Courts in Scotland – a guide
Scotland has its own, separate legal system – different courts, names and limits from England. The courts are run by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS).
What courts are there
- Sheriff Court – most civil and criminal cases. Scotland is divided into 6 sheriffdoms.
- Justice of the Peace Court – minor offences.
- Sheriff Appeal Court – appeals from sheriff courts.
- Court of Session – the supreme civil court (Outer House – first instance, Inner House – appeals).
- High Court of Justiciary – the most serious criminal cases and the highest criminal appeal court.
- UK Supreme Court – civil appeals from the Inner House; in criminal cases only exceptionally (devolution/human rights issues).
- Tribunals: including the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland – Housing and Property Chamber (disputes with landlords). The Employment Tribunal in Scotland is run by HMCTS.
What a dispute is worth
| Procedure | Claim value |
|---|---|
| Simple procedure | up to £5,000 |
| Ordinary cause | above £5,000 |
| Sheriff court only | up to £100,000 |
Court addresses
- Parliament House (Court of Session, High Court of Justiciary, Sheriff Appeal Court) – Parliament Square, Edinburgh EH1 1RQ, tel. 0131 225 2595 · map
- Edinburgh Sheriff Court – 27 Chambers Street, EH1 1LB · map
- Glasgow Sheriff Court – 1 Carlton Place, G5 9DA · map
- Aberdeen Sheriff Court – Castle Street, AB10 1WP · map
- Dundee Sheriff Court – 6 West Bell Street, DD1 9AD · map
- Inverness Justice Centre – Longman Road, IV1 1AH · map
- Livingston Sheriff Court – West Lothian Civic Centre, Howden South Road, EH54 6FF · map
- Paisley Sheriff Court – St James Street, PA3 2HW · map
- Hamilton Sheriff Court – 4 Beckford Street, ML3 0BT (civil cases: Birnie House, Caird Park, ML3 0AL) · map
- Kilmarnock Sheriff Court – St Marnock Street, KA1 1ED · map
- Dunfermline Sheriff Court – 1/6 Carnegie Drive, KY12 7HJ · map
- Falkirk Sheriff Court – Main Street, Camelon, FK1 4AR · map
- Perth Sheriff Court – Tay Street, PH2 8NL · map
- Housing and Property Chamber – Glasgow Tribunals Centre, 20 York Street, G2 8GT, tel. 0141 302 5900 · map
- Employment Tribunal Edinburgh – 54–56 Melville Street, EH3 7HF, tel. 0131 226 5584; ET Scotland correspondence: PO Box 27105, Glasgow G2 9JR, tel. 0300 790 6234
Children’s rights in Scotland
Since 16 July 2024 the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 has applied – Scottish public authorities must respect the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and children and parents can rely on it in court. Help: Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, Bridgeside House, 99 McDonald Road, Edinburgh EH7 4NS, tel. 0131 346 5350 (for children 0800 019 1179). Scottish Human Rights Commission – same address, tel. 0131 297 5750.
Sources
General information, not legal advice. Every case is different – check your situation with a solicitor or Citizens Advice. Data as at 22 October 2026. Limits and rates change – always confirm them on the official website given below.
© THE BUSINESS TIME / Argonauts Media Group Limited. Newsroom guide. Copying without the publisher’s permission is prohibited.
