OpenLegislation

Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971

1971 c. 58 · Enacted 27 July 1971 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 2 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 1 August 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 2(3)words substitutedCourts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 sch. 5 para. 6(3)
s. 3(4)words substitutedCourts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 sch. 5 para. 6(4)

An Act to amend the law with respect to sheriff courts in Scotland, and for purposes connected therewith.

Annotations to the whole text

Textual amendments

F1

Act (except for ss. 2(3), 3(4)) repealed (S.) (1.4.2015 except for the repeal of ss. 31, 35, 36(2)(3), 36A, 36B, 37, 38, 45, 22.9.2015 for the repeal of ss. 31, 37(1)(b)(2A)(2D), 28.11.2016 for the repeal of ss. 35(2)-(4), 36A, 36B, 37(2B)(2C) and the repeal of specified words in s. 38(b)) by Courts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 18), s. 138(2), sch. 5 para. 6(2); S.S.I. 2015/77, art. 2(2)(3), sch. (with art. 7); S.S.I. 2015/247, art. 2, sch. (with art. 9); S.S.I. 2016/291, art. 2, sch. (with art. 3(1)(2))

Contents

  1. Part I: Constitution, Organisation and Administration
  2. General duty of the Secretary of State Repealed
  3. 1Secretary of State to be responsible for organisation and administration of sheriff courts. Repealed
  4. Sheriffdoms
  5. 2Power of Secretary of State to alter sheriffdoms.
  6. Sheriff court districts and places where sheriff courts are to be held
  7. 3Sheriff court districts and places where sheriff courts are to be held.
  8. Sheriffs principal and sheriffs
  9. 4Offices of sheriff principal and sheriff. Repealed
  10. 5Qualification for offices of sheriff principal and sheriff. Repealed
  11. 5ARetiring age for sheriff principal and sheriff. Repealed
  12. 6Disqualification of sheriffs principal and sheriffs. Repealed
  13. 7Jurisdiction of sheriff. Repealed
  14. 8Sheriff may be appointed to assist Secretary of State. Repealed
  15. Functions of the Secretary of State in relation to sheriffs principal, sheriffs, et ceteralaetc. Repealed
  16. 9Power of Secretary of State to give administrative directions. Repealed
  17. 10Secretary of State may authorise sheriff principal or direct sheriff to act in another sheriffdom. Repealed
  18. 11Secretary of State may appoint temporary sheriffs principal and sheriffs. Repealed
  19. 11AAppointment of part-time sheriffs Repealed
  20. 11BLimitation, termination etc. of appointment of part-time sheriffs Repealed
  21. 11CRemoval of part-time sheriffs from office Repealed
  22. 11DRegulations and orders under sections 11A and 11C Repealed
  23. 12Removal from office, and suspension, of sheriff principal or sheriff. Repealed
  24. Consideration of fitness for, and removal from, shrieval office Repealed
  25. 12ATribunal to consider fitness for shrieval office Repealed
  26. 12BSuspension during investigation Repealed
  27. 12CFurther provision about tribunals Repealed
  28. 12DReport of tribunal Repealed
  29. 12ERemoval from office Repealed
  30. 12FInterpretation of sections 12A to 12E Repealed
  31. 13Functions of Secretary of State with respect to residence and leave of absence of sheriffs principal. Repealed
  32. 14Functions of Secretary of State with respect to number, residence and place of duties of sheriffs. Repealed
  33. 14ARe-employment of retired sheriffs principal and sheriffs Repealed
  34. Functions of the sheriff principal in relation to sheriffs, et ceteralaetc. Repealed
  35. 15Efficient disposal of business in sheriff courts Repealed
  36. 16Functions of sheriff principal with respect to duties and leave of absence of sheriffs. Repealed
  37. 17Sheriff principal may fix sittings and business of sheriff courts in sheriffdom, and sessions for civil business. Repealed
  38. 17ALord President's power to exercise functions in sections 15 to 17 Repealed
  39. 18Secretary of State may exercise certain functions of sheriff principal in certain circumstances. Repealed
  40. Miscellaneous Repealed
  41. 19Travelling allowances for sheriffs principal. Repealed
  42. 20Extension of purposes for which Lord Advocate may give instructions to procurators fiscal. Repealed
  43. 21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  44. 22Saving for existing functions. Repealed
  45. Part II: Court houses, buildings and offices Repealed
  46. 23Transfer of court houses to Secretary of State. Repealed
  47. 24Provision and maintenance of court houses by Secretary of State. Repealed
  48. 25Use of public buildings for holding of courts. Repealed
  49. 26Use of court houses by third parties. Repealed
  50. 27Compensation for officers and servants. Repealed
  51. 28Repeal and amendment of local enactments. Repealed
  52. 29Determination of disputes. Repealed
  53. 30Interpretation of Part II. Repealed
  54. Part III: Civil jurisdiction, procedure and appeals
  55. 31Upper limit to privative jurisdiction of sheriff court to be £250. Repealed
  56. Regulation of procedure in civil proceedings Repealed
  57. 32Power of Court of Session to regulate civil procedure in sheriff court. Repealed
  58. 32ARules for lay representation Repealed
  59. 33Sheriff Court Rules Council. Repealed
  60. 34Functions of Sheriff Court Rules Council. Repealed
  61. Summary causes
  62. 35Summary causes.
  63. 36Procedure in summary causes.
  64. 36AFurther provisions as to small claims. Repealed
  65. 36BExpenses in small claims. Repealed
  66. 37Remits.
  67. 38Appeal in summary causes.
  68. Miscellaneous and supplemental Repealed
  69. 39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  70. 40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  71. 41Power of Her Majesty to vary limit to privative jurisdiction of sheriff court, etc. Repealed
  72. 42Application of provisions regarding jurisdiction and summary causes. Repealed
  73. Part IV: Miscellaneous and General
  74. 43Orders, etc. Repealed
  75. 44Expenses. Repealed
  76. 45Interpretation.
  77. 46Amendment and repeal of enactments. Repealed
  78. 47Short title, commencement and extent. Repealed
  79. Schedule 1: Minor and Consequential Amendment of Enactments
  80. General
  81. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  82. The Execution of Diligence (Scotland) Act 1926
  83. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  84. The Tenancy of Shops (Scotland) Act 1949
  85. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  86. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  87. Schedule 2: Repeal of Enactments
  88. IGeneral Repeals
  89. IIRepeals Consequent on Sections 35 to 38 of this Act

1Secretary of State to be responsible for organisation and administration of sheriff courts.F1 S

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2Power of Secretary of State to alter sheriffdoms. S

F1(1)

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(2)

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(2A)

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(2B)

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F2(3)

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(4)

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(5)

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3Sheriff court districts and places where sheriff courts are to be held. S

F1(1)

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(2)

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(2A)

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(2B)

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(3)

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F2(4)

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(5)

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(5A)

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(6)

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4Offices of sheriff principal and sheriff.F1F2

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5Qualification for offices of sheriff principal and sheriff.F1 S

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5ARetiring age for sheriff principal and sheriff.F1 S

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6Disqualification of sheriffs principal and sheriffs.F1 S

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7Jurisdiction of sheriff.F1 S

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8Sheriff may be appointed to assist Secretary of State.F1 S

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9Power of Secretary of State to give administrative directions.F1 S

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10Secretary of State may authorise sheriff principal or direct sheriff to act in another sheriffdom.F1 S

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11Secretary of State may appoint temporary sheriffs principal and sheriffs.F1 S

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

11AAppointment of part-time sheriffsF1 S

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11BLimitation, termination etc. of appointment of part-time sheriffsF1 S

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11CRemoval of part-time sheriffs from officeF1 S

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11DRegulations and orders under sections 11A and 11CF1 S

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12Removal from office, and suspension, of sheriff principal or sheriff.F1 S

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12ATribunal to consider fitness for shrieval officeF1

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12BSuspension during investigationF1

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12CFurther provision about tribunalsF1

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12DReport of tribunalF1

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12ERemoval from officeF1 S

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12FInterpretation of sections 12A to 12EF1

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13Functions of Secretary of State with respect to residence and leave of absence of sheriffs principal.F1 S

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14Functions of Secretary of State with respect to number, residence and place of duties of sheriffs.F1 S

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

14ARe-employment of retired sheriffs principal and sheriffsF1 S

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15Efficient disposal of business in sheriff courtsF1 S

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16Functions of sheriff principal with respect to duties and leave of absence of sheriffs.F1 S

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17Sheriff principal may fix sittings and business of sheriff courts in sheriffdom, and sessions for civil business.F1 S

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17ALord President's power to exercise functions in sections 15 to 17F1

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18Secretary of State may exercise certain functions of sheriff principal in certain circumstances.F1 S

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19Travelling allowances for sheriffs principal.F1 S

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20Extension of purposes for which Lord Advocate may give instructions to procurators fiscal.F1 S

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21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

22Saving for existing functions.F1

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23Transfer of court houses to Secretary of State.F1 S

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24Provision and maintenance of court houses by Secretary of State.F1 S

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25Use of public buildings for holding of courts.F1 S

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26Use of court houses by third parties.F1 S

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27Compensation for officers and servants.F1 S

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28Repeal and amendment of local enactments.F1 S

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29Determination of disputes.F1 S

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30Interpretation of Part II.F1 S

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31Upper limit to privative jurisdiction of sheriff court to be £250.F1 S

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32Power of Court of Session to regulate civil procedure in sheriff court.F1 S

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32ARules for lay representationF1

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33Sheriff Court Rules Council.F1 S

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34Functions of Sheriff Court Rules Council.F1 S

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35Summary causes.C1 S

C2(1)

The definition of “summary cause” contained in paragraph (i) of section 3 of the M1Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1907 shall cease to have effect, and for the purposes of the procedure and practice in civil proceedings in the sheriff court there shall be a form of process, to be known as a “summary cause”, which shall be used for the purposes of all civil proceedings brought in that court, being proceedings of one or other of the following descriptions, namely—

(a)

actions for payment of money not exceeding F1£5000 in amount (exclusive of interest and expenses);

(b)

actions of multiplepoinding, actions of furthcoming F2. . . , where the value of the fundin medio, or the value of the arrested fund or subject, . . . as the case may be, does not exceed F3£5000 (exclusive of interest and expenses);

C3(c)

actionsad factum praestandum and actions for the recovery of possession of heritable or moveable property, other than actions in which there is claimed in addition, or as an alternative, to a decreead factum praestandumor for such recovery, as the case may be, a decree for payment of money exceeding F4£5000 in amount (exclusive of interest and expenses);

(d)

proceedings which, according to the law and practice existing immediately before the commencement of this Act, might competently be brought in the sheriff’s small debt court or were required to be conducted and disposed of in the summary manner in which proceedings were conducted and disposed of under the Small Debt Acts;

F5(e)

proceedings under section 14(1)(b) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 for termination of a tenant’s interest in a tenancy, other than proceedings in which there is claimed, in addition or as an alternative to an order for such termination, a decree for payment of money exceeding £5,000 in amount (exclusive of interest and expenses);

and any reference in the following provisions of this Act, or in any other enactment (whether passed or made before or after the commencement of this Act) relating to civil procedure in the sheriff court, to a summary cause shall be construed as a reference to a summary cause within the meaning of this subsection.

F6(1A)

For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that nothing in subsection (1) above shall prevent the Court of Session from making different rules of procedure and practice in relation to different descriptions of summary cause proceedings.

F7(2)

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(3)

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(4)

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36Procedure in summary causes. S

F1(1)

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(2)

A summary cause shall be commenced by a summons in, or as nearly as is practicable in, such form as may be prescribed by rules under the said section 32.

C1(3)

The evidence, if any, given in a summary cause shall not be recorded.

(4)

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36AFurther provisions as to small claims.F1 S

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36BExpenses in small claims.F1 S

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37Remits. S

(1)

In the case of any ordinary cause brought in the sheriff court the sheriff F1—

(a)

shall at any stage, on the joint motion of the parties to the cause, direct that the cause be treated as a summary cause, and in that case the cause shall be treated for all purposes (including appeal) as a summary cause and shall proceed accordingly

F2(b)

. . . . . .

(2)

In the case of any summary cause, the sheriff at any stage—

(a)

shall, on the joint motion of the parties to the cause, and

(b)

may, on the motion of any of the parties to the cause, if he is of the opinion that the importance or difficulty of the cause makes it appropriate to do so,

direct that the cause be treated as an ordinary cause, and in that case the cause shall be treated for all purposes (including appeal) as an ordinary cause and shall proceed accordingly:

Provided that a direction under this subsection may, in the case of an action for the recovery of possession of heritable or moveable property, be given by the sheriff of his own accord.

(2A)

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(2B)

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(2C)

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(2D)

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F3(3)

A decision—

(a)

to remit, or not to remit, under subsection (2A) F4 (2B) or (2C) above; or

(b)

to make, or not to make, a direction by virtue of paragraph ( b ) of, or the proviso to, subsection (2) above,

shall not be subject to review; but from a decision to remit, or not to remit, under subsection (1)( b ) above an appeal shall lie to the Court of Session.

(4)

In this section “sheriff” includes a sheriff principal.

38Appeal in summary causes.C2C1 S

In the case of F1—

(a)

any summary cause an appeal shall lie to the sheriff principal on any point of law from the final judgment of the sheriff; and

(b)

any summary cause F2... an appeal shall lie to the Court of Session on any point of law from the final judgment of the sheriff principal, if the sheriff principal certifies the cause as suitable for such an appeal,

but save as aforesaid an interlocutor of the sheriff or the sheriff principal in any such cause shall not be subject to review.

39. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1

41Power of Her Majesty to vary limit to privative jurisdiction of sheriff court, etc.F1

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42Application of provisions regarding jurisdiction and summary causes.F1

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43Orders, etc.F1 S

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44Expenses.F1 S

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45Interpretation. S

(1)

In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears—

(a)

references to a sheriff principal include references to a temporary sheriff principal, and references to the office of sheriff principal include references to an appointment as a temporary sheriff principal;

(b)

references to a sheriff include references to a F1part-time sheriff and an honorary sheriff, and references to the office of sheriff include references to an appointment as a part-timesheriff and to the office of honorary sheriff;

(c)

references to an honorary sheriff are references to a person holding the office of honorary sheriff in his capacity as such.

(2)

In this Act—

(a)

“enactment” includes an order, regulation, rule or other instrument having effect by virtue of an Act;

(b)

any reference to any enactment shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be construed as a reference to that enactment as amended or extended, and as including a reference thereto as applied, by or under any other enactment (including this Act).

(3)

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this section and to any other express provision of this Act, expressions used in this Act and in the M1Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1907 shall have the same meanings in this Act as in that Act.

46Amendment and repeal of enactments.F1 S

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47Short title, commencement and extent.F1 S

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1F1

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2F1

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3F1

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4F1

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IGeneral RepealsF1

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IIRepeals Consequent on Sections 35 to 38 of this ActF1

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