All Sheriffdoms have moved to phase 3 as recommended in the sheriff courts business update of the 1 June.
All Simple Procedure claims submitted either via Civil Online or paper will be registered. In addition, those submitted by email will be registered, where sheriffdom practice notes allow.
It should be noted, however, that mortgage repossession cases are protected by the FCA moratorium to the effect that lenders should not commence proceedings or progress existing cases until the beginning of November at the earliest. All such cases have been sisted and will not be progressed unless on cause shown.
In Summary Cause Actions seeking recovery of possession in terms of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 which have been sisted, the court will accept Incidental Applications where a party wishes to recall the sist and progress the action. New cases under the 2001 Act can be lodged and will be registered.
Utility Warrant applications will not be processed at courts until such times as Justices of the Peace are presiding in all courts. Where an urgent safety warrant is required, the appropriate Sheriff Court should be contacted. In the meantime, work is underway to implement an electronic solution that will allow applications to be submitted, considered and granted without parties attending court. Further updates will be provided in due course.
All other civil business is being registered and processed.