All costs of any change of venue or change of judge shall be taxed in the discretion of the court at the time other costs in the civil action are taxed.
Rule 51.11.Change of Venue and Change of Judge--Costs--How Taxed.
Part I · Rule 51: Venue, Including Change of Venue and Change of Judge · Last amended September 1, 1975 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceRule 51.11 leaves the taxing of costs from a change of venue or change of judge to the court’s discretion, to be assessed along with the other costs of the civil action.
Full Text of Rule 51.11
Amendment History
Added Nov. 15, 1974, eff. Sept. 1, 1975.
Plain-English Summary
Moving a case to another county or replacing a judge costs money — copying, mailing, clerk time. Rule 51.11 does not set a fixed rule for who pays those costs. Instead, it leaves the amount and allocation to the court’s discretion.
The rule also fixes the timing: these costs get taxed at the same point the court taxes the other costs of the civil action, instead of being assessed separately or right after the transfer happens. That keeps cost accounting in one place at the end of the case, instead of scattering separate cost rulings throughout it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who decides how change-of-venue or change-of-judge costs are allocated?
The court, in its discretion.
When are these costs assessed?
At the same time other costs in the civil action are taxed.
Does Rule 51.11 set a fixed fee or amount for these costs?
No, it leaves the amount to the court’s discretion.
Does Rule 51.11 apply to both change of venue and change of judge?
Yes, both are covered.
Can a party recover these costs even if it loses the case overall?
That depends on the court’s discretion when taxing costs; the rule does not set a separate outcome for venue or judge costs apart from the case’s other costs.
Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Missouri State & Federal Court Rules, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Missouri. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: costs of change of venuecosts of change of judgetaxing costs venue changevenue change expenses