Contract, invoice, loan, service or another obligation.
Scotland Simple Procedure: £5,000 limit & 2026 filing fees
Scotland does not use the England-and-Wales small-claims track. For most new lower-value sheriff-court claims, Simple Procedure is the key route. Scottish Courts says it can generally be used for payment claims of £5,000 or less.
Last reviewed: 28 September 2026Ask JEZ AI about money owed to meVISUAL MONEY-CLAIM PATH
Money owed → demand → response → formal recovery.
Use this as a quick map. The detailed rules, deadlines and available remedies still depend on the selected jurisdiction and current official sources.
1Why is money owed?
2State the amount clearly
3Paid, disputed or ignored?
4Use the correct route
Show the balance, due date and records supporting the claim.
The next step changes with the other side’s response.
Small-claim, civil, payment-order or enforcement rules vary by jurisdiction.
Facts Evidence Correct local route Check current deadline / procedure
Jurisdiction-specific legal information
This guide separates Scotland procedure from the other UK legal systems and is grounded in the official sources listed below. It is general legal information, not legal advice.
What matters
- Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service says Simple Procedure is designed as a speedy, inexpensive and informal sheriff-court process.
- A payment claim of £5,000 or less can generally use Simple Procedure; claims above £5,000 ordinarily move to ordinary cause procedure.
- SCTS says Simple Procedure claims should be submitted through Civil Online unless the sheriff permits paper filing.
- From 1 April 2026, SCTS lists a £23 filing fee for a payment-only claim of £300 or less and £127 for other Simple Procedure actions; fees should still be checked immediately before filing.
- A successful decision may still require enforcement if the respondent does not pay.
What to do next
- 1Identify the respondent and the legal basis of the debt.
- 2Send a written demand and allow a sensible response period before filing unless urgency makes that inappropriate.
- 3Calculate the principal sum and gather the contract, invoice, delivery evidence and payment history.
- 4Use Civil Online and check the current Simple Procedure rules, fee and service requirements.
- 5If the respondent disputes the claim, comply with sheriff-court orders and prepare the documents and witnesses needed to prove each element.
Simple Procedure replaced old small claims for new cases
Scottish Courts explains that the old small-claims procedure only applies to claims raised before 28 November 2016. New qualifying lower-value claims use Simple Procedure. Pages that continue to tell Scottish users to “file in small claims court” are therefore materially outdated.
The £5,000 threshold
SCTS says a Simple Procedure payment claim can be made where the value is £5,000 or less. The procedure also covers certain orders involving moveable property or requiring an act where there is an alternative payment claim within the limit. Claims above the threshold generally use ordinary cause.
Civil Online is the normal filing route
Current SCTS guidance says claims should be submitted through Civil Online. A person who cannot submit electronically needs the sheriff’s approval to proceed on paper. That is a procedural difference from the England-and-Wales money-claim service.
How much does Scotland Simple Procedure cost in 2026?
Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service lists fees effective from 1 April 2026. A payment-only Simple Procedure claim for £300 or less carries a £23 filing fee. Other Simple Procedure actions carry a £127 filing fee. Fee exemptions may apply, and separate service or later-stage fees can arise, so the current SCTS fee page should be checked on the filing date.
A decree may still need enforcement
A court decision does not guarantee immediate payment. If the respondent does not comply, the successful claimant may need Scottish diligence or other enforcement steps. Before escalating costs, consider whether the debtor has assets or income against which enforcement is realistically available.
Keep these records together
- Contract or agreement
- Invoices
- Proof of supply or delivery
- Payment history
- Emails/messages and admissions
- Written demand
- Respondent identity and address
- Chronology and claim calculation
Continue through this legal-system cluster
Closely related guides use the same legal system but separate the legislation, procedure and official sources for each problem.
Check the source before acting
Laws, fees and procedures change. These are the official or primary materials used to ground this page.