit the fee in that case.