Civil justice statistics in Scotland: 2019-2020
The 2019-2020 civil justice statistics in Scotland release includes main statistics tables, figures and supplementary statistics tables.
7. Statistical tables
Table 2: Cases initiated and disposed of1 in the Court of Session, 2010-11 to 2019-20
Table 3: Cases1 initiated and disposed of2 in the sheriff courts3, by procedure, 2010-11 to 2019-20
Table 4: Cases1 initiated and disposed of2 in the sheriff courts3, by sheriffdom, 2010-11 to 2019-20
Table 9: Divorces granted1 in the civil courts by procedure, 2016-17 to 2019-20
Table 10: Dissolutions granted1 in the civil courts by procedure, 2013-14 to 2019-20
Table 11: Divorces granted by method of celebration and sex, 2017-18 to 2019-20
Table 15: Personal injury cases1 initiated and disposed2 of in the Court of Session3, 2019-20
Table 23: Eviction cases initiated and disposed of1 in the sheriff courts, 2010-11 to 2019-20
Table 29: Civil legal aid grants1, 2, 2012-13 to 2019-20
7.2 Ancillary crave analyses
Table A2: Count of craves on Debt cases initiated in the sheriff courts, 2019-20
Table A3: Count of craves on Eviction cases initiated in the sheriff courts, 2019-20
Table A4: Count of craves on Divorce/ Dissolution cases initiated in the sheriff courts, 2019-20
Table A6: Count of craves on Family-Other cases initiated in the sheriff courts, 2019-20
Table A7: Count of craves on Personal Injury cases initiated in the sheriff courts, 2019-20
Table A8: Count of craves on Damages cases initiated in the sheriff courts, 2019-20
Table A9: Count of craves on Repossession cases initiated in the sheriff courts, 2019-20
Table A10: Count of craves on Other cases initiated in the sheriff courts, 2019-20
7.1 Official statistics tables
Cases | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | % change since 2018-19 | % change since 2010-11 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initiated | Court of Session | 5,141 | 4,718 | 4,911 | 4,561 | 5,164 | 4,358 | 2,251 | 2,279 | 2,275 | 2,172 | -5 | -58 |
Sheriff courts | 92,308 | 80,502 | 72,510 | 72,511 | 71,605 | 72,220 | 68,433 | 75,623 | 66,241 | 69,042 | 4 | -25 | |
Sheriff Personal Injury Court | z | z | z | z | z | 1,143 | 2,956 | 3,282 | 3,591 | 3,220 | -10 | z | |
All courts | 97,449 | 85,220 | 77,421 | 77,072 | 76,769 | 77,721 | 73,640 | 81,184 | 72,107 | 74,434 | 3 | -24 | |
Disposed | Court of Session | 4,295 | 4,856 | 4,712 | 4,911 | 4,782 | 4,405 | 3,162 | 2,564 | 2,319 | 2,033 | -12 | -53 |
Sheriff courts | 87,504 | 77,147 | 68,781 | 65,356 | 65,805 | 66,232 | 62,370 | 63,994 | 60,872 | 58,794 | -3 | -33 | |
Sheriff Personal Injury Court | z | z | z | z | z | 172 | 1,363 | 2,541 | 2,962 | 3,077 | 4 | z | |
All courts | 91,799 | 82,003 | 73,493 | 70,267 | 70,587 | 70,809 | 66,895 | 69,099 | 66,153 | 63,904 | -3 | -30 |
1. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
2. First instance business only – excludes appeals and reclaiming motions.
3. Excludes summary applications.
4. Sheriff Personal Injury Court was established on 22 September 2015.
z refers to data not being applicable.
Court of Session department | Cases | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | % change since 2018-19 | % change since 2010-11 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
General Department | Initiated | 3,688 | 3,354 | 3,536 | 3,258 | 3,812 | 2,922 | 1,005 | 933 | 994 | 986 | -1 | -73 |
Disposed | 3,187 | 3,455 | 3,405 | 3,656 | 3,582 | 3,123 | 1,871 | 1,234 | 980 | 888 | -9 | -72 | |
Petition Department | Initiated | 1,358 | 1,223 | 1,211 | 1,179 | 1,213 | 1,268 | 1,083 | 1,201 | 1,123 | 1,024 | -9 | -25 |
Disposed | 1,035 | 1,299 | 1,191 | 1,126 | 1,062 | 1,136 | 1,157 | 1,186 | 1,207 | 1,016 | -16 | -2 | |
Inner House2 | Initiated | 95 | 141 | 164 | 124 | 139 | 168 | 163 | 145 | 158 | 162 | 3 | 71 |
Disposed | 73 | 102 | 116 | 129 | 138 | 146 | 134 | 144 | 132 | 129 | -2 | 77 | |
Total | Initiated | 5,141 | 4,718 | 4,911 | 4,561 | 5,164 | 4,358 | 2,251 | 2,279 | 2,275 | 2,172 | -5 | -58 |
Disposed | 4,295 | 4,856 | 4,712 | 4,911 | 4,782 | 4,405 | 3,162 | 2,564 | 2,319 | 2,033 | -12 | -53 |
1. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
2. First instance business only – excludes appeals and reclaiming motions.
Cases | Procedure | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | % change since 2018-19 | % change since 2010-11 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initiated | Ordinary cause | 34,123 | 26,021 | 24,957 | 24,026 | 23,628 | 23,212 | 22,672 | 22,620 | 22,776 | 23,089 | 1 | -32 |
Summary cause4 | 23,799 | 22,783 | 18,510 | 18,852 | 20,624 | 22,160 | 20,214 | 18,057 | 15,177 | 13,579 | -11 | -43 | |
Small claim4, 5 | 34,386 | 31,698 | 29,043 | 29,633 | 27,353 | 26,848 | 18,857 | 32 | 39 | 29 | -26 | -100 | |
Simple procedure4 | z | z | z | z | z | z | 6,690 | 34,914 | 28,249 | 32,345 | 14 | z | |
Total initiated | 92,308 | 80,502 | 72,510 | 72,511 | 71,605 | 72,220 | 68,433 | 75,623 | 66,241 | 69,042 | 4 | -25 | |
Disposed | Ordinary cause | 29,768 | 23,410 | 20,733 | 19,575 | 18,768 | 19,102 | 17,210 | 16,123 | 16,991 | 17,329 | 2 | -42 |
Summary cause4 | 24,036 | 22,434 | 19,831 | 17,876 | 18,984 | 20,638 | 20,557 | 16,647 | 14,138 | 13,156 | -7 | -45 | |
Small claim | 33,700 | 31,303 | 28,217 | 27,905 | 28,053 | 26,492 | 23,571 | 1,327 | 130 | 59 | -55 | -100 | |
Simple procedure4 | z | z | z | z | z | z | 1,032 | 29,897 | 29,613 | 28,250 | -5 | z | |
Total disposed | 87,504 | 77,147 | 68,781 | 65,356 | 65,805 | 66,232 | 62,370 | 63,994 | 60,872 | 58,794 | -3 | -33 |
1. Excludes summary applications.
2. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
3. Excludes Sheriff Personal Injury Court.
4. The first phase of simple procedure replaced the small claims and the more straightforward cases under summary cause procedure from 28 November 2016.
More complex summary cause cases will move during phase two of simple procedure in due course.
5. There are still a small number of small claims cases being registered, mainly under the EU small claims procedure.
Cases | Sheriffdom | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | % change since 2018-19 | % change since 2010-11 | 2019-20 cases per 1,000 population4 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initiated | Tayside, Central and Fife | 16,816 | 14,759 | 14,006 | 13,590 | 13,806 | 13,478 | 12,263 | 14,163 | 12,641 | 13,394 | 6 | -20 | 12 |
Glasgow and Strathkelvin | 17,784 | 16,305 | 14,313 | 13,433 | 11,517 | 11,853 | 12,514 | 14,074 | 11,803 | 12,947 | 10 | -27 | 17 | |
South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway | 16,869 | 14,171 | 12,968 | 12,870 | 12,929 | 14,028 | 13,404 | 14,337 | 12,637 | 12,772 | 1 | -24 | 14 | |
Lothian and Borders | 16,211 | 14,148 | 11,554 | 11,755 | 13,022 | 12,552 | 11,016 | 12,587 | 11,069 | 11,249 | 2 | -31 | 11 | |
North Strathclyde | 12,954 | 10,577 | 9,932 | 10,447 | 10,096 | 10,286 | 9,715 | 10,521 | 9,755 | 10,254 | 5 | -21 | 13 | |
Grampian, Highlands and Islands | 11,674 | 10,542 | 9,737 | 10,416 | 10,235 | 10,023 | 9,521 | 9,941 | 8,336 | 8,426 | 1 | -28 | 9 | |
Scotland total initiated | 92,308 | 80,502 | 72,510 | 72,511 | 71,605 | 72,220 | 68,433 | 75,623 | 66,241 | 69,042 | 4 | -25 | 13 | |
Disposed | Tayside, Central and Fife | 16,081 | 14,343 | 13,268 | 12,476 | 12,782 | 13,079 | 11,504 | 12,434 | 11,727 | 11,431 | -3 | -29 | 10 |
Glasgow and Strathkelvin | 16,134 | 15,630 | 13,544 | 11,828 | 10,303 | 10,139 | 9,961 | 11,879 | 10,715 | 10,065 | -6 | -38 | 13 | |
South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway | 15,979 | 13,749 | 12,466 | 11,801 | 11,655 | 12,524 | 12,022 | 12,244 | 11,967 | 12,172 | 2 | -24 | 14 | |
Lothian and Borders | 15,957 | 13,494 | 11,595 | 11,029 | 11,700 | 11,538 | 10,435 | 9,528 | 9,267 | 9,194 | -1 | -42 | 9 | |
North Strathclyde | 12,218 | 9,921 | 8,803 | 8,949 | 9,590 | 9,358 | 8,911 | 8,985 | 8,955 | 8,442 | -6 | -31 | 11 | |
Grampian, Highlands and Islands | 11,135 | 10,010 | 9,105 | 9,273 | 9,775 | 9,594 | 9,537 | 8,924 | 8,241 | 7,490 | -9 | -33 | 8 | |
Scotland total disposed | 87,504 | 77,147 | 68,781 | 65,356 | 65,805 | 66,232 | 62,370 | 63,994 | 60,872 | 58,794 | -3 | -33 | 11 |
1. Excludes summary applications.
2. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
3. Excludes Sheriff Personal Injury Court.
4. Based on mid-2019 small area population estimates produced by National Records of Scotland.
Cases | Case type | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | % change since 2018-19 | % change since 2010-11 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initiated | Divorce / dissolution | 11,018 | 10,678 | 10,355 | 10,573 | 10,301 | 9,981 | 10,112 | 9,459 | 9,591 | 8,880 | -7 | -19 |
Parental responsibilities & rights | 2,713 | 2,272 | 2,751 | 2,479 | 2,587 | 2,240 | 2,433 | 2,416 | 2,562 | 2,567 | 0 | -5 | |
Interdict | 262 | 329 | 370 | 352 | 292 | 278 | 265 | 310 | 310 | 217 | -30 | -17 | |
Aliment | 89 | 69 | 58 | 77 | 65 | 49 | 46 | 48 | 38 | 48 | 26 | -46 | |
Exclusion order | 26 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 15 | 12 | -20 | -54 | |
Nullity of marriage / civil partnership | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | z | -50 | |
Other | 386 | 316 | 314 | 356 | 340 | 330 | 383 | 410 | 473 | 526 | 11 | 36 | |
Total initiated | 14,496 | 13,679 | 13,862 | 13,853 | 13,605 | 12,892 | 13,250 | 12,652 | 12,989 | 12,251 | -6 | -15 | |
Disposed | Divorce / dissolution | 10,115 | 9,879 | 9,571 | 9,809 | 9,349 | 9,390 | 8,415 | 7,222 | 7,724 | 8,234 | 7 | -19 |
Parental responsibilities & rights | 1,596 | 1,542 | 1,638 | 1,634 | 1,575 | 1,613 | 1,624 | 1,738 | 1,899 | 2,015 | 6 | 26 | |
Interdict | 140 | 137 | 166 | 146 | 152 | 158 | 146 | 156 | 162 | 167 | 3 | 19 | |
Aliment | 50 | 64 | 32 | 54 | 40 | 36 | 40 | 31 | 27 | 31 | 15 | -38 | |
Exclusion order | 8 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 6 | -33 | -25 | |
Nullity of marriage / civil partnership | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -50 | |
Other | 216 | 234 | 210 | 228 | 203 | 236 | 231 | 283 | 262 | 312 | 19 | 44 | |
Total disposed | 12,127 | 11,864 | 11,623 | 11,880 | 11,323 | 11,442 | 10,464 | 9,435 | 10,084 | 10,766 | 7 | -11 |
1. Excludes family-related summary application cases, which are shown separately in Table 8.
2. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
3. Includes Court of Session and sheriff courts.
z refers to data not being applicable.
Case type | Disposed | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initiated | Disposed | Absolvitor | Dismissed | For pursuer | Expenses only | Other | ||||
Defended | Undefended | Defended | Undefended | Defended | Undefended | |||||
Aliment | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Divorce / dissolution | 68 | 55 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 32 |
Ordinary divorce | 40 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Simplified divorce | 26 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 |
Ordinary dissolution | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Simplified dissolution | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Exclusion order3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Interdict | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Nullity of marriage / civil partnership | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Parental responsibilities & rights | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Contact | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Residence | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Other | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 85 | 61 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 33 |
1. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
2. First instance business only – excludes appeals and reclaiming motions.
3. Exclusion orders which suspend the right of a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant to occupy the family home.
Case type | Disposed | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initiated | Disposed | Absolvitor | For pursuer | Granted | Dismissed3 | Expenses only3 | Other | ||
Defended | Undefended | ||||||||
Aliment | 47 | 31 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 1 |
Divorce / dissolution | 8,812 | 8,179 | 3 | 257 | 2,845 | 4,761 | 291 | 0 | 22 |
Ordinary divorce | 3,677 | 3,219 | 3 | 257 | 2,838 | 0 | 99 | 0 | 22 |
Simplified divorce | 5,075 | 4,908 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4,717 | 191 | 0 | 0 |
Ordinary dissolution | 12 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Simplified dissolution | 48 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Exclusion order2 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Interdict | 211 | 166 | 0 | 57 | 52 | 2 | 44 | 0 | 11 |
Nullity of marriage / civil partnership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Parental responsibilities & rights | 2,563 | 2,013 | 1 | 732 | 514 | 71 | 584 | 0 | 111 |
Contact | 1,177 | 910 | 1 | 421 | 59 | 2 | 391 | 0 | 36 |
Residence | 974 | 724 | 0 | 208 | 273 | 69 | 119 | 0 | 55 |
Other | 412 | 379 | 0 | 103 | 182 | 0 | 74 | 0 | 20 |
Other | 521 | 310 | 21 | 53 | 123 | 2 | 101 | 0 | 10 |
Total | 12,166 | 10,705 | 26 | 1,105 | 3,539 | 4,837 | 1,042 | 0 | 156 |
1. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
2. Exclusion orders which suspend the right of a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant to occupy the family home.
3. Data from the new case management system is not currently split between 'defended' and 'undefended', therefore these have been combined into a single category.
Case type | Disposed | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initiated | Disposed | Granted | Dismissed | Refused | Other | |
Adoption Petitions3 | 465 | 247 | 235 | 11 | 0 | 1 |
Extend/vary interim order4 | 3,636 | 1,372 | 1,270 | 92 | 3 | 7 |
Children's hearings – appeal4 | 682 | 264 | 99 | 28 | 97 | 40 |
Children's hearings – referral4 | 2,897 | 1,482 | 1,367 | 106 | 0 | 9 |
Children's Hearings Act 2011 - Other5 | 1,446 | 654 | 441 | 195 | 17 | 1 |
Permanence orders with authority to adopt | 367 | 235 | 226 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
1. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
2. The number of summary application cases disposed of is likely an underestimate. For more information see the Civil Justice Statistics in Scotland 2019-20 bulletin (section 4.4).
3. Adoption petitions include both family adoptions and adoptions from care. Statistics on adoptions from care are available from Children's Social Work Statistics additional tables (see www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Children/PubChildrenSocialWork).
4. These case types represent equivalent actions from the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 and the Children's Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011. The statistics reported here differ from those reported by the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration due to differences in definition and timing.
5. "Other" includes Child Protection Order, Child Support, Child Assessment Order as well as a range of miscellaneous cases.
Year | Court | Ordinary | Simplified | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019-20 | Court of Session2 | 27 | 24 | 51 | |
Sheriff courts | Total | 3,116 | 4,716 | 7,832 | |
Mixed sex3,4 | 3,113 | 4,662 | 7,775 | ||
Same sex4 | 3 | 54 | 57 | ||
Total | 3,143 | 4,740 | 7,883 | ||
2018-19 | Court of Session2 | 26 | 30 | 56 | |
Sheriff courts | Total | 2,816 | 4,507 | 7,323 | |
Mixed sex4 | 2,814 | 4,474 | 7,288 | ||
Same sex4 | 2 | 33 | 35 | ||
Total | 2,842 | 4,537 | 7,379 | ||
2017-18 | Court of Session2 | 31 | 26 | 57 | |
Sheriff courts | Total | 2,638 | 4,174 | 6,812 | |
Mixed sex4 | 2,637 | 4,167 | 6,804 | ||
Same sex4 | 1 | 7 | 8 | ||
Total | 2,669 | 4,200 | 6,869 | ||
2016-17 | Court of Session | 40 | 36 | 76 | |
Sheriff courts | 3,088 | 4,776 | 7,864 | ||
Total | 3,128 | 4,812 | 7,940 |
1. The statistics in this table and Table 10 do not equal the total number of disposals for divorce and dissolution shown in Table 6 and Table 7. This is because the statistics in Table 6 and Table 7 include all disposals of divorce/dissolution cases whereas this table and Table 10 only include divorces and dissolutions that were actually granted. In addition the statistics in this table and Table 10 were derived from a different data extract.
2. There have been no same sex divorces granted in the Court of Session since same sex marriages became legal.
3. There were 184 records on which sex was missing in 2019-20 for the sheriff court divorce statistics. Sex was inferred using other information available about these records within the database.
4. The sex for the divorce records refers to an individual's sex at birth.
Year | Court | Ordinary | Simplified | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019-20 | Court of Session | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Sheriff courts | 7 | 44 | 51 | |
Total | 7 | 45 | 52 | |
2018-19 | Court of Session | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Sheriff courts | 5 | 59 | 64 | |
Total | 5 | 62 | 67 | |
2017-18 | Court of Session | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Sheriff courts | 7 | 62 | 69 | |
Total | 7 | 63 | 70 | |
2016-17 | Court of Session | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Sheriff courts | 3 | 75 | 78 | |
Total | 3 | 80 | 83 | |
2015-16 | Court of Session | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Sheriff courts | 5 | 88 | 93 | |
Total | 6 | 90 | 96 | |
2014-15 | Court of Session | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Sheriff courts | 3 | 76 | 79 | |
Total | 3 | 78 | 81 | |
2013-14 | Court of Session | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Sheriff courts | 7 | 51 | 58 | |
Total | 7 | 54 | 61 |
1. The statistics in this table and Table 9 do not equal the total number of disposals for divorce and dissolution shown in Table 6 and Table 7. This is because the statistics in Table 6 and Table 7 include all disposals of divorce/dissolution cases whereas this table and Table 9 only include divorces and dissolutions that were actually granted. In addition the statistics in this table and Table 9 were derived from a different data extract.
Year | Sex1 | Church of Scotland | Roman Catholic | Other Religions | Humanist2 | Civil3 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019-20 | Mixed sex4 | 1,691 | 598 | 816 | 153 | 4,568 | 7,826 |
Same sex | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 49 | 57 | |
Total | 1,692 | 600 | 818 | 156 | 4,617 | 7,883 | |
2018-19 | Mixed sex | 1,770 | 571 | 793 | 116 | 4,094 | 7,344 |
Same sex | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 27 | 35 | |
Total | 1,770 | 571 | 795 | 122 | 4,121 | 7,379 | |
2017-18 | Mixed sex | 1,741 | 550 | 851 | 89 | 3,630 | 6,861 |
Same sex | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 8 | |
Total | 1,741 | 550 | 852 | 90 | 3,636 | 6,869 |
1. The sex for the divorce records refers to an individual's sex at birth.
2. Humanist figures only refer to sheriff courts whose data collection now has a separate Humanist category. If there were Humanist divorces granted in the Court of Session, they would be recorded under 'Civil'.
3. This includes a very small number of irregular marriages. Irregular marriages which took place in Scotland before May 2006 can be made legal when established by a decree of declarator. These are rare, accounting for just 0.03 per cent of all civil and irregular marriages that took place over the last 50 years. More detailed data are available from the marriage and civil partnership section of the National Records of Scotland website. https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/general-publications/vital-events-reference-tables/2019/list-of-data-tables
4. There were 184 records on which sex was missing in 2019-20 for the sheriff court divorce statistics. Sex was inferred using other information available about these records within the database.
Cases | Procedure | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | % change since 2018-19 | % change since 2010-11 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initiated | Court of Session2 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 70 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 9 | 1 | -89 | -75 |
Sheriff: ordinary cause | 9,200 | 6,944 | 5,487 | 4,586 | 4,407 | 5,342 | 4,483 | 5,012 | 4,218 | 4,686 | 11 | -49 | |
Sheriff: commercial | 223 | 266 | 222 | 241 | 378 | 335 | 259 | 249 | 305 | 227 | -26 | 2 | |
Sheriff: summary cause3 | 4,415 | 3,922 | 3,381 | 3,114 | 3,258 | 3,896 | 2,336 | 5 | 6 | 4 | -33 | -100 | |
Sheriff: small claim3, 4 | 31,533 | 29,110 | 26,803 | 27,444 | 25,642 | 25,338 | 17,522 | 7 | 5 | 2 | -60 | -100 | |
Sheriff: simple procedure3 | z | z | z | z | z | z | 5,961 | 32,077 | 25,210 | 29,674 | 18 | z | |
Total initiated | 45,375 | 40,250 | 35,899 | 35,390 | 33,755 | 34,919 | 30,567 | 37,364 | 29,753 | 34,594 | 16 | -24 | |
Disposed | Court of Session2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 6 | -25 | 200 |
Sheriff: ordinary cause | 7,729 | 5,885 | 4,534 | 3,566 | 3,520 | 3,902 | 3,560 | 3,356 | 3,344 | 3,195 | -4 | -59 | |
Sheriff: commercial | 166 | 175 | 117 | 143 | 303 | 222 | 183 | 162 | 208 | 173 | -17 | 4 | |
Sheriff: summary cause3 | 4,337 | 3,884 | 3,324 | 2,906 | 3,199 | 3,490 | 3,024 | 284 | 35 | 26 | -26 | -99 | |
Sheriff: small claim3, 4 | 31,026 | 28,934 | 26,023 | 25,876 | 26,319 | 24,953 | 22,149 | 1,214 | 106 | 46 | -57 | -100 | |
Sheriff: simple procedure3 | z | z | z | z | z | z | 962 | 27,549 | 26,569 | 25,461 | -4 | z | |
Total disposed | 43,260 | 38,880 | 34,000 | 32,497 | 33,345 | 32,575 | 29,891 | 32,573 | 30,270 | 28,907 | -5 | -33 |
1. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
2. First instance business only – excludes appeals and reclaiming motions.
3. The first phase of simple procedure replaced the small claims and the more straightforward cases under summary cause procedure from 28 November 2016. More complex summary cause cases will move during phase two of simple procedure in due course.
4. There are still a small number of small claims cases being registered mainly under the EU small claims procedure.
z refers to data not being applicable.
Procedure | Initiated | Disposed | Disposed | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Absolvitor | For pursuer | Decree by default | Dismissed2 | Expenses only2 | Other | ||||
Defended | Undefended | ||||||||
Court of Session3 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sheriff: ordinary cause | 4,686 | 3,195 | 328 | 192 | 2,077 | 80 | 498 | 0 | 20 |
Sheriff: commercial | 227 | 173 | 45 | 18 | 80 | 6 | 19 | 0 | 5 |
Sheriff: summary cause4 | 4 | 26 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 0 |
Sheriff: small claim4 | 2 | 46 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 1 |
Sheriff: simple procedure4 | 29,674 | 25,461 | 701 | 755 | 15,172 | 0 | 8,575 | 246 | 12 |
Total | 34,594 | 28,907 | 1,081 | 966 | 17,336 | 86 | 9,154 | 246 | 38 |
1. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
2. Data from the new case management system is not currently split between 'defended' and 'undefended', therefore these have been combined into a single category.
3. First instance business only – excludes appeals and reclaiming motions.
4. The first phase of simple procedure replaced the small claims and the more straightforward cases under summary cause procedure from 28 November 2016. More complex summary cause cases will move during phase two of simple procedure in due course.
Cases | Case type | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | % change since 2018-19 | % change since 2010-11 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initiated | Road traffic accident | 5,790 | 4,613 | 5,106 | 4,770 | 5,143 | 4,897 | 4,955 | 5,492 | 5,462 | 5,113 | -6 | -12 |
Accident at work | 1,802 | 1,750 | 1,758 | 1,797 | 1,817 | 1,721 | 1,480 | 1,547 | 1,568 | 1,385 | -12 | -23 | |
Clinical negligence | 207 | 222 | 203 | 262 | 629 | 388 | 351 | 901 | 342 | 273 | -20 | 32 | |
Asbestos | 345 | 294 | 436 | 320 | 458 | 413 | 470 | 568 | 638 | 615 | -4 | 78 | |
Other | 955 | 931 | 1,190 | 1,138 | 1,163 | 1,347 | 1,122 | 935 | 1,136 | 1,190 | 5 | 25 | |
Total initiated | 9,099 | 7,810 | 8,693 | 8,287 | 9,210 | 8,766 | 8,378 | 9,443 | 9,146 | 8,576 | -6 | -6 | |
Disposed | Road traffic accident | 4,607 | 4,619 | 4,130 | 3,893 | 3,970 | 4,197 | 3,630 | 4,382 | 4,258 | 4,087 | -4 | -11 |
Accident at work | 1,529 | 1,627 | 1,570 | 1,653 | 1,623 | 1,560 | 1,205 | 1,328 | 1,408 | 1,382 | -2 | -10 | |
Clinical negligence | 124 | 133 | 154 | 178 | 195 | 238 | 232 | 231 | 299 | 260 | -13 | 110 | |
Asbestos | 168 | 216 | 365 | 598 | 633 | 430 | 531 | 589 | 582 | 578 | -1 | 244 | |
Other | 1,074 | 1,775 | 1,444 | 1,079 | 941 | 1,108 | 994 | 867 | 880 | 991 | 13 | -8 | |
Total disposed | 7,502 | 8,370 | 7,663 | 7,401 | 7,362 | 7,533 | 6,592 | 7,397 | 7,427 | 7,298 | -2 | -3 |
1. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
2. Includes Court of Session, sheriff courts and Sheriff Personal Injury Court.
Case type | Initiated | Disposed | Disposed | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Absolvitor | Dismissed | For pursuer | Expenses only | Other | ||||||
Defended | Undefended | Defended | Undefended | Defended | Undefended | |||||
Road traffic accident | 112 | 116 | 81 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
Accident at work4 | 84 | 92 | 69 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Clinical negligence | 133 | 117 | 97 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Asbestos5 | 116 | 112 | 58 | 3 | 1 | 45 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Other6 | 95 | 109 | 38 | 36 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
Total | 540 | 546 | 343 | 42 | 1 | 120 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 29 |
1. These statistics relate to cases that use personal injury procedure and standard ordinary cause procedure.
2. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
3. First instance business only – excludes appeals and reclaiming motions.
4. Accident at work includes vibration white finger and repetitive strain injury.
5. Asbestos includes all asbestos related conditions like asbestosis, pleural plaques, pleural thickening and mesothelioma.
6. Relative's claim is now included within 'Other'.
Case type | Initiated | Disposed | Disposed | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Absolvitor | For pursuer | Decree by default | Dismissed4 | Other | ||||
Defended | Undefended | |||||||
Road traffic accident | 1,835 | 1,145 | 394 | 621 | 51 | 5 | 68 | 6 |
Accident at work | 100 | 80 | 38 | 36 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Clinical negligence | 44 | 42 | 30 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
Asbestos | 7 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Slip, trip or fall | 140 | 97 | 51 | 35 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
Other | 133 | 73 | 37 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
Total | 2,259 | 1,441 | 554 | 717 | 59 | 5 | 97 | 9 |
1. From 2 November 2009 personal injury cases with a claim amount of more than £5,000 are raised under an ordinary cause - personal injury court procedure. Either party can request permission from the sheriff to opt out of this procedure and use the standard ordinary cause procedure. All personal injury cases with a claim amount of more than £5,000 are shown in the table above, irrespective of the procedure used.
2. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
3. Excludes Sheriff Personal Injury Court.
4. Data from the new case management system is not currently split between 'defended' and 'undefended', therefore these have been combined into a single category.
Case type | Initiated | Disposed | Disposed | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Absolvitor | For pursuer | Decree by default | Dismissed3 | Other | ||||
Defended | Undefended | |||||||
Road traffic accident | 2,386 | 2,086 | 645 | 633 | 198 | 4 | 592 | 14 |
Accident at work | 21 | 23 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Clinical negligence | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Asbestos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Slip, trip or fall | 65 | 64 | 38 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
Other | 68 | 61 | 27 | 16 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 0 |
Total | 2,557 | 2,234 | 723 | 667 | 212 | 5 | 613 | 14 |
1. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
2. Excludes Sheriff Personal Injury Court.
3. Data from the new case management system is not currently split between 'defended' and 'undefended', therefore these have been combined into a single category.
Case Type | Initiated | Disposed | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015-164 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2015-164 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | |
Road traffic accident | 313 | 832 | 1,036 | 985 | 780 | 72 | 438 | 744 | 883 | 740 |
Accident at work5 | 469 | 1,153 | 1,272 | 1,305 | 1,180 | 75 | 555 | 1,006 | 1,153 | 1,187 |
Clinical negligence | 30 | 105 | 83 | 133 | 79 | 1 | 29 | 49 | 73 | 101 |
Asbestos6 | 124 | 370 | 455 | 514 | 492 | 0 | 110 | 363 | 443 | 462 |
Slip, Trip or Fall | 0 | 86 | 208 | 345 | 306 | 0 | 6 | 115 | 197 | 325 |
Other7 | 207 | 410 | 228 | 309 | 383 | 24 | 225 | 264 | 213 | 262 |
Total | 1,143 | 2,956 | 3,282 | 3,591 | 3,220 | 172 | 1,363 | 2,541 | 2,962 | 3,077 |
1. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
2. Includes cases initiated and disposed within Personal Injury Chapter 36A.
3. Sheriff Personal Injury Court was established on 22 September 2015.
4. Figures for 2015-16 are part of a financial year, September 2015 to March 2016.
5. Accident at work includes vibration white finger and repetitive strain injury.
6. Asbestos include all asbestos related conditions like pleural plaques, mesothelioma, asbestosis and pleural thickening.
7. Relatives claim cases are included in 'Other'.
Cases | Procedure | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | % change since 2018-19 | % change since 2010-11 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initiated | Court of Session2 | 300 | 367 | 357 | 369 | 286 | 409 | 170 | 146 | 174 | 173 | -1 | -42 |
Sheriff: ordinary cause | 630 | 491 | 496 | 447 | 400 | 412 | 658 | 538 | 748 | 1,351 | 81 | 114 | |
Sheriff: commercial | 163 | 37 | 34 | 51 | 46 | 15 | 25 | 13 | 17 | 9 | -47 | -94 | |
Sheriff: summary cause3 | 453 | 488 | 382 | 441 | 271 | 222 | 292 | 1 | 0 | 3 | z | -99 | |
Sheriff: small claim3 | 2,586 | 2,364 | 2,009 | 1,887 | 1,348 | 1,238 | 1,122 | 0 | 0 | 3 | z | -100 | |
Sheriff: simple procedure3 | z | z | z | z | z | z | 543 | 2,185 | 2,188 | 2,299 | 5 | z | |
Total initiated | 4,132 | 3,747 | 3,278 | 3,195 | 2,351 | 2,296 | 2,810 | 2,883 | 3,127 | 3,838 | 23 | -7 | |
Disposed | Court of Session2 | 315 | 313 | 298 | 359 | 355 | 249 | 212 | 327 | 144 | 160 | 11 | -49 |
Sheriff: ordinary cause | 595 | 675 | 623 | 435 | 304 | 263 | 390 | 423 | 422 | 439 | 4 | -26 | |
Sheriff: commercial | 18 | 30 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 140 | 19 | 10 | 11 | 9 | -18 | -50 | |
Sheriff: summary cause3 | 457 | 452 | 383 | 340 | 287 | 205 | 267 | 41 | 1 | 3 | 200 | -99 | |
Sheriff: small claim3 | 2,397 | 2,149 | 1,982 | 1,758 | 1,380 | 1,266 | 1,239 | 87 | 3 | 2 | -33 | -100 | |
Sheriff: simple procedure3 | z | z | z | z | z | z | 49 | 1,843 | 2,260 | 2,237 | -1 | z | |
Total disposed | 3,782 | 3,619 | 3,294 | 2,908 | 2,350 | 2,123 | 2,176 | 2,731 | 2,841 | 2,850 | 0 | -25 |
1. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
2. Includes ordinary and commercial cases. Data refers to first instance business only - excludes appeals and reclaiming motions.
3. The first phase of simple procedure replaced the small claims and the more straightforward cases under summary cause procedure from 28 November 2016. More complex summary cause cases will move during phase two of simple procedure in due course.
z refers to data not being applicable.
Court type | Procedure | Initiated | Disposed | Disposed | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Absolvitor | For Pursuer | Dismissed2 | Expenses Only2 | Other | |||||
Defended | Undefended | ||||||||
Court of Session3 | Ordinary | 104 | 94 | 74 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
Commercial | 69 | 66 | 52 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
Court of Session total | 173 | 160 | 126 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 1 | |
Sheriff courts | Small claim4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Ordinary cause | 1,351 | 439 | 197 | 113 | 62 | 57 | 0 | 10 | |
Summary cause4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
Commercial | 9 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
Simple procedure4 | 2,299 | 2,237 | 659 | 59 | 324 | 1,167 | 21 | 7 | |
Sheriff courts total | 3,665 | 2,690 | 862 | 174 | 387 | 1,228 | 21 | 18 | |
Civil courts total | 3,838 | 2,850 | 988 | 185 | 398 | 1,239 | 21 | 19 |
1. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
2. Data from the new case management system is not currently split between 'defended' and 'undefended', therefore these have been combined into a single category
3. First instance business only – excludes appeals and reclaiming motions.
4. The first phase of simple procedure replaced the small claims and the more straightforward cases under summary cause procedure from 28 November 2016.
More complex summary cause cases will move during phase two of simple procedure in due course.
Cases | Procedure | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | % change since 2018-19 | % change since 2010-11 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initiated | Ordinary cause2 | 4,245 | 79 | 64 | 54 | 67 | 58 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | z | -100 |
Commercial | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | z | z | |
Summary application2 | 975 | 6,673 | 5,321 | 4,715 | 3,201 | 1,816 | 1,736 | 2,056 | 1,869 | 2,204 | 18 | 126 | |
Total initiated | 5,224 | 6,752 | 5,385 | 4,770 | 3,268 | 1,874 | 1,753 | 2,056 | 1,869 | 2,204 | 18 | -58 | |
Disposed | Ordinary cause | 5,083 | 253 | 90 | 74 | 61 | 53 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | z | -100 |
Commercial | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | z | -100 | |
Summary application3 | 489 | 3,987 | 4,003 | 3,386 | 2,597 | 1,570 | 1,480 | 1,650 | 1,616 | 1,848 | 14 | z | |
Total disposed | 5,573 | 4,243 | 4,093 | 3,460 | 2,659 | 1,623 | 1,506 | 1,650 | 1,616 | 1,848 | 14 | -67 |
1. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
2. Historically, repossession cases relating to mortgages and loans were dealt with under ordinary cause procedure. However, the introduction of the Home Owner and Debtor Protection (Scotland) Act 2010 on 30 September 2010 led to these cases being raised instead as summary applications.
3. The number of summary application cases disposed of is likely to be an underestimate. Please see section 5.4 in the bulletin.
z refers to data not being applicable.
Procedure |
Initiated | Disposed | Disposed | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Absolvitor | For pursuer | Decree by default | Dismissed | Other3 | ||||
Defended | Undefended | |||||||
Repossession summary application | 2,204 | 1,848 | 5 | 114 | 977 | 51 | 639 | 62 |
1. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
2. The number of cases disposed of is likely to be an underestimate.
3. Includes cases disposed as refused, dropped from roll and withdrawn.
Cases | Procedure | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | % change since 2018-19 | % change since 2010-11 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initiated | Summary cause | 14,160 | 13,979 | 10,532 | 11,778 | 13,750 | 14,690 | 14,304 | 14,604 | 12,407 | 10,520 | -15 | -26 |
Disposed | Summary cause | 14,906 | 13,972 | 12,358 | 11,613 | 12,892 | 13,905 | 14,459 | 13,776 | 11,933 | 10,610 | -11 | -29 |
1. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
Procedure | Initiated | Disposed | Disposed | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Absolvitor | For pursuer | Decree by default | Dismissed3 | Expenses only3 | Other4 | ||||
Defended | Undefended | ||||||||
Eviction summary cause | 10,520 | 10,610 | 9 | 363 | 5,814 | 120 | 4,252 | 0 | 52 |
1. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
2. The number of cases disposed of is likely to be an underestimate.
3. Data from the new case management system is not currently split between 'defended' and 'undefended', therefore these have been combined into a single category.
4. Includes cases disposed as refused, dropped from roll and withdrawn.
2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | % change since 2018-19 | % change since 2010-11 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initiated | Judicial review | ||||||||||||
Environmental | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | z | z | |
Housing | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 100 | 350 | |
Immigrants | 266 | 195 | 224 | 231 | 323 | 393 | 262 | 267 | 316 | 259 | -18 | -3 | |
Licensing board | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | z | z | |
Planning permission | 8 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 20 | -25 | |
Prison authorities | 7 | 3 | 10 | 17 | 17 | 24 | 6 | 20 | 10 | 14 | 40 | 100 | |
Social security benefits | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | z | z | |
Other | 54 | 31 | 48 | 49 | 39 | 55 | 48 | 45 | 61 | 65 | 7 | 20 | |
Total | 342 | 243 | 293 | 308 | 399 | 496 | 343 | 357 | 402 | 362 | -10 | 6 | |
Disposed | Judicial review | ||||||||||||
Environmental | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -100 | -100 | |
Housing | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 17 | 15 | 10 | 15 | 50 | 400 | |
Immigrants | 182 | 267 | 229 | 203 | 229 | 314 | 397 | 308 | 365 | 256 | -30 | 41 | |
Licensing board | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | z | z | |
Planning permission | 5 | 11 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | -40 | |
Prison authorities | 12 | 95 | 101 | 19 | 10 | 23 | 13 | 24 | 21 | 15 | -29 | 25 | |
Social security benefits | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | -100 | z | |
Other | 39 | 34 | 26 | 40 | 38 | 43 | 50 | 51 | 48 | 63 | 31 | 62 | |
Total | 242 | 412 | 370 | 270 | 287 | 402 | 485 | 410 | 449 | 353 | -21 | 46 |
1. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
z refers to data not being applicable.
Cases | Initiated | Disposed | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015-163 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2015-163 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | |
Appeals from small claim | 2 | 30 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 0 |
Miscellaneous | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Payment | 2 | 28 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
Appeals from summary cause | 2 | 45 | 43 | 12 | 55 | 0 | 26 | 38 | 15 | 14 |
Heritable | 2 | 29 | 27 | 11 | 51 | 0 | 21 | 25 | 5 | 13 |
Payment | 0 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
Personal injury | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Miscellaneous | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
Appeals from simple procedure | 0 | 0 | 41 | 51 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 36 | 40 |
Debt | 0 | 0 | 40 | 42 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 32 | 35 |
Delivery | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Damages | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
Implement | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Appeals from ordinary cause4 | 44 | 175 | 140 | 122 | 127 | 3 | 100 | 118 | 107 | 80 |
Debt | 23 | 40 | 35 | 21 | 22 | 2 | 38 | 29 | 16 | 12 |
Family | 8 | 45 | 44 | 44 | 42 | 0 | 27 | 35 | 28 | 29 |
Personal injury | 3 | 14 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 8 |
Commercial | 2 | 7 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 7 |
Heritable | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Other | 7 | 61 | 44 | 38 | 47 | 0 | 24 | 35 | 41 | 24 |
Other appeals5 | 0 | 36 | 53 | 79 | 62 | 0 | 25 | 49 | 45 | 34 |
Total | 48 | 286 | 286 | 266 | 294 | 3 | 169 | 235 | 203 | 168 |
1. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
2. The Sheriff Appeal Court (Civil) was established on 1st January 2016.
3. Figures for 2015-16 are part of a financial year, January 2016 to March 2016.
4. Includes summary applications.
5. Other appeals include adults with incapacity, liquidation, sequestration, proceeds of crime and miscellaneous cases.
Year | Initiated | Disposed | Disposed | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Granted | Refused | Withdrawn | |||
2019-20 | 15 | 16 | 1 | 14 | 1 |
2018-19 | 18 | 19 | 2 | 15 | 2 |
2017-18 | 20 | 25 | 2 | 23 | 0 |
2016-17 | 41 | 45 | 6 | 35 | 4 |
2015-162 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
1. Figures for initiations and disposals do not necessarily refer to the same cases.
2. Applications relate to the period from 22 September 2015 and therefore do not cover a full financial year.
Initiated Cases | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Repossession | 5,224 | 6,752 | 5,385 | 4,770 | 3,268 | 1,874 | 1,753 | 2,056 | 1,869 | 2,204 |
Damages | 4,132 | 3,747 | 3,278 | 3,195 | 2,351 | 2,296 | 2,810 | 2,883 | 3,127 | 3,838 |
Personal Injury | 9,099 | 7,810 | 8,693 | 8,287 | 9,210 | 8,766 | 8,378 | 9,443 | 9,146 | 8,576 |
Family | 14,496 | 13,679 | 13,862 | 13,853 | 13,605 | 12,892 | 13,250 | 12,652 | 12,989 | 12,251 |
Eviction | 14,160 | 13,979 | 10,532 | 11,778 | 13,750 | 14,690 | 14,304 | 14,604 | 12,407 | 10,520 |
Debt | 45,375 | 40,250 | 35,899 | 35,390 | 33,755 | 34,919 | 30,567 | 37,364 | 29,753 | 34,594 |
Other | 5,939 | 5,739 | 5,093 | 4,514 | 4,031 | 4,100 | 4,314 | 4,238 | 4,685 | 4,655 |
All cases | 98,425 | 91,956 | 82,742 | 81,787 | 79,970 | 79,537 | 75,376 | 83,240 | 73,976 | 76,638 |
1. Excludes appeals and reclaiming motions in the Inner House.
2. Includes summary applications for repossession cases only.
3. Sheriff Personal Injury Court was established on 22 September 2015.
Family subject matters | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Appeals - family | z | z | z | 32 | 39 | 34 | 38 | 29 |
Contact/parentage | 3,590 | 3,345 | 3,043 | 2,669 | 2,804 | 2,599 | 2,767 | 2,927 |
Divorce/separation | 2,295 | 2,240 | 1,929 | 1,814 | 1,817 | 1,688 | 1,627 | 1,699 |
Property/monetary | 343 | 321 | 294 | 262 | 247 | 236 | 250 | 232 |
Protective order | 530 | 407 | 328 | 284 | 301 | 315 | 290 | 265 |
Residence | 1,412 | 1,360 | 1,190 | 1,120 | 1,192 | 1,179 | 1,350 | 1,575 |
Family/matrimonial - other | 643 | 697 | 655 | 655 | 688 | 764 | 808 | 1,040 |
Total civil legal aid grants - family | 8,813 | 8,370 | 7,439 | 6,836 | 7,088 | 6,815 | 7,130 | 7,767 |
Non-family subject matters | ||||||||
Adults with incapacity | 2,663 | 3,024 | 3,587 | 4,083 | 4,385 | 4,603 | 4,802 | 5,123 |
Appeals - other | 126 | 131 | 107 | 106 | 100 | 59 | 53 | 109 |
Breach of contract | 30 | 31 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 6 |
Debt | 125 | 99 | 122 | 109 | 120 | 82 | 58 | 60 |
Discrimination | z | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 11 |
Fatal accident inquiries | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 14 | 19 | 10 |
Housing/recovery of heritable property | 758 | 807 | 787 | 692 | 840 | 791 | 729 | 852 |
Immigration and asylum | 173 | 198 | 277 | 333 | 234 | 189 | 301 | 238 |
Judicial review | 68 | 75 | 65 | 80 | 35 | 90 | 64 | 76 |
Medical negligence | 58 | 94 | 86 | 61 | 76 | 74 | 54 | 54 |
Reparation | 231 | 235 | 187 | 193 | 239 | 90 | 103 | 101 |
Other | 374 | 330 | 292 | 295 | 268 | 273 | 233 | 418 |
Total civil legal aid grants - non-family | 4,614 | 5,039 | 5,538 | 5,981 | 6,337 | 6,278 | 6,431 | 7,058 |
Total civil legal aid grants | 13,427 | 13,409 | 12,977 | 12,817 | 13,425 | 13,093 | 13,561 | 14,825 |
1. Figures supplied by the Scottish Legal Aid Board.
2. Note that, granted cases may not always proceed.
z refers to data not being applicable.
7.2 Ancillary crave analyses
Case category | Total writs | Number of craves | Percentages of writs with… | Total craves | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3+ | 1 crave | 2 craves | 3+ craves | ||||
Debt | 34,592 | 33,024 | 902 | 666 | 95% | 3% | 2% | 37,177 | |
Eviction | 10,520 | 6,102 | 3,667 | 751 | 58% | 35% | 7% | 15,697 | |
Family | Total Family | 12,165 | 10,118 | 894 | 1,153 | 83% | 7% | 9% | 16,621 |
Divorce/Dissolution | 8,812 | 8,137 | 274 | 401 | 92% | 3% | 5% | 10,534 | |
Parental responsibilities and rights | 2,563 | 1,526 | 496 | 541 | 60% | 19% | 21% | 4,555 | |
Other1 | 790 | 455 | 124 | 211 | 58% | 16% | 27% | 1,532 | |
Personal Injury2 | 8,036 | 7,416 | 604 | 16 | 92% | 8% | 0% | 8,678 | |
Damages | 3,666 | 3,518 | 128 | 20 | 96% | 3% | 1% | 3,852 | |
Repossession3 | 2,204 | 1,931 | 53 | 220 | 88% | 2% | 10% | 2,806 | |
Other | 3,283 | 2,248 | 667 | 368 | 68% | 20% | 11% | 5,041 | |
Total | 74,466 | 64,357 | 6,915 | 3,194 | 86% | 9% | 4% | 89,872 |
1. Family-Other includes 'Other', Aliment, Interdict, Exclusion order and Nullity of marriage/ civil partnership.
2. Personal Injury data includes Sheriff Personal Injury Court.
3. All other summary application registrations are excluded in this Table except Repossessions.
Crave | Count | Craves | Count |
---|---|---|---|
Payment of money | 36,256 | Capital Sum | 2 |
Other | 271 | Delivery of child | 1 |
Expenses | 241 | Exclusion order | 1 |
Delivery of moveable goods | 236 | Incidental Order | 1 |
Damages | 91 | Occupancy Rights | 1 |
Repossession | 37 | Parental Rights and Responsibilities | 1 |
Declarator | 25 | ||
Implement | 9 | Total craves count | 37,177 |
Interdict | 4 | Total writs | 34,592 |
Crave | Count | Crave | Count |
---|---|---|---|
Recovery of heritable property | 6,813 | Occupancy Rights | 2 |
Payment of money | 4,379 | Capital Sum | 1 |
Repossession | 2,402 | Delivery of moveable goods | 1 |
Summary Cause Recovery of Property | 1,161 | ||
Expenses | 786 | ||
Other | 144 | ||
Damages | 3 | ||
Parental Rights and Responsibilities | 3 | Total craves count | 15,697 |
Declarator | 2 | Total writs | 10,520 |
Crave | Count | Crave | Count |
---|---|---|---|
Divorce | 8,751 | Exclusion order | 21 |
Other | 273 | Periodical Allowance | 20 |
Expenses | 227 | Interim Interdict | 16 |
Capital Sum | 173 | Declarator | 15 |
Division and Sale | 171 | Interim aliment | 14 |
Payment of money | 121 | Parental Rights and Responsibilities | 10 |
Intimation to interested party | 120 | Delivery of moveable goods | 9 |
Interdict | 103 | Non-Harassment Order | 6 |
Transfer of Property | 101 | Occupancy Rights | 6 |
Residence of child | 88 | Delivery of child | 3 |
Pension Sharing Order | 85 | Implement | 2 |
Dissolution | 61 | Interim Trustee | 2 |
Contact | 40 | ||
Incidental Order | 37 | ||
Aliment | 36 | Total craves count | 10,534 |
Power of Arrest | 23 | Total writs | 8,812 |
Crave | Count | Crave | Count |
---|---|---|---|
Contact | 1,354 | Interim aliment | 3 |
Residence of child | 1,168 | Payment of money | 2 |
Parental Rights and Responsibilities | 593 | Aliment | 1 |
Other | 391 | Capital Sum | 1 |
Interdict | 333 | Delivery of moveable goods | 1 |
Expenses | 254 | Incidental Order | 1 |
Intimation to interested party | 232 | Removal of Guardian | 1 |
Delivery of child | 93 | Transfer of Property | 1 |
Interim Interdict | 57 | ||
Power of Arrest | 31 | ||
Declarator | 28 | ||
Non-Harassment Order | 6 | Total craves count | 4,555 |
Exclusion order | 4 | Total writs | 2,563 |
Crave | Count | Crave | Count |
---|---|---|---|
Other | 358 | Exclusion order | 26 |
Interdict | 309 | Interim Interdict | 14 |
Declarator | 142 | Non-Harassment Order | 13 |
Residence of child | 132 | Division and Sale | 7 |
Delivery of child | 103 | Transfer of Property | 6 |
Contact | 77 | Delivery of moveable goods | 3 |
Expenses | 62 | Occupancy Rights | 3 |
Parental Rights and Responsibilities | 54 | Implement | 2 |
Capital Sum | 51 | ||
Aliment | 49 | ||
Power of Arrest | 44 | ||
Intimation to interested party | 40 | Total craves count | 1,532 |
Payment of money | 37 | Total writs | 790 |
Crave | Count |
---|---|
Damages | 7,845 |
Payment of money | 291 |
Expenses | 267 |
Provisional damages | 229 |
Other | 22 |
Declarator | 13 |
Personal Injury Summary Cause | 11 |
Total craves count | 8,678 |
Total writs | 8,036 |
Crave | Count |
---|---|
Damages | 3,647 |
Payment of money | 139 |
Expenses | 45 |
Other | 15 |
Declarator | 5 |
Interdict | 1 |
Total craves | 3,852 |
Total writs | 3,666 |
Crave | Count |
---|---|
Repossession | 2,191 |
Other | 304 |
Declarator | 165 |
Expenses | 103 |
Payment of money | 17 |
Recovery of heritable property | 15 |
Intimation to interested party | 11 |
Total craves count | 2,806 |
Total writs | 2,204 |
Crave | Count | Crave | Count |
---|---|---|---|
Delivery of moveable goods | 1714 | Interim Interdict | 20 |
Payment of money | 1024 | Intimation to interested party | 19 |
Other | 657 | Capital Sum | 14 |
Interdict | 584 | Occupancy Rights | 2 |
Declarator | 309 | Transfer of Property | 2 |
Division and Sale | 200 | Delivery of child | 1 |
Expenses | 200 | Exclusion order | 1 |
Implement | 115 | Incidental Order | 1 |
Prove the tenor | 60 | Pension Sharing Order | 1 |
Power of Arrest | 39 | ||
Repossession | 31 | ||
Non-Harassment Order | 25 | Total craves count | 5,041 |
Damages | 22 | Total writs | 3,283 |
Contact
Email: justice_analysts@gov.scot
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