The Edinburgh Sheriff Court building opened to the public in September 1994. It is the largest of the courts within Lothian and Borders, serving a population of approximately 450,000 people. The Justice of the Peace Court was established in the same building on 10th March 2008.
This is a large building with eight levels and the public entrance is located on level 4 and is accessed from Chambers Street. There are security portals located at the main entrance and everyone entering the building will be subjected to a security check.
Postal address:
Sheriff Court House
27 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LB
0131 225 2525
Sheriff Clerk / Main contact:
David Shand
Civil department contact:
General enquiries 0131 247 2582
(adoptions, appeals, adults with incapacity, bankruptcy, liquidations, diligence, family actions including simplified divorces, ordinary actions and other various miscellaneous applications)
Small Claims/Summary Cause 0131 247 2581
(actions up to £5,000)
Referrals 0131 247 2583
(cases referred to the court by the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration, relating to children aged 16 and under)
Commissary 0131 247 2585
(enquiries relating to dealing with a deceased person’s estate)
Criminal department contact:
0131 225 2525 (option 2)
Admin department contact:
0131 247 2807
Justice of the Peace Signing - Appointments can be made to request a Justice of the Peace to sign certain types of documents at the court. Please call 0131 225 2525 press # key and then enter 472051 to request an appointment.
For more information go to Signing Documents DX:
550312 Civil Department
550313 Commissary Department
550308 Criminal Department
Legal post:
LP - 2, Edinburgh 10
Fax number:
Civil Department: 0131 225 8899
Criminal Department: 0131 226 6569
Email:
General Enquiries: edinburgh@scotcourts.gov.uk
Personal Injury: edinburghpersonalinjury@scotcourts.gov.uk
Accessibility contact:
If you have a text phone you can contact the court using Text Relay.
If you require the support of an interpreter when you contact a court, a phone based service is available - ask for Language Line and the language required.
Jury helpline
0800 169 2296
For any urgent enquiry you can speak to a member of the jury team on 0131 225 2525 ext 472135
Use the journey planner for public transportation information.
By bus:
Several bus routes pass George IV Bridge or South Bridge including LRT buses 7,23,27,28,29. For up to date timetable see
Lothian Buses or use the
journey plannerBy rail:
The nearest rail station is approximately ten minutes walk. Visit
Scotrail or
National rail enquiries for train times.
By car:
The Court is situated opposite the National Museum of Scotland and there are public parking meters and disabled parking available in Chamber Street. Off street parking is available Mon - Sun: 06.00 - 22.00 at NCP, St John's Hill, 2 Viewcraig Gardens, Edinburgh, EH8 9UQ.
By taxi:
There is a taxi rank opposite the court entrance.By air:
The nearest airport is
Edinburgh Airport (approx 8 miles). There is a direct airport bus which arrives at
Waverley Bridge, from there, the court building is a ten minute walk. For up to date timetables or to plan your journey visit
Lothian buses or use the journey planner.
If you are attending for a court hearing please check the notice boards or ask at the reception desk for directions to the court in which the hearing is scheduled. If unrepresented please let the court officials in that court room know you are in attendance so they can confirm the location and time your case will be heard.
Crown Witnesses (you are a prosecution witness) – please report to the witness muster area on level 3.
Jurors – Please report to the reception at the main Chambers Street entrance
Defence witnesses – Please report to the reception at the main Chambers Street entrance
If you are attending for jury duty please come to the main reception where you will be directed to the jury reception desk.Wheelchair users can access the building through the main Chambers Street entrance. As you approach the front of the building the push button operated door is to the right. Should you require assistance on arrival please contact the Sheriff Clerk in advance by telephone 0131 247 2802 or by writing to the Sheriff Clerk.
If you require assistance to evacuate the building in an emergency please let us know in advance by e-mailing: Edinburgh@scotcourts.gov.uk; telephone 0131 247 2802 or speak to reception staff on your arrival at court.
Hearing loops are installed in all courts and public counters.
There is a public restaurant located on Level 6 that is open from 09.00 to 14.00 Monday to Friday.
If you are sitting on a jury, lunch and refreshments will be provided for you if the court sits into the afternoon.A loop induction service is available in all courtrooms for people who have hearing difficulties. Please contact 0131 247 2563 i
f you require to use this facility.
Sheriff Court Rolls
Justice of the Peace Court Rolls
Opening Times
Mon - Thurs 09:00 -17:00, Fri 09:00 - 16:45 *Please note that the Civil Office is closed 2nd Wednesday afternoon of every month for staff training. Urgent enquiries will be dealt with by telephoning 0131 247 2848
Public Holidays
2012
November 26
December 25, 26
2013
January 1, 2
March 29
April 1, 15
May 6, 20
July 1
September 16
November 25
December 25, 26
Pay a fine online or at the fines payment office is located to the left as you go through the security portals after entering the building.
Payment Methods: Cash, Debit Card, Credit Card, Cheque or Postal Order.
(please do not send cash through the post).
Please make cheques and postal orders payable to “Scottish Court Service”
send by post to:
Scottish Court Service
Central Processing Unit
PO Box 23
Glasgow
G5 9DA
Fines payments: 0131 247 2580/2566/2579
Fines enforcement: 0131 225 2525 (option 1)