Our cases have held that the expense of litigating a caveat is not a lawful claim against another party; rather, such "expense is a cost of court taxable 'against either party, or apportioned among the parties, in the discretion of the court.'" See In re Estate of Ward, 97 N.C. App. 660, 389 S.E.2d 441 (1990); N.C. Gen. Stat. 6-21. Therefore, plaintiff's claim for recovery of attorneys' fees and other court costs could only be adjudicated in the caveat proceeding.