Sheriff Commission

See Register of Sheriffs' Commissions for details about this register.



Process Steps

Additional Information

1.1 CAJR manager or responsible registration officer may receive notification (by email or by telephone) from the relevant Court to inform you that the Royal Warrant will be submitted. This will be posted by the Court (usually by the personal secretary to the sheriff principal) and addressed to the Keeper. A member of Secretariat should present this to the CAJR manager or responsible registration officer.

1.2 On the Sheriff Commissions spreadsheet in the CAJR Fileshare enter next Commission number, Name of Sheriff and Sheriffdom.

1.3 Contact RoS Secretariat to confirm when the document can be signed by a Great Seal signatory.

1.4 The warrant requires a docquet to be added.

1.4.1 Write on the back of the Royal Warrant first in pencil then using archive ink:

CAJR Fileshare - O:\Registration\Public\CAJR

Warrant

Edinburgh (date) day of (month) in the year Two thousand and (year) This Commission in favour of (name), Esquire, as Sheriff Principal of (sheriffdom) has been registered in the Register of Sheriff Commissions of the Registers of Scotland.

Signed xxxxxxxxx

(name and title of Great Seal signatory)

Example

"Edinburgh Fourth day of October in the year Two thousand and sixteen. This Commission in favour of Edward Bruce Logan, Esquire, as Sheriff Principal of Glasgow and Strathkelvin, has been registered in the Register of Sheriff Commissions of the Registers of Scotland"

In the past these commissions have made reference to the 'Chancery Office'. This is a department which was a predecessor of CAJR. A decision has been taken by the Scottish Government Civil Law and Legal System Division in conjunction with RoS that such references will be to the particular register that warrants are written in (e.g. the Register of Sheriffs' Commissions) rather than the Chancery Office. Therefore the wording of the warrant will now make reference to "registered in the Register of Sheriffs Commissions". 

1.5 Once signed by Great Seal signatory, take a photocopy of the Royal Warrant, including backing, and write on front:

1.6 Go to letter template, available in the CAJR Fileshare:

1.6.1 Enter relevant details on the covering letter for returning Royal Warrant to the personal secretary to the sheriff principal. Print two copies – one for file, the other to be sent out with the Royal Warrant. Send letter and Royal Warrant by secure DX.

1.7 Go to template for sheriff principal commission, available in the CAJR Fileshare:

1.7.1 This is the template for compiling the Register of Sheriff Commissions. From the copy of the Royal Warrant enter the relevant details of the commission. Amend the wording of the template if required. If the Great Seal signatory is not the Keeper, 'scan-to-me' the signature and replace that of the Keeper. Ensure the commission is one page only.

1.8 Print one copy on plain A4 paper and another on Chancery paper. Plain paper copy to be retained in file for that commission and placed into Sheriff Principal Commission correspondence folder. Copy printed on Chancery paper is retained in Sheriff Commissions Record Volume and Index folder. Both folders are kept in room 1C-05 MBH.

Great Seal signatories

Further details on the Great Seal signatories are available from the CAJR Team leader.

  • No. (add numerical)
  • Name of individual
  • Sheriff Principal of (add Sheriffdom)


Registers of Scotland (RoS) seeks to ensure that the information published in the CAJR Manual is up to date and accurate but it may be amended from time to time.
The Manual is an internal document intended for RoS staff only. The information in the Manual does not constitute legal or professional advice and RoS cannot accept any liability for actions arising from its use.
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