Hamilton Sheriff Court

Coronavirus - COVID19
Please check here for the latest information

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Hub courts

This is one of the ten ‘Hub’ courts in Scotland dealing with essential business.

Essential business is as follows:

1.           New custody cases where a remand is to be sought on public safety grounds, and individuals who have been released on undertakings to appear at a specified court. (Further guidance on this will be issued shortly).
2.           New undertaking cases
3.           Custody Sentencing cases. Where possible the Accused will VC in from Prison.
4.           High Court Preliminary Hearing and Sheriff Court First Diet Courts.  If the accused has been served with an indictment and have either a First Diet or Preliminary Hearing set down then it is likely that these will be postponed administratively. However, all efforts will continue for Crown office to liaise with solicitors to identify issues that require to be resolved and whether the case itself could resolve.
5.           A small number of summary custody trials may take place where witnesses are available and it is possible to continue. Solicitors and witnesses will be contacted proactively by the Crown where this is proposed.
6. Other Criminal and Civil business where there is an urgent need for the court to make a decision.

Please only contact this court if you have essential or emergency business.

You will only be allowed into the court if your presence is required as part of the proceedings. Please stay at home if you are a member of the public.

Notice for court users during Covid-19

Sheriffdom Orders/Guidance During Coronavirus

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Hamilton Sheriff Court is one of the busiest Courts in Scotland.

The oldest part of the Main Building of Hamilton Sheriff Court was built in the time of Queen Victoria. The Civil Building (Birnie House) was acquired by the Scottish Court Service in 2006. Hamilton Justice of the Peace Court was established 2010.

Hamilton Justice of the Peace Court is located in Campbell Street in the centre of the town.

The Sheriff Court deals with three main types of business - Civil, Criminal and Commissary. The Fines Office and Criminal Office are both located within the Main Building. The Civil and Commissary office is located within the Civil Building (Birnie House) In Caird Street.

The Civil Department deals with all matters relating to processing writs in all types of actions and applications parts of process and motions in ordinary, family (including simplified divorces), commercial and personal injury actions all procedures in respect of summary cause including heritable cases and simple procedure actions.

Other civil matters which are dealt with include

• all procedures relating to civil appeals
• children referrals
• diligence
• adoptions
• bankruptcy
• liquidations
• adults with incapacity applications
• applications for confirmation of estate when someone dies

Justices of the Peace can sign Warrants and Affidavits Sworn under Oath in respect of persons and addresses within this Sheriffdom. They can also undertake signing and countersigning duties in connection with a range of legal documents, including Statutory Declarations.

Please phone 01698 282957 (Sheriff Court, Main Building) if you wish to make an appointment for the signing of a document before a JP.

Contact Details

Postal address

Sheriff Court House,
4 Beckford Street,
Hamilton,
ML3 0BT

Main telephone

01698 282957

Sheriff Clerk / Main contact

Jackie Powell

All commissary work carried out

DX

HA2

Fax

Civil Department: 01698 284870

Criminal Department: 01698 201365

Admin Department: 01698 201366

Email

General - hamilton@scotcourts.gov.uk

Hamilton Civil - hamiltoncivil@scotcourts.gov.uk

Hamilton Criminal - hamiltoncriminal@scotcourts.gov.uk

Hamilton Cash & Admin - hamiltoncashadmin@scotcourts.gov.uk

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

Beckford Street is well served by public transport. Use journey planner for public transportation information.

By bus

• Uddingston and Motherwell stops are in Almada Street
• Bothwell stop is in Keith Street;
• Strathaven, Stonehouse and Holytown stops are in the town centre bus station
• East Kilbride stop is in Clydesdale Street
• Wishaw Harthill and Shotts (change at Shotts for Harthill) stops are in Muir Street (off Almada Street)
• Larkhall stop is at Cadzow Street
• Bellshill stop is in Bothwell Road

Information on the times of buses to and from all towns can be obtained at First Group Buses - Hutchison Buses - McKindless Buses or alternatively telephone "Traveline" on 0870 608 2 608.

By rail

The nearest train station to the court is Hamilton West (5 minutes walk) with connections to Hamilton/Larkhall/ Motherwell/Blantyre/Bellshill and Uddingston.

The train station is close to the sheriff court and a direct walk along Clydesdale Street.

Information on the times of trains to and from all stations can be obtained at scotrail or national rail enquiries.

By car

There is no public car park at the courthouse.

There are public car parks on Beckford Street at the junctions of Caird Street and Beckford Street and Beckford Street with Bothwell Street (both 3 minute walks).

These car parks are free but South Lanarkshire council may apply charges in the future.

The car parks are extensively used by the employees of neighbouring businesses.

There are car parks in the town centre (20 mins walk) all of which are pay and display.

There is limited short stay parking (maximum 30 minutes) on Beckford Street opposite the entrance to the sheriff court.

By taxi

There are numerous taxi firms from all of the main towns.

Hamilton sheriff court encourages the use of public transport as part of its commitment to sustainable development.

Jurors should be aware that taxi fares will not be reimbursed.

On Arrival

On arrival at the court please attend at the reception area within the main entrance on Beckford Street. If you're coming to court as a juror, witness or an accused person, please have your citation or other paperwork available in order that we can speedily direct you to the appropriate court or witness room.

All civil matters will be dealt with at the Civil Courts and Offices, Birnie House, Caird Park, Hamilton. Please access the information for the Hamilton civil offices for all information regarding civil courts and offices.

If you are attending for jury duty please come to the main reception where you will be directed to the jury reception desk.

Facilities

Cafe Lanark provides a snack bar service.

It is situated on the ground floor and is open from 09.00 to 12.45 

There are some restaurants and also shops providing sandwiches etc to take away close to the court.

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 a number of courtrooms for people who have hearing difficulties. Please contact reception if you require to use this facility.

Pay a Fine

Pay a fine online or please come to the reception and you will be directed to the fines office.

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" and send by post to: Scottish Court Service, Central Processing Unit, PO Box 23, Glasgow, G5 9DA

Opening Times

Mon - Thurs 09.00 - 17.00, Fri 09.00 - 16.30

The fines office on the ground floor acts as single transaction point 13.00 - 14.00. Access to the building at this time is via the entrance situated to the left of the main front door of the building.

Public Holidays

2020
January 1, 2

April 10, 13

May 8, 25

July 20

September 28

November 30

December 25, 28

Complaints

Please refer to the complaints and feedback page.

Useful Links

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

Accessibility