Forfar Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court

• About the court
• Accessibility
• Complaints and feedback
• Contact the court
• Court Rolls
• Difficulty using the phone
• Directions to court
• Facilities
• Justice of the Peace (JP) Signings
• Latest covid-19 information
• New, first instance custodies
• On arrival
• Opening times
• Pay a fine
• Public holidays
• Sheriffdom orders
• Useful websites

About the court

The Foundation Stone of the present Sheriff Court building was laid on 5 August 1869 by the Earl of Dalhousie. On 2 February 1871 Sheriff Robertson opened the present Sheriff Court building created by the architect Mr Wardrope, and described it as ‘handsome and commodious'.

There is a splendid ‘Hammer-Beam' roof in court one and escutcheons on the abutments carrying the roof arches exhibit carvings of a Thistle, a Rose, a Shamrock and a Daffodil, the emblems of Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales.

Access note

It is not permitted to take photos, or to film, from the private ground at the rear of the court.

Contact the court

Location and postal address

Sheriff Court House
Market Street
Forfar
DD8 3LA

Sheriff Clerk

Emma Wheelan

Email

forfar@scotcourts.gov.uk

DX

DX 530674

Phone

01307 462186

• Option 1 – Civil enquiries 
• Option 2 – Criminal enquiries 
• Option 3 – Jury enquiries

Difficulty using the phone

Phone interpreter

A phone interpreter service is available when you contact a court by phone or attend in person. To access this service ask for phone interpreter and the language required.

The phone interpreter service is not available during actual court proceedings.

Text relay service

If you are deaf, have hearing loss or are speech impaired you can contact us for free with Relay UK.

British Sign Language (BSL)

If you use British Sign Language (BSL) and wish to phone us using a sign language interpreter, you can use the online video relay interpreting service. For more information see the Contact Scotland BSL website.

Opening times

The Sheriff Clerk's office is open as follows:

• Monday to Thursday from 09:00 to 17:00
• Friday from 09:00 to 16:30

The Sheriff Clerk's office is closed from 14:00 to 17:00 on:

• Thursday, 8 February 2024
• Thursday, 7 March 2024
• Thursday, 4 April 2024
• Thursday, 2 May 2024
• Thursday, 6 June 2024
• Thursday, 4 July 2024
• Thursday, 1 August 2024
• Thursday, 5 September
• Thursday, 3 October 2024
• Thursday, 7 November 2024
• Thursday, 5 December 2024

For urgent matters and applications when the office is closed please contact:

Dundee Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Phone: 01382 229961
Email: dundee@scotcourts.gov.uk

Public holidays

2024

• January 1, 2
• March 29
• April 1
• May 6, 27
• July 22
• October 7
  
• December 2, 25, 26

New, first instance custodies

New, first instance custody cases will be heard in all eight Tayside, Central and Fife Sheriff and Justice of the Peace (JP) Courts:

• Alloa Sheriff and JP Court
• Stirling Sheriff and JP Court
• Falkirk Sheriff and JP Court
• Dunfermline Sheriff and JP Court
• Kirkcaldy Sheriff and JP Court
• Perth Sheriff and JP Court
• Dundee Sheriff and JP Court
• Forfar Sheriff and JP Court

Unless the above court is closed for a public holiday, where by the following hub courts will be in operation:

• Falkirk Sheriff and JP Court (covers Alloa, Stirling and Falkirk custodies)
• Kirkcaldy Sheriff and JP Court (covers Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy custodies)
• Dundee Sheriff and JP Court (covers Perth, Dundee and Forfar custodies)

Justice of the Peace (JP) Signings

Justice of the Peace (JP) Signings by appointment only. Please book an appointment in advance by phoning the Sheriff Clerk’s Office.

Commissary

All commissary applications will be processed locally within all of the courts within Tayside Central and Fife.

Small estate interviews are not taking place within the court buildings at this time, please contact your local Sheriff Court for more information and guidance.

Directions

The court is situated on a hill to the north of the town just off Brechin Road.

All buses pass through the town centre and all bus stops are well marked with regard to their route. The town centre is about a 10 minute walk from the court building.

Use the journey planner for public transportation information.

By bus

For up to date timetables or to plan your journey visit stagecoach.

By rail

There is no rail station in Forfar, the nearest are at Dundee and Arbroath. Visit ScotRail or National Rail Enquiries for train times.

By car

There is no public parking at the court, however there is a large public car park behind the council buildings next to the court.

By taxi

There is a taxi rank in Castle Street about 10 minutes walk from the court.

On arrival

On arrival, please report at reception or the Sheriff Clerk's Office. You will be directed from there to where you need to go.

Jurors in jury cases

If you are attending for jury duty please report at reception. If you are sitting on a jury, lunch and refreshments will be provided for you if the court sits into the afternoon.

Facilities

Water is available to the public. There are a number of cafes and sandwich shops nearby, a list of which is in the foyer.

Accessibility

Accessible hearing

A loop induction service is available in all courtrooms for people who have hearing difficulties. Please contact the sheriff clerk if you require to use this facility.

Accessible access

There is disabled access and parking at the rear of the building. If you have any specific access requirements please contact the sheriff clerk.

Sheriffdom orders

The following Sheriffdom guidance, information and practice notes apply to this court. Please also refer to the Rules of Court and the Sheriffs Principal Guidance.