Act of Sederunt (Summary Cause Rules) 2002

Application for time to pay direction or time order

7.2.—(1) If the defender admits the claim, he may, where competent–

(a) make an application for a time to pay direction (including, where appropriate, an application for recall or restriction of an arrestment) or a time order by completing the appropriate part of the form of response contained in the defender’s copy summons and lodging it with the sheriff clerk on or before the return day; or

(b) lodge a form of response indicating that he admits the claim and intends to apply orally for a time to pay direction (including, where appropriate, an application for recall or restriction of an arrestment) or time order.

(2) Where the defender has lodged an application in terms of paragraph (1)(a), the pursuer may intimate that he does not object to the application by lodging a minute in Form 18 before the time the sheriff clerk’s office closes for business on the day occurring two days before the calling date stating that he does not object to the defender’s application and seeking decree.

(3) If the pursuer intimates in accordance with paragraph (2) that he does not object to the application–

(a) the sheriff may grant decree on the calling date;

(b) the parties need not attend; and

(c) the action will not call in court.

(4) If the pursuer wishes to oppose the application for a time to pay direction or time order made in accordance with paragraph (1)(a), he must lodge a minute in Form 19 before the time the sheriff clerk’s office closes for business on the day occurring two days before the calling date.

(5) Where the pursuer objects to an application in terms of paragraph (1)(a) or the defender has lodged a form of response in accordance with paragraph (1)(b), the action shall call on the calling date when the parties may appear and the sheriff must decide the application and grant decree accordingly.

(6) The sheriff shall decide an application in accordance with paragraph (5) whether or not any of the parties appear.

(7) Where the defender has lodged an application in terms of paragraph (1)(a) and the pursuer fails to proceed in accordance with either of paragraphs (2) or (4) the sheriff may dismiss the claim.