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A court in the Sheriffdom of South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway
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
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.
Sheriff Court House
4 Beckford Street
Hamilton
ML3 0BT
01698 282957
Jean Flanagan
HA2
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.
If you are deaf, have hearing loss or are speech impaired you can contact us for free with Relay UK.
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.
The Sheriff Clerk's office is open Monday to Friday:
Hamilton Sheriff Court will be closing for half a day per month for training. When they are closed anyone with urgent business should contact the email addresses below. The offices will close from 13:00 to 16:00.
The full list of court closures for public holidays are laid out in the published Act of Court.
The cash office will close for staff training on the following days in 2025 from 14:00.
The criminal office will close for staff training on the following days in 2025 from 14:00.
To pay a fine or for information please go to paying a fine.
To pay a fine at the court, please come to the reception and you will be directed to the fines office.
Beckford Street is well served by public transport. Use journey planner for public transportation information.
Covered cycle parking racks can be found nearby at Almada Street, opposite the entrance to Beckford Street on CycleStreets cycle parking map.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
If you are sitting on a jury, lunch and refreshments will be provided for you if the court sits into the afternoon.
If you consider that you need to use a taxi, you must agree this with the clerk of court before you attend for jury service. The clerk of court will need to agree that no other kind of transport is available to you or that a journey using public transport would take an unreasonable time. If travel by taxi is approved, you must upload a copy or photograph of a receipt showing the fare which you paid.
The Jurors page contains information for people who have been cited to attend as a juror in a court room.
General jury service enquiries should be directed to the jury citation and excusal team as instructed on your citation. Jurors can also contact the court on 01698 201349.
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.
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.
Find out about the sheriffdom guidance, information and practice notes that apply to the courts in the Sheriffdom of South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway.
Please also refer to the:
Find out more about the courts in this sheriffdom.
South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway