Scottish government consultation invites views on fees charged by courts

The level of fees charged by the courts and the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) are prescribed by Scottish ministers under statutory powers.

The general principle applied is that as civil actions are generally about resolving disputes between two parties then the parties rather than the state should bear the cost of civil actions.

The Scottish government’s policy objective is that the fees set should recover the costs to public funds of providing those services which means that those who make use of the services of the courts or the OPG should meet or contribute towards the associated costs to the public purse where they can afford to do so.

As part of that policy, the government reviews the fees set on a regular basis (every three years) and the last consultation on proposed fee orders was in 2012.

Click here to respond to the consultation.