Offices of Court - Introduction
Structure of the Offices of Court
The Extracts Department
- Petition Department
- General Department
- Extracts/Opinions Department
- Keeper's Office
The Extracts Department
The Extracts Department deals with the issue of Extracts. Extracts are official Court documents which allow judgments of the Court to be enforced. This main function is carried out by the Assistant Clerk of Session (Extractor) within the department. Other duties include processing Simplified Divorces and processing Maintenance Orders. The Extractor also checks and fees Letters of Inhibition which are used to prevent someone from transferring rights in land pending determination of a Court case.
Administrative support is provided by the Administrative Officer (Opinions/Specification Clerk) who also issues all Opinions of Court (written judgments). In addition, the Administrative Officer handles all documents received by the Court following an order of the Court that specified documents should be produced in an action. (This is the Scottish equivalent of discovery in English Law). The Extracts Department also provides copies of divorce certificates granted by the Court of Session.