Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007

186 Invalidity and cessation of money attachment

(1) Where, at any time before a payment order is made or the money attachment ceases to have effect, the sheriff is satisfied that there has been a material irregularity in the execution of the money attachment, the sheriff must make an order such as is mentioned in subsection (2) below.

(2) That order is an order—

(a) declaring that the money attachment ceases to have effect; and

(b) requiring the judicial officer to return the money attached or, where the value of any such money has been realised, a sum equivalent to that value, to the debtor or, as the case may be, the person whose money it is.

(3) Where, at any time before a payment order is made or the money attachment ceases to have effect, the sheriff is satisfied that any money attached is not owned by the debtor—

(a) the sheriff must make an order such as is mentioned in subsection (2) above restricted to that money; and

(b) after the order is made, the judicial officer may attach other money owned by the debtor and kept at the place at which the original money attachment was executed.

(4) An order under this section may be made—

(a) on the application of—

(i) the debtor; or

(ii) a third party claiming an interest; or

(b) on the sheriff’s own initiative.

(5) Where such an order is made on the sheriff’s own initiative, the sheriff clerk must intimate the order to—

(a) the debtor;

(b) the creditor;

(c) the judicial officer; and

(d) any other person the sheriff thinks has an interest.

(6) The sheriff may not make an order under this section without first—

(a) giving—

(i) the debtor;

(ii) the creditor; and

(iii) any other person the sheriff thinks has an interest,

an opportunity to make representations; or

(b) holding a hearing.

(7) The sheriff must give reasons for making, or refusing to make, an order under this section.