Banff Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court

• About the court
• Accessibility
• Complaints and feedback
• Commissary
• Contact the court
• Court Rolls
• Difficulty using the phone
• Directions to court
• Facilities
• Latest covid-19 information
• New, first instance custodies
• On arrival
• Opening times
• Pay a fine
• Public holidays
• Sheriffdom orders
• Useful websites

About the court

Built around 1871, the Court was designed by architect James Matthews of Aberdeen. As well as the Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court, the building houses the Procurator Fiscal’s Office, the Council Chambers and some Aberdeenshire Council Offices.

There is one courtroom within Banff Sheriff Court.

The Sheriff Court normally sits on Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursdays and Fridays every second week and the Justice of the Peace Court sits every fourth Thursday. There is one full-time resident Sheriff at Banff, currently Sheriff Robert McDonald. But many other part-time Sheriffs sit at Banff occasionally.

Contact the court

Location and postal address

Sheriff Court House
Low Street
Banff
AB45 1AU

Sheriff Clerk

banff@scotcourts.gov.uk

Email

• banff@scotcourts.gov.uk
• banffcivil@scotcourts.gov.uk - for all civil lodgings and query

DX

521325

Phone

01261 812140

Difficulty using the phone

Phone interpreter

A phone interpreter service is available when you contact a court by phone or attend in person. To access this service ask for phone interpreter and the language required.

The phone interpreter service is not available during actual court proceedings.

Text relay service

If you are deaf, have hearing loss or are speech impaired you can contact us for free with Relay UK.

British Sign Language (BSL)

If you use British Sign Language (BSL) and wish to phone us using a sign language interpreter, you can use the online video relay interpreting service. For more information see the Contact Scotland BSL website.

Opening times

The Sheriff Clerk's office is open as follows:

• Monday to Thursday from 09:00 to 16:30
• Friday from 09:00 to 16:00

The office is closed daily between 13:00 and 14:00 for lunch.

For out of hours applications please contact Aberdeen Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court.

The Sheriff Clerks Office will be closed from 13:00 for staff training on the following dates:

2024

• January 19
• February 16
• March 15
• April 12
• May 10
• June 7
• July 5
• August 2
• August 30
• September 27
• October 25
• November 22
• December 20

For urgent matters and applications when the office is closed please contact: banff@scotcourts.gov.uk

Public holidays

2024

• Monday, 1 January
• Tuesday, 2 January
• Friday, 29 March
• Monday, 1 April
• Monday, 6 May
• Monday, 3 June
• Monday, 1 July
• Monday, 26 August
• Monday, 2 December
• Wednesday, 25 December
• Thursday, 26 December

New, first instance custodies

New, first instance custody cases will continue to be heard in hub courts as first instance cases in each Sheriffdom as follows. Thereafter, if a further substantive hearing is assigned this will be to the court of local jurisdiction. Custodies for Banff Sheriff Court are being processed at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

Commissary

All Commissary Confirmations for Banff Sheriff Court will be processed at Peterhead Sheriff Court. Banff Sheriff Court will deal with dative petitions, registering of deeds, miscellaneous commissary applications and small estate interviews requiring a personal visit to the court. If you are unsure of what we can deal with please telephone the Sheriff Clerk’s Office.

Directions to court

The court house is located on Low Street it is the first building on the right when entering from the High Street.

Use the Journey Planner for public transportation information.

By bus

Buses from Aberdeen and Elgin arrive and depart at least once per hour. The towns of Macduff, Turriff, Portsoy, Whitehills and Fyvie are served by this route. There are also services which serve the Aberchirder, Gardenstown and Cornhill areas. Please check timetables as these are liable to change.

The bus stop is 200 yards from the court off Low Street.

Please visit stagecoach for bus timetables or use the journey planner.

By rail

There is no railway station at Banff the nearest railway stations are Elgin (35 miles), Huntly (21 miles) and Keith (21 miles). Visit ScotRail or National Rail Enquiries for train times.

By car

There are no parking facilities at the court house. St May's car park is located next to the court. Some spaces painted green are free - please see signs within the car park. All other spaces require a pay and display ticket, charges are displayed on the ticket machines.

By air

The nearest airport is Aberdeen (46 miles), and at Inverness (75 miles).

On arrival

Please report to the sheriff clerk's office on the ground floor on arrival or to the court officer. You will then be directed to the appropriate area. 

There is access for disabled people through a separate gate at the front of the building, and a ramp up to the front door. Alternative access, other than through the main front door, for witnesses or anyone who feels vulnerable, can be arranged if contact is made with the sheriff clerk's office prior to attendance

All witness should report to the court officer in the foyer or report to the Sheriff Clerk's office.

Facilities

There are no food or drink facilities in the court house. There are several cafes and hotels nearby, please ask staff for information or see notices on notice boards. Witnesses are advised that they should bring refreshments with them prior to attending court. No food or drink is allowed in the court room.

Accessibility

Accessible hearing

A loop induction system is available in the courtroom and Sheriff Clerk's office for hearing aid users. Please contact 01261 812140.

Sheriffdom orders

The following Sheriffdom guidance, information and practice notes apply to this court. Please also refer to the Rules of Court and the Sheriffs Principal Guidance.