This paper is the first part of a detailed and in-depth analysis of the various criteria on costs developed by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, specifically with regard to the substantive consideration of this issue, for instance: normative basis, origin according to type of representation, criteria for quantifying and exoneration of this in the sentences of the Tribunal. 
The aim of this paper is to provide university researchers and potential litigants in the Inter-American System with the criteria used by the Continental Court, which show the practical treatment of the institute beyond generic and purely theoretical considerations frequently exposed in different forums. As will be seen below, this paper shows that the lack of legislation regulating the issue of costs, has adversely impacted the legal security of the system, given the different approaches that the Court has established in its resolutions in regard to this topic.