(a) In General. Fees for work performed by the Auditor-Master shall bear a reasonable relation to the value of the service thus rendered.
Rule 53-I.Auditor-Master Fees
Group VI: Trials · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 14, 2026
In one sentenceRule 53-I ties Auditor-Master fees to the reasonable value of the work performed and lets the court excuse or reduce those fees in appropriate cases.
Full Text of Rule 53-I
(b) Exceptions. In appropriate cases, the court, in its discretion, may order that a party or parties shall be charged no fee or only a reduced fee for work performed by the Auditor-Master.
Comment
This rule makes clear that normally parties shall be required to bear the cost of services rendered in their cases by the Auditor-Master's office but that in exceptional instances the court may order the Auditor-Master to perform work in cases in which the parties cannot afford to pay the full, or perhaps any fee. In all cases the Auditor-Master shall, upon completion of the work performed, furnish to the parties and the court a brief statement of the work done and a recommendation as to the fee to be charged. The court will consider this recommendation, and any objections thereto filed by the parties, and will then order that fees in a specified amount be charged to specified parties. For litigants or attorneys who wish to secure an estimate of what fees might be charged for performance of certain prospective work, the Auditor-Master is available on appointment to render an informal opinion.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 53-I(a) sets the basic principle for Auditor-Master fees: they must bear a reasonable relation to the value of the service rendered. Rather than a flat schedule, the fee is meant to track what the specific work on a given reference was worth.
Rule 53-I(b) gives the court room to depart from that when fairness calls for it. In appropriate cases, the court can order that a party, or several parties, be charged no fee at all, or only a reduced fee, for the Auditor-Master's work — a safety valve for litigants who can't cover the full cost of a reference.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will the Auditor-Master charge for work on my case?
Rule 53-I(a) ties the fee to the reasonable value of the service performed rather than a fixed rate, so the amount depends on the nature and extent of the work the Auditor-Master performs.
Can the court waive or reduce the Auditor-Master's fee if I can't afford it?
Yes. Rule 53-I(b) gives the court discretion, in appropriate cases, to charge a party or parties no fee or only a reduced fee for the Auditor-Master's services.
Who sets the actual dollar amount of an Auditor-Master fee?
The court does, guided by the reasonable-value standard in Rule 53-I(a) and by the compensation procedure in Rule 53(g), which lets the court fix the basis and terms for payment.
Does Rule 53-I apply to special masters generally, or only to the Auditor-Master?
Its text addresses the Auditor-Master specifically. A special master's compensation is set separately under Rule 53(g), which governs masters more broadly.
Can I get an idea of the likely Auditor-Master fee before asking for that office's help?
Litigants and attorneys can approach the Auditor-Master's office for an informal sense of the likely fee for anticipated work, which helps in deciding whether to pursue that route before committing to it.
Source & verification. Rule text and official Comments are
reproduced verbatim from the District of Columbia Superior Court Rules of Civil
Procedure, adopted by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Last verified July 14, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: auditor-master fee waiver dcdc auditor master fees rulereduced fee auditor master dc superior courthow much does auditor master charge dc