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Requirements of Writing (Scotland) Act 1995

1995 c. 7 · Enacted 1 May 1995 · Extends to Scotland

Not fully up to date. 4 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 1 April 2025.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 6(1)(aa)insertedBankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 s. 48(1)
s. 7(7)words insertedTrusts and Succession (Scotland) Act 2024 s. 79(1)
Sch. 2 para. 2A and cross-headinginsertedTrusts and Succession (Scotland) Act 2024 s. 79(2)
Sch. 4 para. 29 30repealedTrusts and Succession (Scotland) Act 2024 Sch. 2

An Act to reform the law of Scotland with regard to the requirement of writing for certain matters and the formal validity of contractual and other documents and presumptions relating thereto; to abolish any rule of law restricting the proof of any matter to writ or oath and to abolish the procedure of reference to oath; and for connected purposes.

[1st May 1995]

C1I1BE IT ENACTED by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—C2C3C4

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act applied (30.9.2002) by 2001 asp 10, s. 24(3); S.S.I.2002/321, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions and savings in arts. 3-5)

C2

Act applied (14.11.2011) by The Investment Bank Special Administration (Scotland) Rules 2011 (S.I. 2011/2262), arts. 2, 107(2)

C3

Act applied (12.4.2019) by The Lerwick Harbour Revision (Constitution) Order 2019 (S.S.I. 2019/136), arts. 1(1), 13(1)

C4

Act applied (11.1.2024) by Energy Act 2023 (c. 52), ss. 300(5), 334(1); S.I. 2024/32, reg. 2(d)(iii)

Commencement

I1

Act not in force at Royal Assent. Act wholly in force at 1.8.1995 see s. 15(2).

Contents

  1. Part 1: When writing is required
  2. 1Writing required for certain contracts, obligations, trusts, conveyances and wills.
  3. Part 2: Traditional documents
  4. 1AApplication of Part 2
  5. 2Type of writing required for formal validity of certain traditional documents.
  6. 2AFormalities of execution of electronic documents Repealed
  7. 2BDirections by the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland Repealed
  8. 2CAuthentication of an electronic document by a person granting in more than one capacity Repealed
  9. 3Presumption as to granter’s subscription or date or place of subscription.
  10. 3APresumption as to the authentication of electronic documents Repealed
  11. 4Presumption as to granter’s subscription or date or place of subscription when established in court proceedings.
  12. 5Alterations to traditional documents: formal validity and presumptions.
  13. 6Registration of traditional documents.
  14. 6ARegistration for preservation and execution of electronic standard securities Repealed
  15. 7Subscription and signing.
  16. 8Annexations to traditional documents.
  17. 9Subscription on behalf of blind granter or granter unable to write.
  18. Part 3: Electronic documents
  19. 9AApplication of Part 3
  20. 9BValidity of electronic documents
  21. 9CPresumption as to authentication of electronic documents
  22. 9DPresumptions as to granter's authentication etc. when established in court proceedings
  23. 9EFurther provision by Scottish Ministers about electronic documents
  24. 9FDelivery of electronic documents
  25. 9GRegistration and recording of electronic documents
  26. Part 4: General provisions
  27. 10Forms of testing clause.
  28. 10ADisapplication of physical presence requirements
  29. 11Abolition of proof by writ or oath, reference to oath and other common law rules. Repealed
  30. 12Interpretation.
  31. 13Application of Act to Crown.
  32. 14Minor and consequential amendments, repeals, transitional provisions and savings.
  33. 15Short title, commencement and extent.
  34. Schedule 1: Alterations Made to a traditional document After it has been Subscribed
  35. Presumption as to granter’s signature or date or place of signing
  36. 1Paragraph 1
  37. Presumption as to granter’s signature or date or place of signing when established in court proceedings
  38. 2Paragraph 2
  39. Schedule 2: Subscription and Signing: Special Cases
  40. General
  41. 1Paragraph 1
  42. Partnerships
  43. 2Paragraph 2
  44. Companies
  45. 3Paragraph 3
  46. Limited Liability Partnerships
  47. 3AParagraph 3A
  48. Local authorities
  49. 4Paragraph 4
  50. Other bodies corporate
  51. 5Paragraph 5
  52. Ministers of the Crown and office-holders
  53. 6Paragraph 6
  54. Schedule 3: Modifications of This Act in Relation to Subscription or Signing by Relevant Person under Section 9
  55. 1Paragraph 1
  56. 2Paragraph 2
  57. 3Paragraph 3
  58. 4Paragraph 4
  59. 5Paragraph 5
  60. 6Paragraph 6
  61. 7Paragraph 7
  62. 8Paragraph 8
  63. 9Paragraph 9
  64. 10Paragraph 10
  65. 11Paragraph 11
  66. 12Paragraph 12
  67. 13Paragraph 13
  68. 14Paragraph 14
  69. 15Paragraph 15
  70. Schedule 4: Minor and Consequential Amendments
  71. General adaptation
  72. 1Paragraph 1
  73. Specific enactments
  74. Lands Clauses Consolidation (Scotland) Act 1845
  75. 2Paragraph 2
  76. Infeftment Act 1845
  77. 3Paragraph 3
  78. Commissioners Clauses Act 1847
  79. 4Paragraph 4
  80. 5Paragraph 5
  81. 6Paragraph 6
  82. 7Paragraph 7
  83. 8Paragraph 8
  84. Entail Amendment Act 1848
  85. 9Paragraph 9
  86. 10Paragraph 10
  87. Ordnance Board Transfer Act 1855
  88. 11Paragraph 11
  89. Registration of Leases (Scotland) Act 1857
  90. 12Paragraph 12
  91. 13Paragraph 13
  92. Transmission of Moveable Property (Scotland) Act 1862
  93. 14Paragraph 14
  94. 15Paragraph 15
  95. Titles to Land Consolidation (Scotland) Act 1868
  96. 16Paragraph 16
  97. 17Paragraph 17
  98. 18Paragraph 18
  99. 19Paragraph 19
  100. 20Paragraph 20
  101. Conveyancing (Scotland) Act 1874
  102. 21Paragraph 21
  103. 22Paragraph 22
  104. 23Paragraph 23
  105. Colonial Stock Act 1877
  106. 24Paragraph 24
  107. 25Paragraph 25
  108. Colonial Stock Act 1892
  109. 26Paragraph 26
  110. 27Paragraph 27
  111. Feudal Casualties (Scotland) Act 1914
  112. 28Paragraph 28
  113. Trusts (Scotland) Act 1921
  114. 29Paragraph 29
  115. 30Paragraph 30
  116. Conveyancing (Scotland) Act 1924
  117. 31Paragraph 31
  118. 32Paragraph 32
  119. 33Paragraph 33
  120. 34Paragraph 34
  121. 35Paragraph 35
  122. 36Paragraph 36
  123. Long Leases (Scotland) Act 1954
  124. 37Paragraph 37
  125. Succession (Scotland) Act 1964
  126. 38Paragraph 38
  127. 39Paragraph 39
  128. 40Paragraph 40
  129. 41Paragraph 41
  130. Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965
  131. 42Paragraph 42 Repealed
  132. 43Paragraph 43 Repealed
  133. Conveyancing and Feudal Reform (Scotland) Act 1970
  134. 44Paragraph 44
  135. 45Paragraph 45
  136. 46Paragraph 46
  137. 47Paragraph 47
  138. Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-lines Act 1975
  139. 48Paragraph 48 Repealed
  140. Patents Act 1977
  141. 49Paragraph 49
  142. Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Act 1982
  143. 50Paragraph 50 Repealed
  144. Companies Act 1985
  145. 51Paragraph 51 Repealed
  146. 52Paragraph 52 Repealed
  147. 53Paragraph 53 Repealed
  148. 54Paragraph 54 Repealed
  149. 55Paragraph 55 Repealed
  150. 56Paragraph 56 Repealed
  151. Companies Consolidation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1985
  152. 57Paragraph 57
  153. Insolvency Act 1986
  154. 58Paragraph 58
  155. Housing (Scotland) Act 1987
  156. 59Paragraph 59 Repealed
  157. 60Paragraph 60 Repealed
  158. Schedule 5Repeals