Scottish court fees 2025-2027: consultation
We are consulting on proposals for 3% court fee increases in April 2026 and April 2027. These interim measures aim to protect court fee income for the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service while a wider review of the fee structure is carried out.
Open
20 days to respond
Respond online
Ministerial foreword
Scotland’s courts play a vital role in upholding the rule of law and ensuring access to justice for all. The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining a justice system that is fair, accessible, and financially sustainable. A Court Fee Working Group has been established to examine the structure and operation of court fees. This is a complex task which we know will take some time to complete. The recommendations of this group will inform a full public consultation which will contain proposals for structural reform of the court fee system.
This consultation represents an interim step to protect the financial sustainability of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS). It proposes modest, inflation-based increases to court fees for 2026-2027 and 2027-2028. These proposals are intended to ensure that court fee income keeps pace with rising costs and that SCTS can continue to deliver high-quality efficient and effective services.
The Scottish Government remains firmly committed to protecting access to justice. Our system of fee exemptions and legal aid ensures that access to justice is maintained.
I encourage all those with an interest in the justice system to respond to this consultation.
Siobhian Brown
Minister for Victims and Community Safety