New section 5B – Certificate for sequestration
55.Section 5B(1) defines a certificate for sequestration. A certificate for sequestration must be completed by an authorised person. The form of certificate will be prescribed but must state that the debtor can demonstrate that they are unable to pay their debts as they become due.
56.Section 5B(2) provides that an authorised person may not grant a certificate for sequestration unless the debtor has applied to the authorised person for such a certificate. “Debtor” is defined for these purposes by section 73(1) of the 1985 Act and includes both natural persons and entities such as trusts and partnerships which may be sequestrated under section 6 of that Act.
57.Section 5B(3) provides that the authorised person must grant a certificate for sequestration on behalf of a debtor if, and only if, the debtor is able to demonstrate that they are unable to pay their debts as they become due.
58.Section 5B(4) provides for the definition of authorised person by secondary legislation.
59.Section 5B(5) gives Scottish Ministers the power to make regulations in relation to certificates for sequestration in order to—
prescribe the classes of people who may grant a certificate for sequestration,
make provision about certification by an authorised person, including the form and manner of certificates and the fees, if any, which an authorised person is entitled to charge for granting a certificate or in connection with granting a certificate,
prescribe a period for the purpose of section 5(2)(c)(ib) (the period following the grant of a certificate during which a debtor can make an application), and
provide different rules in different cases or classes of case.
60.Regulations made under section 5B(5) are subject to the affirmative resolution procedure of the Scottish Parliament (see section 13 of the Act).
