The Sheriff Court Fees Order 2024
Citation and commencement1.
This Order may be cited as the Sheriff Court Fees Order 2024 and comes into force on 1 November 2024.
Interpretation2.
In this Order—
“extract decree” includes any duly authenticated extract of an order made by the sheriff in respect of any licence, appointment, discharge or like matter,
“minute” means a minute in terms of rule 14.2 of the Ordinary Cause Rules,
“motion” means any written motion lodged with the sheriff clerk in any proceedings in the sheriff court,
“partner” means a person to whom a person is married or with whom the person is in a civil partnership,
“pursuer” includes a defender or other party to any proceedings in the sheriff court where the pursuer is no longer a party to the proceedings,
“sheriff clerk” includes the Sheriff Clerk of Chancery, the Commissary Clerk of Edinburgh and sheriff clerk depute,
“writ” means any document containing written pleadings relating to proceedings in the sheriff court and includes an inventory of estate, a precept of arrestment on a liquid document of debt, a notice of intention to defend and a notice of appearance lodged in an action of multiplepoinding under rule 35.8 of the Ordinary Cause Rules.
Fees payable in sheriff courts3.
(1)
Subject to paragraph (3) and articles 4 to 14, the fees payable in a sheriff court in respect of the matters specified in column 1 of the Table of Fees in the schedule (table of fees payable from 1 November 2024) are the fees specified in relation to those matters in column 2 of that Table.
(2)
The fees payable under this Order are to be paid to the sheriff clerk or the auditor of court.
(3)
The fees provided for by this Order are not payable by the Crown in the enforcement of the criminal law or in the exercise of powers or the performance of duties arising out of or relating to that enforcement.
(4)
No act is required of the sheriff clerk or the auditor of court in connection with a matter specified in relation to any fee prior to—
(a)
the payment of that fee, or
(b)
an arrangement being entered into for payment of that fee.
Certain fees payable only once4.
The fees payable in respect of the following matters are payable on one occasion only in respect of a cause—
(a)
the matters specified in paragraphs 5, 24, 25 and 28 of the Table of Fees in Part 1 of the schedule, and
(b)
the matters specified in paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Table of Fees in Part 2 of the schedule.
Matters included in certain fees5.
The following matters include, where appropriate, issue of an extract decree—
(a)
the matters specified in paragraphs 1, 5 to 8, 16 and 23 of the Table of Fees in Part 1 of the schedule, and
(b)
the matters specified in paragraphs 5 and 6 of the Table of Fees in Part 2 of the schedule.
Fees payable in the Sheriff Personal Injury Court6.
(1)
(2)
Paragraph (3) applies where a matter is specified both in the Table of Fees in Part 1 of the schedule (sheriff court) and in the Table of Fees in Part 2 of that schedule (sheriff personal injury court).
(3)
The fee specified in the Table of Fees in Part 2 applies, and the corresponding fee in Part 1 is not payable in relation to proceedings in the Sheriff Personal Injury Court.
Cases in which an extra fee is payable7.
(1)
(2)
Exemption of certain persons from fees: legal aid8.
A fee specified by this Order is not payable by a person if—
(a)
(b)
the fee is payable in connection with a simplified divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership application and the person is in receipt of advice and assistance from a solicitor under the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 in respect of that application, or
(c)
the person’s solicitor is undertaking work in relation to the matter in the Table of Fees in Part 1 or Part 2 of the schedule in connection with which the fee is payable on the basis of any regulations made under section 36(1) of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 providing for legal aid in a matter of special urgency.
Exemption of certain persons from fees: social security9.
(1)
A fee specified by this Order is not payable by a person if—
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
the person or the person’s partner (“the party”) is in receipt of working tax credit, provided that—
(i)
(ii)
there is a disability element or severe disability element (or both) to the tax credit received by the party,
and that the gross annual income taken into account for the calculation of the working tax credit is £20,592 or less,
(e)
(f)
(g)
the person is in receipt of either—
(i)
personal independence payment under Part 4 of the 2012 Act, or
(ii)
provided that the person’s gross annual income is £20,592 or less, or
(h)
(2)
In this article—
Cases where articles 8 and 9 do not apply10.
Articles 8 and 9 do not apply as regards—
(a)
the fees specified in paragraphs 1 to 4 (commissary proceedings) of the Table of Fees in Part 1 of the schedule, or
(b)
the fee specified in paragraph 18 (sheriff court proceedings: petition for removal of disqualification) of the Table of Fees in Part 1 of the schedule.
Exemption in connection with estate exempt from inheritance tax11.
Exemptions relating to particular proceedings12.
(1)
The fees provided for by this Order do not apply to—
(a)
any application under—
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
any enactment relating to registration of births, marriages or civil partnerships, or
(b)
(2)
Exemptions for applicants for certain interdicts and orders13.
(1)
The fees provided for by this Order are not payable by a person applying for a specified interdict or for an exclusion order.
(2)
In this article—
(a)
“specified interdict” means an interdict or interim interdict that is—
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(b)
“exclusion order” means an exclusion order under—
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
section 104 of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (exclusion orders).
(3)
The exemption in paragraph (1) does not apply to a person applying for a principal remedy other than a specified interdict or exclusion order.
Exemption of certain motions from fees: jury trials in the Sheriff Personal Injury Court14.
The fees specified in paragraph 29 of the Table of Fees in Part 1 of the schedule and in paragraph 1 of the Table of Fees in Part 2 of the schedule are not payable in respect of motions under the following rules of the Ordinary Cause Rules—
(a)
rule 36B.2(2)(b) (motion for a proof),
(b)
rule 36B.2(6) (motion for approval of proposed issue),
(c)
rule 36B.2(7) (motion for approval of proposed counter-issue), and
(d)
rule 36B.10 (motion for application of verdict).
Revocations15.
The following instruments are revoked—
(a)
(b)
St Andrew’s House,
Edinburgh
SCHEDULETABLE OF FEES
PART 1Sheriff Court
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
(Matters) | (Fee Payable) | (Fee Formerly Payable)31 | |
£ | £ | ||
PART I — COMMISSARY PROCEEDINGS | |||
1. Petition for commissary proceedings | 22 | 20 | |
(NOTE: the fee includes issue of extract decree). | |||
2. Sealing up repositories or the like, per hour. | 39 | 35 | |
3. | |||
| |||
| |||
£50,000, | No fee | No fee | |
£250,000, | 341 | 282 | |
| 684 | 565 | |
| |||
| |||
£50,000, | No fee | No fee | |
£250,000, | 341 | 282 | |
| 684 | 565 | |
| The fees payable are 50% of those specified in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) of this paragraph. If confirmation is subsequently required the remaining 50% of the fees specified in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) are payable | The fees payable are 50% of those specified in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) of this paragraph. If confirmation is subsequently required the remaining 50% of the fees specified in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) are payable | |
4. Commissary copying and extracting. | |||
(1) Issuing certificate of confirmation— | |||
| 9 | 8 | |
| |||
| 22 | 20 | |
| 9 | 8 | |
(2) Copy or duplicate confirmation— | 14 | 13 | |
| |||
| |||
| 32 | 29 | |
| 14 | 13 | |
(3) Certified extract confirmation and will (if any)— | 32 | 29 | |
| |||
| 45 | 41 | |
| |||
| 32 | 29 | |
(4) Copy will— | 9 | 8 | |
| |||
| 22 | 20 | |
| |||
| 9 | 8 | |
PART II — SHERIFF COURT | |||
PROCEEDINGS | |||
Initial Writ | |||
5. Initial writ in any proceedings not being proceedings for which any other paragraph of this Table specifies a fee. (NOTE: fee covers issue of extract decree). | 171 | 141 | |
6. European Order for payment in terms of EU Regulation 1896/2006 – application for European Order for payment. | 155 | 141 | |
Divorce and dissolution of civil partners | |||
7. Initial writ in an action of divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership (other than a simplified divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership application). (NOTE: fee covers issue of extract decree). | 185 | 168 | |
Application for simplified divorce and simplified dissolution of civil partnership | 151 | 137 | |
8. Any application (inclusive of all procedures other than those specified at paragraphs 9 and 38). (NOTE: fee covers issue of extract decree). | |||
9. Subsequent application upon change of circumstances by party. | 39 | 35 | |
Summary warrant | 90 | 82 | |
10. Application for summary warrant. | |||
Bankruptcy and Insolvency | 139 | 126 | |
11. Petition for sequestration of estates or petition for recall of award of sequestration. | |||
12. Miscellaneous applications, including appeals under the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 or the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 2016. | 72 | 65 | |
13. Lodging of notice of appointment or intention to appoint an administrator out of court under the Insolvency Act 1986 or filing documents with the court to obtain a moratorium under section A3 of Part A1 of that Act. | 171 | 137 | |
Declarator and petitions for completion of title for the Sheriff of Chancery | |||
14. Application for declarator and petition for completion of title to the Sheriff of Chancery. | 283 | 257 | |
15. Issue of chancery extract. | 131 | 119 | |
Summary cause/simple procedure | |||
16. Summons for summary cause or claim form for simple procedure case (NOTE: includes European small claim procedure and fee covers issue of extract decree or issue of decision)— | |||
| 22 | 20 | |
| 123 | 112 | |
| 72 | 65 | |
Criminal procedure | 46 | 42 | |
17. Summary complaint raising a private prosecution | |||
Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 | 111 | 101 | |
18. Petition for removal of disqualification. | |||
Miscellaneous | 22 | 20 | |
19. Application under section 4 of the Requirements of Writing (Scotland) Act 1995. | |||
20. Caveat. | 58 | 48 | |
21. Any proceedings under section 12 or 18 of the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 1982. | 32 | 29 | |
22. Note in a liquidation or judicial factory. | 46 | 42 | |
Defender’s responses | |||
23. First writ, reponing note, application for recall of decree or attendance to state a defence or oppose an interim order (fee payable by each defender or compearer) (NOTE: fee covers issue of extract decree)— | |||
| 155 | 141 | |
| 185 | 168 | |
Civil court procedure | |||
Payable by pursuer | |||
24. Lodging of a certified copy record under the Ordinary Cause Rules (NOTE: fee payable only once in respect of a cause). | 153 | 126 | |
25. Lodging of a certified closed record under the additional procedure of the Ordinary Cause Rules. | 153 | 126 | |
26. Fixing, allocating or assigning of a proof, a debate or a hearing in a summary or miscellaneous application on the merits of the cause. | 66 | 60 | |
27. For each day or part thereof of proof, debate or hearing in a summary or miscellaneous application on the merits of the cause (NOTE: not payable if the proof, debate or hearing does not proceed on that day). | 282 | 256 | |
28. Initial lodging of affidavits in a family action where proof by affidavit evidence has been allowed. | 80 | 73 | |
Payable by any party (including pursuer) | |||
29. Lodging of a written motion or minute and the lodging of any written opposition to any such motion or minute (NOTE: where a minute is accompanied by a relevant written motion no fee is payable in respect of lodging the motion). | 65 | 54 | |
30. Marking an appeal to the sheriff principal in any proceedings (other than as provided for in paragraph 16(c) of this Table). | 139 | 126 | |
Sheriff court books | 32 | 29 | |
31. Recording protest of a bill or promissory note (NOTE: Extracts to be charged as in paragraph 36 of this Table). | |||
32. Preservation of deeds, each deed (NOTE: This includes recording and engrossing. If extracts are required, a separate fee is to be charged as in paragraph 36 of this Table). | 14 | 13 | |
Miscellaneous office procedures | 89 | 81 | |
33. Lodging each set of plans or other Parliamentary deposit. | |||
34. Inspection of report of auction and the auditor of court’s report. | 22 | 20 | |
35. Search and report service as instructed by a trade protection society, licensed credit reference agency or trade publication of protests of relevant court records as appropriately included in the Ordinary Cause Rules, with the fees payable in advance weekly for 12 months. | 429 | 390 | |
36. Recording, engrossing, extracting, printing or copying of all documents, except as provided for at paragraph 4 of this Table (exclusive of search fee)— | |||
| |||
| 8 | 7 | |
| 0.50 | 0.50 | |
| 8 | 7 | |
(NOTE: Recording in Sheriff Court Register of Deeds to be charged as in paragraph 31.) | |||
37. Any search of records or archives, except as provided for at paragraph 4 of this Table, per 30 minutes or part thereof.— | 14 | 13 | |
In addition, correspondence fee where applicable. | 14 | 13 | |
38. Citation of, or intimation to, any person or persons by sheriff officer as instructed by the sheriff clerk. | 14 plus sheriff officer’s fee | 13 plus sheriff officer’s fee | |
PART III — AUDITOR OF COURT | |||
39. Taxing accounts of expenses incurred in judicial proceedings remitted to the auditor of court for taxation— | |||
| 59 | 49 | |
| 25 | 23 | |
| |||
| 6 | 5 | |
(NOTE: Fee to be determined by auditor of court on amount of account as submitted.) | |||
| 50% of fee that would have been payable under sub-paragraph (b) of this paragraph | 50% of fee that would have been payable under sub-paragraph (b) of this paragraph | |
| |||
| 75% of fee that would have been payable under sub-paragraph (b) of this paragraph | 75% of fee that would have been payable under sub-paragraph (b) of this paragraph | |
PART 2Sheriff Personal Injury Court
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
(Matters) | (Fee Payable) | (Fee Formerly Payable)32 |
£ | £ | |
1. Lodging of a written motion or minute and the lodging of any written opposition to any such motion or minute. (NOTE: where a minute is accompanied by a relevant written motion no fee is payable in respect of lodging the motion.) | 66 | 60 |
2. Fixing, allocating or assigning of a proof or trial, a debate or a hearing on the merits of the cause. | 72 | 65 |
3. Hearing fee: per 30 minutes or part thereof. | 98 | 89 |
4. Lodging a certified copy closed record. (NOTE: fee payable only once in respect of a cause). | 131 | 119 |
5. Initial writ. (NOTE: fee covers issue of extract decree). | 265 | 241 |
6. Lodging defences (fee payable by each defender or compearer). (NOTE: fee covers issue of extract decree). | 265 | 241 |
7. Citation of a civil jury. (NOTE: includes outlays incurred in citing and countermanding, and is payable on the lodging of a proposed issue for jury trial.) | 370 | 336 |
8. Certified copy of a document. | 22 | 20 |
This Order makes provision for the fees payable from 1 November 2024 in the sheriff court, to the sheriff clerk or the auditor of court (as appropriate).
Article 3 and the schedule specify fee levels payable in respect of certain matters, given effect by the Tables of Fees in the schedule.
Article 3(3) provides that fees are not to be payable by the Crown in the enforcement of the criminal law or in the exercise of powers or the performance of duties arising out of or relating to that enforcement.
Article 3(4) provides that the relevant office holders are not required to do any act in connection with the matter specified in relation to that fee without either prior payment of the fee or entering into an arrangement for payment of the fee.
Article 4 provides that certain fees are payable only once.
Article 5 provides for matters (extract decrees or registration or renewals of registration) included in certain fees.
Article 6 provides for fees payable in the Sheriff Personal Injury Court.
Article 7 provides for cases in which an extra fee is payable.
Articles 8 and 9 provide exemptions concerned with legal aid and social security for certain persons. Article 10 provides that these fee exemptions do not apply in certain cases.
Article 11 provides for exemption in connection with estates exempt from inheritance tax.
Articles 12 and 13 provides for exemption relating to particular proceedings.
Article 14 provides for certain motions in the Sheriff Personal Injury Court to be exempted from fees.
Article 15 revokes the Sheriff Court Fees Order 2022 (and an instrument which amended that Order).
A Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared for this Order and placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. Copies can be obtained from the Scottish Government Justice Directorate, St Andrews House, Edinburgh EH1 3DG.