Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973

1. Introductory Text

2. Part I Prescription

   1. Positive prescription

      1. 1. Validity of right

      2. 2. Special cases

      3. 3. Positive servitudes and public rights of way.

      4. 4. Judicial interruption of periods of possession for purposes of sections 1, 2 and 3.

      5. 5. Further provisions supplementary to sections 1, 2 and 3.

   2. Negative Prescription

      1. 6. Extinction of obligations by prescriptive periods of five years.

      2. 7. Extinction of obligations by prescriptive periods of twenty years.

      3. 8. Extinction of other rights relating to property by prescriptive periods of twenty years.

      4. 8A. Extinction of obligations to make contributions between wrongdoers.

      5. 9. †Definition of “relevant claim” for purposes of sections 6, 7 and 8.

      6. 10. †Relevant acknowledgment for purposes of sections 6 and 7.

      7. 11. Obligations to make reparation.

      8. 12. Savings.

      9. 13. Restrictions on contracting out

   3. General

      1. 14. Computation of prescriptive periods.

      2. 15. Interpretation of Part I.

      3. 16. Amendments and repeals related to Part I.

3. Part II Limitation of Actions

   1. 16A. Part II not to extend to product liability.

   2. 17. Actions in respect of personal injuries not resulting in death.

   3. 17A. Actions in respect of personal injuries resulting from childhood abuse

   4. 17B. Childhood abuse actions: previously accrued rights of action

   5. 17C. Childhood abuse actions: previously litigated rights of action

   6. 17D. Childhood abuse actions: circumstances in which an action may not proceed

   7. 18. Actions where death has resulted from personal injuries.

   8. 18ZA. Actions under section 2 of the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018

   9. 18ZB. Section 18ZA: extension of limitation periods

   10. 18ZC. Actions under section 5 of the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018

   11. 18ZD. Actions relating to construction products

   12. 18A. Limitation of defamation and other actions.

   13. 18B. Actions of harassment.

   14. 19A. Power of court to override time-limits etc.

   15. 19AA. Restriction of court's power to override time-limits: overseas armed forces actions

   16. 19B. Actions for recovery of property obtained through unlawful conduct etc.

   17. 19BA. Actions to prohibit dealing with property subject to an external request

   18. 19C. Actions for recovery of property for the purposes of an external order

   19. 19CA. Interruption of limitation period: arbitration

   20. 19CB. Interruption of section 18A(1) limitation period: mediation

   21. 19CC. Interruption of section 18A(1) limitation period: media complaints and expert determination

   22. 19D. Actions for exploitation proceeds orders

   23. 19F. Extension of limitation periods: cross-border mediation

   24. 20, 21. Limitation of Actions

   25. 22. Interpretation of Part II and supplementary provisions.

4. Part IIA Prescription of Obligations and Limitation of Actions under Part I of the Consumer Protection Act 1987

   1. Prescription of Obligations

      1. 22A. Ten years’prescription of obligations.

   2. Limitation of actions

      1. 22B. 3 year limitation of actions.

      2. 22C. Actions under the 1987 Act where death has resulted from personal injuries.

      3. 22CA. Interruption of limitation period for 1987 Act actions: arbitration

      4. 22CB. Extension of limitation periods for 1987 Act actions: mediation

   3. Supplementary

      1. 22D. Interpretation of this Part.

      2. 23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5. Part III Supplemental

   1. 23A. Private international law application.

   2. 23B. Overseas armed forces actions: restriction of foreign prescription and limitation law

   3. 23C. Actions relating to the Northern Ireland Troubles

   4. 24. The Crown.

   5. 25. Short title, commencement and extent.

6. SCHEDULES

   1. SCHEDULE 1

      Obligations Affected by Prescriptive Periods of Five Years under Section 6

      1. 1. Subject to paragraph 2 below, section 6 of this Act...

      2. 2. Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing paragraph, section 6 of this...

      3. 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      4. 4. In this Schedule, “ title condition ” shall be construed...

   2. SCHEDULE 2

      Appropriate Dates for Certain Obligations for Purposes of Section 6

      1. 1. (1) This paragraph applies to any obligation, not being part...

      2. 2. (1) This paragraph applies to any obligation to repay the...

      3. 3. (1) This paragraph applies to any obligation under a contract...

      4. 4. (1) This paragraph applies to any obligation—

   3. SCHEDULE 3

      Rights and Obligations which are Imprescriptible for the Purposes of Sections 7 and 8 and Schedule 1

      1. The following are imprescriptible rights and obligations for the purposes...

   4. SCHEDULE 4

      ENACTMENTS AMENDED

      1. PART I AMENDMENT TAKING EFFECT ON EXPIRATION OF THREE YEARS FROM PASSING OF THIS ACT

         1. The Limitation (Enemies and War Prisoners) Act 1945 (8 & 9 Geo. 6 c. 16)

            1. In subsection (1) of section 1, as substituted for Scotland...

      2. PART II AMENDMENTS TAKING EFFECT ON PASSING OF THIS ACT

         1. . . .

         2. The Carriage by Air Act 1961 (9 & 10 Eliz. 2. c. 27)

            1. In section 11(c), for the words “section six of the...

         3. The Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1971 (1971 c. 43)

            1. In section 4(2), for the words “section 6 of the...

   5. SCHEDULE 5

      REPEALS

      1. PART I REPEALS COMING INTO FORCE ON EXPIRATION OF THREE YEARS FROM PASSING OF THIS ACT

      2. PART II REPEALS COMING INTO FORCE ON PASSING OF THIS ACT