Sheriff Court

The Sheriff Court is the Scottish court that handles applications for Confirmation (the Scottish equivalent of probate). The application is lodged with the sheriff court for the district where the deceased was domiciled at the time of death. [source: scotcourts/guide-to-deceaseds-estate-2026-05-03.html]

The sheriff clerk's office is the practical point of contact for executors. For small estates (gross value £36,000 or less), the sheriff clerk can help complete the inventory at an in-person appointment. For large estates, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service is prohibited from assisting applicants and recommends seeking legal advice. [source: scotcourts/small-estates-2026-05-03.html] [source: scotcourts/large-estates-2026-05-03.html]

Sheriff courts also handle the dative petition — the additional court step that appoints an executor-dative where the deceased left no will and the estate is large. The petition itself is separate from the confirmation application that follows it. [source: scotcourts/guide-to-deceaseds-estate-2026-05-03.html]

The Sheriff Court is part of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS). It is structurally and procedurally distinct from the Probate Registry in England and Wales, which sits under HM Courts & Tribunals Service. → Confirmation in Scotland

Last verified: 3 May 2026 against scotcourts.gov.uk.