Forfar Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court

Important arrangements during the Coronavirus outbreak

This court is open for business, but please note the following arrangements at this time.

This court is only open to staff, judiciary, those with permanent office accommodation, media or parties who are directly involved in cases being heard in the building and who have been requested to attend at court.

Where court cases require personal appearance, intimation will have been made to parties in advance of the court date.

There is no public counter and members of the public will not be permitted to enter, unless requested by the court.

Fines can be paid online and by phone. See Fines Payment for latest information.

Hub Courts for new, first instance custodies

New, first instance custody cases will continue to be heard in hub courts as first instance cases in each Sheriffdom as follows. Thereafter, if a further substantive hearing is assigned this will be to the court of local jurisdiction.

Glasgow and Strathkelvin

Glasgow Sheriff and JP Court

Lothian and Borders

Lothian and Borders no longer operates the Hub court system. All business, including first instance custody cases, has returned to local courts.

Edinburgh Sheriff and JP Court
Livingston Sheriff and JP Court
Jedburgh Sheriff and JP Court
Selkirk Sheriff and JP Court

Tayside, Central and Fife

Dundee  Sheriff and JP Court (business transferring from Forfar and Perth)
Falkirk Sheriff and JP Court (business transferring from Stirling and Alloa)
Kirkcaldy Sheriff and JP Court (business transferring from Dunfermline)

Grampian, Highland and Islands

Inverness Sheriff and JP Court (business transferring from Elgin, Fort William, Portree, Tain and Wick. Island custody courts will be dealt with on a case by case basis)
Aberdeen Sheriff and JP Court (business transferring from Peterhead and Banff)

North Strathclyde

Paisley Sheriff and JP Court
Kilmarnock Sheriff and JP Court 
Greenock Sheriff and JP Court (business transferring from Dunoon)
Dumbarton Sheriff Court and JP Court (business transferring from Oban and Campbeltown)

South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway

Ayr Sheriff Court and JP Court
Hamilton Sheriff Court and JP Court 
Dumfries Sherrif Court and JP Court (business transferring from Stranraer)
Airdrie Sheriff Court and JP Court (business transferring from Lanark)

Sheriffdom orders during Coronavirus

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.

Contact details

Postal address

Sheriff Court House,
Market Street,
Forfar,
DD8 3LA

Main telephone

01307 462186

Sheriff Clerk / Main contact

Kay Hendry

All commissary work carried out

DX

DX 530674

Email

forfar@scotcourts.gov.uk

Access note

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

Accessibility contact

If you require the support of an interpreter when you contact a court (by phone or attend in person), a telephone interpretation service is available.  To access this service ask for telephone interpreting and the language required. This service is NOT available during actual court proceedings.

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 contactSCOTLAND website. www.contactscotland-bsl.org

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.

If you are attending for jury duty please report at reception.

There is disabled access and parking at the rear of the building. If you have any specific access requirements please contact the sheriff clerk. Languageline facilities are available for anyone who requires the support of an interpreter.

Facilities

There are refreshments available from vending machines in the foyer.

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

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 the sheriff clerk if you require to use this facility.

Pay a Fine

Pay a fine online or in person at pay at the sheriff clerk's office is to the right through the foyer, fines can also be paid by telephone.

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 Courts and Tribunals Service"

send by post to:

Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, Central Processing Unit, PO Box 23, Glasgow, G5 9DA

Opening times

Mon - Thurs 09.00 - 17.00

Fri 09.00 - 16.30

Public Holidays

Complaints

Useful Links

• Procurator Fiscal
• Victim Support Scotland
• Scottish Prison Service
• Office of the Public Guardian
• Scottish Children's Reporter
• Angus Council
• Police Scotland