If you’re experiencing nightmares of giant cash registers going off, or you break out in a sweat when someone quotes the cost of an investigator or deposition, you must be in a court case. Besides the time and effort involved in prosecuting or defending a lawsuit, there are other legal expenses that add up during the case. If you lose, you’ll recover none of that and may have to pay costs for your opponent. If you settle or win, however, you may recover all or most of it–depending on the type of expense.

If you’re a pro se litigant, you’re not entitled to reimbursement for legal representation. But you may be able to recover compensation for filing fees, travel expenses, and the cost of hiring court reporters, investigators, and expert witnesses.

And if you need help representing yourself in civil court, it’s time to join Courtroom5.