Sheriff Officer Fees Scotland: How Much Enforcement Costs in 2026

Who Sets the Fees

Sheriff Officer fees are statutory. They are regulated by Acts of Sederunt issued by the Court of Session, not set by the individual firms. The fee structure uses a unit-based costing framework that adjusts for inflation through periodic statutory updates.

This means that Scott & Co, Walker Love, and every other Sheriff Officer firm across Scotland charge broadly the same statutory rates for the same services. Differences come down to travel outlays (rural and island locations cost more) and VAT.

Typical Costs for Each Enforcement Step

Charge for Payment — the formal statutory demand that must be served before any diligence can begin. Typical cost: £40–£85 plus VAT, depending on location and travel.

Bank arrestment — freezing funds in the debtor's bank account. Typical cost: £70–£120 plus VAT.

Earnings arrestment — ongoing deductions from the debtor's wages through their employer. Typical cost: £70–£110 plus VAT to serve the schedule on the employer.

Attachment of goods — seizing moveable property outside the debtor's home. Costs vary more widely because the officer must attend the premises, appraise the goods, and potentially arrange a public auction. Expect higher outlays for attachments than for financial diligence.

Which Fees Are Recoverable

Statutory Sheriff Officer fees for serving a Charge for Payment and executing diligence are recoverable from the debtor. They are added to the total balance owed, so the debtor ultimately pays for the enforcement that was necessary because they did not pay voluntarily.

However, not everything is recoverable. Failed execution outlays — where the officer attends but cannot serve the debtor or cannot locate the assets — may not be fully recoverable if the debtor turns out to be insolvent. Specialist tracing costs and VAT are also areas where full recovery is not guaranteed.

You pay the Sheriff Officer upfront. If the diligence succeeds, you get those fees back as part of the total recovery.

How to Instruct a Sheriff Officer

You need three things:

1. Your certified Decision Form (Form 13A) from the Sheriff Court
2. A detailed statement of account showing the original award, any payments received, accrued interest, and expenses already awarded by the court
3. The debtor's current address and any asset intelligence you have — their employer's name, the bank they use, or known property

The officer will confirm they are commissioned for the sheriffdom where the debtor lives or holds assets. If the debtor is in a different part of Scotland, you may need to instruct an officer in that sheriffdom — or use a Messenger-at-Arms, who holds jurisdiction across all of Scotland.

Most firms accept instructions by email or through their website. They will issue an estimate based on the statutory fees plus any anticipated travel outlays.

The Difference Between Sheriff Officers and Debt Collectors

Private debt collection agencies cannot enforce a court decision in Scotland. They have no legal authority to serve a Charge for Payment, execute an arrestment, or seize goods. Only regulated Sheriff Officers and Messengers-at-Arms — officers of the court regulated by the Society of Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers (SMASO) — can carry out statutory diligence.

If someone contacts you offering to "collect" your court judgment through a private agency, they cannot use the enforcement tools that actually recover money.

For a complete walkthrough of when to instruct each type of diligence and how to prepare your instruction pack, the enforcement guide covers the full process.

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