Simple Procedure Scotland Court Fees: How Much Does It Cost to File a Claim?

The biggest question people have before filing a Simple Procedure claim in Scotland is what it actually costs. The answer is straightforward — but there are details around exemptions and additional service charges that catch people off guard.

The Two Fee Tiers

Court fees for Simple Procedure are set by the Sheriff Court Fees Order 2026 (SSI 2026/74), effective from 1 April 2026:

• Claims of £300 or less: £23
• Claims of £300.01 to £5,000: £127

That's it for the court filing fee. You pay when submitting your Form 3A through Civil Online, via integrated card payment. If the Sheriff Clerk rejects the claim (wrong jurisdiction, incorrect party name, or other procedural error), the fee is refunded to your card automatically.

An appeal to the Sheriff Appeal Court costs £74 separately.

Fee Exemption: Who Qualifies

If you're receiving certain qualifying benefits, you don't pay the court fee at all. Eligible benefits include:

• Income Support
• Universal Credit (with no earnings above the qualifying threshold)
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit element)
• Civil Legal Aid for the claim

To apply, download the SCTS Fee Exemption Form — there's a Full Version for new claims and an Abbreviated Version if you've already been granted an exemption in the same proceedings. Upload the completed form alongside your Form 3A on Civil Online.

Fee exemption covers the court filing fee. It does not automatically cover third-party Sheriff Officer charges if you need one for service, unless specific legal aid provisions apply to your case.

Additional Costs Beyond the Filing Fee

The court fee isn't the only potential expense:

Sheriff Clerk service (£15). If you're an unrepresented individual (not a business) and want the court to serve your claim papers on the respondent by recorded delivery, there's a £15 service fee on top of the filing fee.

Sheriff Officer service. If recorded delivery fails or you prefer personal service, a Sheriff Officer handles it directly. Their fee is separate; ask the Sheriff Officer for a quote before instructing them.

Post-decree enforcement. If you win and the respondent doesn't pay voluntarily, enforcing the decree through a Sheriff Officer (earnings arrestment, bank arrestment, or attachment) carries its own charges.

Can You Recover Your Costs?

The expenses rules for Simple Procedure are capped. For claims under £300, no expenses are recoverable at all. Between £300.01 and £1,500, expenses are capped at £150. Between £1,500.01 and £3,000, the cap is 10% of the claim value. Above £3,000, the statutory cap lifts.

Since the Cabot v Walls ruling in May 2025, every claimant — represented or not — must lodge an Expenses Claim Form pro-forma when applying for a decision. Without it, the court rejects the application. The Sheriff Clerk then applies mandatory percentage reductions under the Taxation of Judicial Expenses Rules 2019: a 10% across-the-board cut, plus a further 50% reduction for claims under £1,000, or 25% for claims between £1,001 and £2,500.

Our Scotland Simple Procedure guide includes an Expenses Claim Calculator worksheet that helps you work out what you can realistically recover after the statutory reductions.

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