Act of Sederunt (Fees of Solicitors in the Sheriff Court) 1988

TABLE OF FEES

CHAPTER I

PART I.—UNDEFENDED ACTIONS (other than actions of divorce or of separation and aliment (affidavit procedure))

1.  Actions (other than those specified in paragraph 2 of this Chapter) in which decree is granted without proof–
(a) Inclusive fee to cover all work from taking instructions up to and including obtaining extract decree ... ... ... ...	£50.00
(b) In cases where settlement is effected after service of a writ but before the expiry of the induciae ... ... ... ...	£45.00
(c) If the pursuer’s solicitor elects to charge this inclusive fee he shall endorse a minute to that effect on the initial writ before ordering extract of the decree. Outlays such as court dues for deliverance and posts shall be chargeable in addition and taxation shall be unnecessary.
2.  Actions of separation and aliment, adherence and aliment and custody and aliment where proof (other than by way of affidavit evidence) takes place–
(a) Inclusive fee to cover all work from taking instructions up to and including obtaining extract decree ... ... ... ...	£240.00
(b) If the pursuer’s solicitor elects to charge this inclusive fee he shall endorse a minute to that effect on the initial writ after the close of the proof and before extract of the decree is ordered; and when the option is so exercised decree for expenses shall be granted against the defender for said sum together with the shorthand writer’s fee actually charged as provided by Act of Sederunt and of other outlays up to £60 without the necessity for taxation. If outlays in excess of £60, excluding the shorthand writer’s fee, are claimed, an account of such outlays shall be remitted to the auditor of court for taxation and the sum allowed for outlays shall be the amount of the account as taxed.
3.  Petition for appointment or discharge of a curator bonis	£220.00

PART II.—UNDEFENDED ACTIONS OF DIVORCE AND OF SEPARATION AND ALIMENT (affidavit procedure)

1.  In any undefended action of divorce or separation and aliment where–

(a) the facts set out in section 1(2)(b) (unreasonable behaviour) of the Divorce (Scotland) Act 1976 (“the 1976 Act”) are relied upon;

(b) there is no crave relating to any ancillary matters; and

(c) the pursuer seeks to prove those facts by means of affidavits,

the pursuer’s solicitor may, in respect of the work specified in column 1 of Table A, charge the inclusive fee specified in respect of that work in column 2 of that Table.

TABLE A

Column 1	Column 2
Work done	Inclusive fee
	£
1.  All work to and including the period of notice	170.00
2.  All work from the period of notice to and including swearing affidavits	120.00
3.  All work from swearing affidavits to and including sending extract decree	35.00
4.  All work to and including sending extract decree	325.00
Add process fee	of 10%

2.  In any undefended action of divorce or separation and aliment where–

(a) the facts set out in sections 1(2)(a) (adultery), 1(2)(c) (desertion), 1(2)(d) (two years' non-cohabitation and consent) and 1(2)(e) (five years' non-cohabitation) of the 1976 Act are relied on;

(b) there is no crave relating to any ancillary matters; and

(c) the pursuer seeks to prove those facts by means of affidavits,

the pursuer’s solicitor may, in respect of work specified in column 1 of Table B, charge the inclusive fee specified in respect of that work in column 2 of that Table.

TABLE B

Column 1	Column 2
Work done	Inclusive fee
	£
1.  All work to and including the period of notice	140.00
2.  All work from the period of notice to and including swearing affidavits	65.00
3.  All work from swearing affidavits to and including sending extract decree	35.00
4.  All work to and including sending extract decree	240.00
Add process fee	of 10%

3.  If–

(a) the pursuer’s solicitor charges an inclusive fee under either paragraph 1 or paragraph 2 of this Part; and

(b) the action to which the charge relates includes a crave relating to an ancillary matter,

in addition to that fee he may charge, in respect of the work specified in column 1 of Table C, the inclusive fee specified in respect of that work in column 2 of that Table.

TABLE C

Column 1	Column 2
Work done	Inclusive fee
	£
1.  All work to and including the period of notice	65.00
2.  All work from the period of notice to and including swearing affidavits	40.00
3.  All work under items 1 and 2	105.00
Add process fee	of 10%

4.  If the pursuer’s solicitor elects to charge an inclusive fee under this Part he shall endorse a minute to that effect on the initial writ before extract of the decree is ordered; and when the option is so exercised decree for expenses shall be granted against the defender for said sum together with outlays up to £85 inclusive of VAT without the necessity for taxation. If outlays in excess of £85 are claimed, an account of such outlays shall be remitted to the auditor of court for taxation and the sum allowed for outlays shall be the amount of the account as taxed.

CHAPTER II DEFENDED ACTIONS

1.  Instruction fee—
(a) To cover all work (except as hereinafter otherwise specially provided for in this chapter) to the lodging of defences including copyings ... ... ... ...	£110.00
(b) Where separate statement of facts and counterclaim and answers lodged, additional fee of ... ... ... ...	£40.00
2.  Adjustment fee—To cover all work (except as hereinafter otherwise specially provided for in this Chapter) in connection with the adjustment of the Record including (when appropriate) closing thereof, making up and lodging Closed Record and copyings–
(a) Agent for any party ... ... ... ...	£165.00
(b) If action settled before Record is closed—each original party’s agent ... ... ... ...	£110.00
(c) If additional defender brought in before closing of Record—additional fee to each original party’s agent ... ... ... ...	£20.00
(d) If additional defender brought in after closing of Record—additional fee to each original party’s agent ... ... ... ...	£27.50
3.  Affidavit fee—To framing affidavits, per sheet ... ... ... ...	£7.00
4.—(a) Debate fee—To include preparation for and conduct of any hearing or debate other than on evidence, enquiring for cause at avizandum and noting interlocutor–
(i) When debate does not exceed 1 hour	£85.00
(ii) For every half hour engaged after the first hour	£20.00
(iii) Waiting time—per quarter hour	£8.50
(b) Interim Interdict Hearings– (i) Pursuer’s solicitor—the same fees as for debate fee above, but to include both the appearance at lodging of writ and the hearing at second diet.
(ii) Defender’s solicitor’s fee where the debate does not exceed 1 hour	£50.00
(iii) Waiting time—per quarter hour	£8.50
5.  Precognitions—Taking and drawing—per sheet ... ... ... ...	£17.00
Note Where a skilled witness prepares his own precognition or report, the solicitor shall be allowed half of above drawing fee for revising and adjusting it.
6.  Custody reports obtained under order of court–
(a) Fee for all work incidental thereto ... ... ... ...	£37.50
(b) Additional fee per sheet of report to include all copies required (maximum £25) ... ... ... ...	£5.00
7.  Commissions to take evidence– (a) On Interrogatories–
(i) Fee to solicitor applying for commission to include drawing, intimating and lodging motion, drawing and lodging interrogatories, instructing commissioner and all incidental work (except as otherwise specially provided for in this chapter) but excluding attendance at execution of commission ... ... ... ...	£105.00
(ii) Fee to opposing solicitor if cross-interrogatories prepared and lodged	£70.00
(iii) If no cross-interrogatories lodged ... ... ... ...	£20.00
(b) Open Commissions–
(i) Fee to solicitor applying for commission to include all work (except as otherwise specially provided for in this chapter) up to lodging report of commission but excluding attendance thereat ... ... ... ...	£62.50
(ii) Fee to solicitor for opposing party ... ... ... ...	£35.00
(iii) Fee for attendance at execution of commission—per half hour ... ... ... ...	£20.00
(iv) Travelling time—per quarter hour ... ... ... ...	£8.50
8.  Specification of documents–
(a) Fee to cover drawing, intimating and lodging specification and relative motion and attendance at court debating specification ... ... ... ...	£42.50
(b) Inclusive fee to opposing solicitor ... ... ... ...	£27.50
(c) Fee for citation of havers, preparation for and attendance before commissioner at execution of commission–
(i) Where attendance before commissioner does not exceed 1 hour ... ... ... ...	£40.00
(ii) For each additional half hour after the first hour ... ... ... ...	£20.00
(d) If commission not executed—fee for serving each party with copy of specification to include recovering and examining documents or productions referred to therein ... ... ... ...	£8.50
9.  Amendment of Record– (a) Fee to cover drawing, intimating and lodging minute of amendment and relative motion and relative attendances at court–
(i) Where answers lodged ... ... ... ...	£47.50
(ii) Where no answers lodged ... ... ... ...	£30.00
(b) Inclusive fee to opposing solicitor–
(i) Where answers lodged ... ... ... ...	£40.00
(ii) Where no answers lodged ... ... ... ...	£25.00
(c) Fee for adjustment of minute and answers where applicable to be allowed in addition to each party ... ... ... ...	£35.00
10.  Motions and minutes– (a) Fee to cover drawing, intimating and lodging any written motion or minute, including a reopening note, and relative attendances at court (except as otherwise provided for in this chapter)–
(i) Where opposed ... ... ... ...	£47.50
(ii) Where unopposed (including for each party a joint minute other than under paragraph 15(b)) ... ... ... ...	£35.00
(b) Fee to cover considering opponent’s written motion, minute or reopening note, and relative attendances at court–
(i) Where motion, minute or reopening note opposed ... ... ... ...	£27.50
(ii) Where motion, minute or reopening note unopposed	£20.00
11.  Procedure preliminary to proof– (a) Fee to cover fixing diet of proof, citation of witnesses, and generally preparing for trial or proof and if necessary instructing shorthand writer–
(i) If action settled or abandoned not later than 14 days before the diet of proof ... ... ... ...	£120.00
(ii) In any other case ... ... ... ...	£200.00
(b) Fee to cover preparing for adjourned diet and all incidental work as in (a) if diet postponed for more than 6 days, for each additional diet ... ... ... ...	£40.00
(c) Drawing and lodging an inventory of productions, lodging the productions specified therein, and considering opponent’s productions (to be charged once only in each process) ... ... ... ...	£20.00
(d) Where only one party lodges productions, opponent’s charges for considering same ... ... ... ...	£10.00
12.  Conduct of proof or trial–
(a) Fee to cover conduct of proof or trial and debate on evidence if taken at close of proof—per half hour ... ... ... ...	£20.00
(b) If counsel employed, fee to solicitor appearing with counsel—per quarter hour ... ... ... ...	£8.50
(c) Waiting time—per quarter hour ... ... ... ...	£8.50
13.  Debate on evidence–
(a) Where debate on evidence not taken at conclusion of proof, preparing for debate ... ... ... ...	£35.00
(b) Fee for conduct of debate—per half hour ... ... ... ...	£20.00
(c) If counsel employed, fee to solicitor appearing with counsel—per quarter hour ... ... ... ...	£8.50
(d) Waiting time—per quarter hour ... ... ... ...	£8.50
14.  Appeals– (a) To sheriff principal–
(i) Fee to cover instructions, marking of appeal or noting that appeal marked, noting diet of hearing thereof and preparation for hearing ... ... ... ...	£65.00
(ii) Fee to cover conduct of hearing—per half hour	£20.00
(iii) If counsel employed, fee to solicitor appearing with counsel—per quarter hour ... ... ... ...	£8.50
(iv) Waiting time—per quarter hour ... ... ... ...	£8.50
(b) To Court of Session–
Fee to cover instructions, marking appeal or noting that appeal marked and instructing Edinburgh correspondents ... ... ... ...	£32.50
15.  Settlements (a) Judicial tender–
(i) Fee for preparation and lodging or for consideration of minute of tender ... ... ... ...	£37.50
(ii) Fee on acceptance of tender, to include preparation and lodging or consideration of minute of acceptance and attendance at court when decree granted in terms thereof ... ... ... ...	£27.50
(b) Extra-judicial settlement–
Fee to cover negotiations resulting in settlement, framing or revising joint minute and attendance at court when authority interponed thereto ... ... ... ...	£65.00
16.  Final procedure–
(a) Fee to cover settling with witnesses, enquiring for cause at avizandum, noting final interlocutor ... ... ... ...	£50.00
(b) Fee to cover drawing account of expenses, arranging, intimating and attending diet of taxation and obtaining approval of auditor’s report and adjusting account with opponent where necessary, ordering, procuring and examining extract decree ... ... ... ...	£40.00
(c) Fee to cover considering opponent’s account of expenses and attending diet of taxation or adjusting account with opponent ... ... ... ...	£15.00
17.  Copying fees– Copying all necessary papers by any means–
(a) First copy—per sheet ... ... ... ...	£1.00
(b) Additional copies—per sheet ... ... ... ...	£0.30
Note A sheet shall be 250 words. When copied by photostatic or similar process, each page shall be charged as one sheet.
18.  Process fee– Fee to cover all consultations between solicitor and client during the progress of the cause and all communications, written or oral, passing between them—10 per cent. on total fees and copyings allowed on taxation.
19.  Fee for instruction of counsel–
(a) Fee for instructing counsel to revise record ... ... ... ...	£20.00
(b) Fee for instructing counsel to conduct debate, proof or trial ... ... ... ...	£42.50
(c) Fee for instructing counsel to conduct appeal to sheriff principal ... ... ... ...	£42.50
Note 1.  In each case to cover all consultations, revisal of papers and all incidental work. 2.  Fee to counsel to be allowed as outlay.

CHAPTER III CHARGES FOR TIME, DRAWING OF PAPERS, CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.

1.  Attendance at court conducting trial proof or formal debate or hearing—per quarter hour ... ... ... ...	£10.00
2.  Time occupied in the performance of all other work including attendances with client and others and attendances at court in all circumstances, except as otherwise specifically provided–
(a) Solicitor—per quarter hour ... ... ... ...	£8.50
(b) Allowance for time of clerk—one half of above.
Note Time necessarily occupied in travelling to such to be chargeable at these rates.
3.  Drawing all necessary papers (other than affidavits) (the sheet throughout this Chapter to consist of 250 words or numbers)—per sheet ... ... ... ...	£5.00
4.  Framing affidavits—per sheet ... ... ... ...	£7.00
5.  Revising papers where revisal ordered—for each five sheets ... ... ... ...	£2.00
6.  Copying all necessary papers by any means–
(i) First copy—per sheet ... ... ... ...	£1.00
(ii) Additional copies—per sheet ... ... ... ...	£0.30
Note When copied by photostatic or similar process each page shall be charged as one sheet.
7.  Certifying or signing a document ... ... ... ...	£2.00
8.  Perusing any document—per quarter hour ... ... ... ...	£8.50
9.  Lodging in process–
Each necessary lodging in or uplifting from process; also for each necessary enquiry for documents due to be lodged ... ... ... ...	£2.00
10.  Borrowing process–
Each necessary borrowing of process to include return of same ... ... ... ...	£2.00
11.  Extracts–
Ordering, procuring and examining extracts, interim or otherwise ... ... ... ...	£10.00
12.  Correspondence, intimations, etc.–
(a) Formal letters and intimations ... ... ... ...	£1.00
(b) Letters other than above—per page of 125 words ... ... ... ...	£5.00
(c) Telephone calls except under (d) ... ... ... ...	£2.00
(d) Telephone calls (lengthy) to be treated as attendances or long letters.
13.  Citations–
Each citation of party or witness including execution thereof ... ... ... ...	£5.00
14.  Instructions to officers–
(a) Instructing officer to serve, execute or intimate various kinds of writs or diligence including the examination of executions ... ... ... ...	£2.00
(b) For each party after the first on whom service or intimation is simultaneously made ... ... ... ...	£2.00
(c) Agency accepting service of any writ ... ... ... ...	£5.00
(d) Reporting diligence	£5.00
15.  Personal diligence–
(a) Recording execution of charge ... ... ... ...	£5.00
(b) Procuring fiat ... ... ... ...	£5.00
(c) Instructing apprehension ... ... ... ...	£5.00
(d) Framing state of debt and attendance at settlement ... ... ... ...	£6.00
16.  Sales–
(a) Obtaining warrant to sell ... ... ... ...	£5.00
(b) Instructing auctioneer or officer to conduct sale ... ... ... ...	£5.00
(c) Perusing report of sale ... ... ... ...	£5.00
(d) Reporting sale under poindings or sequestrations or any other judicial sales ... ... ... ...	£5.00
(e) Noting approval of roup roll ... ... ... ...	£5.00
(f) Obtaining warrant to pay ... ... ... ...	£5.00

CHAPTER IV SUMMARY CAUSES

PART I.—UNDEFENDED ACTIONS

1.  To include—taking instructions, framing summons and statement of claim, obtaining warrant for service, serving, instructing service as necessary by sheriff officer (where appropriate), attendance endorsing minute for and obtaining decree in absence and extract decree and including posts and sundries ... ... ... ...	£35.00
2.  Service–
(a) citation by post wheresoever after the first citation for each party ... ... ... ...	£4.00
(b) framing and instructing service by advertisement—for each party ... ... ... ...	£11.00
3.  Attendance at court ... ... ... ...	£11.00

PART II.—DEFENDED ACTIONS

1.  Instructions fee, to include taking instructions (including instructions for a counterclaim) framing summons and statement of claim, obtaining warrant for service, enquiring for notice of intention to defend, attendance at first calling, noting defence ... ... ... ...	£47.50
2.  Service–
(a) Citation by post within the United Kingdom, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, or the Republic of Ireland for each party ... ... ... ...	£4.00
Citation by post elsewhere—for each party ... ... ... ...	£8.50
(b) Instructing service or reservice by sheriff officer including perusing execution of citation and settling sheriff officer’s fee—for each party ... ... ... ...	£4.00
(c) Framing and instructing service by advertisement—for each party ... ... ... ...	£12.50
3.  Attendance at court–
Attendance at any diet except as otherwise specifically provided ... ... ... ...	£12.50
4.  Preparing for proof, to include all work in connection with proof not otherwise provided for ... ... ... ...	£42.50
5.  Fee to cover preparing for adjourned diet and all incidental work if diet for more than six days—for each adjourned diet ... ... ... ...	£20.00
(a) Drawing and lodging inventory of productions, lodging the productions specified therein and considering opponents' productions (to be charged only once in each process) ... ... ... ...	£18.00
(b) Where only one party lodges productions, opponents' charges for considering same ... ... ... ...	£8.50
7.  Precognitions–
(a) Drawing precognitions, including instructions, attendances with witnesses and all relative meetings and correspondence—per witness ... ... ... ...	£18.00
(b) Where precognitions exceed 2 sheets—for each additional sheet ... ... ... ...	£8.50
8.  Motions and minutes– Fee to cover drawing, intimating and lodging of any written motion or minute, excluding a minute or motion to recall decree, and relative attendance at court (except as otherwise provided in this chapter)–
(a) Where opposed ... ... ... ...	£25.00
(b) Where unopposed (including for each party a joint minute or joint motion) ... ... ... ...	£15.00
9.  Fee to cover considering opponents' written motion or minute excluding minute or motion to recall decree and relative attendance at court–
(a) Where motion or minute opposed ... ... ... ...	£20.00
(b) Where motion or minute unopposed ... ... ... ...	£12.50
10.  Conduct of proof–
(a) Fee to cover conduct of proof or trial and debate on evidence taken at close of proof—per half hour ... ... ... ...	£12.50
(b) Waiting time—per half hour ... ... ... ...	£6.50
11.  Settlements–
(a) Judicial tender, fee for consideration of, preparing and lodging minute of tender ... ... ... ...	£25.00
(i) Fee for consideration and rejection of tenders ... ... ... ...	£18.00
(ii) Fee on acceptance of tender—to include preparing and lodging, or consideration of minute of acceptance and attendance at court when decree granted in terms thereof ... ... ... ...	£18.00
(b) Extra judicial settlement—fee to cover negotiations resulting in settlement, framing or revising joint minute and attendance at court when authority interponed thereto ... ... ... ...	£42.50
12.  Specification of documents–
(a) Fee to cover drawing, intimating and lodging specification of documents and relative motion and attendance at court ... ... ... ...	£22.00
(b) Inclusive fee to opposing solicitor ... ... ... ...	£20.00
(c) Fee for citation of havers, preparation for and attendance before commissioner, to each party—for each half hour ... ... ... ...	£12.50
(d) If alternative procedure adopted, a fee per person upon whom order served ... ... ... ...	£8.50
13.  Commissions to take evidence– (a) Fee to cover drawing, lodging and intimating motion and attendance at court–
(i) Where opposed ... ... ... ...	£25.00
(ii) Where unopposed ... ... ... ...	£15.00
(b) Fee to cover considering such motion and attendance at court–
(i) Where opposed ... ... ... ...	£20.00
(ii) Where unopposed ... ... ... ...	£12.50
(c) Fee to cover instructing commissioner and citing witness ... ... ... ...	£12.50
(d) Fee to cover drawing and lodging interrogatories and cross-interrogatories—per sheet	£8.50
(e) Attendance before commissioner—per hour ... ... ... ...	£12.50
(f) Travelling time—per hour ... ... ... ...	£8.50
14.  Supplementary note of defence (when ordained) ... ... ... ...	£8.50
15.  Appeals–
(a) Fee to cover instructions, marking of appeal or noting that appeal marked, noting of diet of hearing thereof and preparation for hearing ... ... ... ...	£60.00
(b) Fee to cover conduct of hearing—per half hour ... ... ... ...	£12.50
16.  Final procedure–
(a) Fee to cover settling with witnesses, enquiring for cause at avizandum, noting final interlocutor ... ... ... ...	£25.00
(b) Fee to cover drawing account of expenses, arranging intimating and attending hearing on expenses, and obtaining approval of sheriff clerk’s report ... ... ... ...	£25.00
(c) Fee to cover considering opponents' account of expenses and attendance at hearing on expenses ... ... ... ...	£12.50

CHAPTER V MERCANTILE SEQUESTRATION

Charge according to Chapter III.

CHAPTER VI EXECUTORY BUSINESS–INTESTATE MOVEABLE SUCCESSION

1.  Taking instructions to present petition for decree-dative, drawing petition and making necessary copies, lodging and directing publication, attendance at court, moving for decree-dative, extracting decree where necessary, and all matters incidental to petition—inclusive fee ... ... ... ...	£50.00
2.  Preliminary investigation and confirmation of executors– To be charged for according to general table of fees for conveyancing and general business in testate succession in force from time to time.
3.  Bonds of caution–
(a) Taking out bond of caution, getting it signed and lodged with clerk of court, and procuring attestation of cautioner’s sufficiency ... ... ... ...	£15.00
(b) Where caution is found through the medium of a guarantee company for all the work in connection therewith ... ... ... ...	£15.00
4.  Restriction of caution–
Taking instructions to prepare petition for restriction of caution, drawing petition and making necessary copies, lodging, instructing advertisement and all matters incidental to petition—inclusive fee ... ... ... ...	£30.00