We are pleased to announce that the latest enhancements to Civil Online are now officially live and available for use across the Sheriff and Supreme Courts.

This launch marks a significant milestone in the delivery of a modern, end-to-end digital civil justice service, part of the ongoing work of the Civil Change Lab within the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) to drive user-focused innovation.

A major development in this release is the introduction of non-initiating document submissions for the first time in the Court of Session, covering around 90% of case types. This represents a major expansion of digital capability and an important step toward a fully online civil justice system.

Reflecting on the launch, Riley Power, Executive Sponsor for the Civil Lab and Executive Director of the Judicial Office for Scotland, said:

“This launch marks a major milestone in the modernisation of Scotland’s civil justice system, introducing, for the first time in the Court of Session, digital submission of non-initiating documents across around 90% of case types. It represents a key step in delivering a fully digital, end-to-end civil justice service, and reflects the ongoing work of the Civil Change Lab within the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service to drive user-focused innovation.”

What’s New?

The updated Civil Online platform now includes:

• Wider support for non-initiating document submissions in a broader range of case types
• Enhanced case tracker functionality in the Sheriff Court, covering more case types
• Improved document visibility – users can now view items such as oppositions to motions, certificates of intimation, and production inventories
• Increased upload limits – from 50MB to 125MB, with support for up to 10 documents per submission

Key Benefits

These enhancements aim to make Civil Online:

• More efficient – reducing manual processes for court staff and legal professionals
• More transparent – offering greater access to case materials and status updates
• More user-friendly – supporting a wider range of case types and document submissions

Together, these improvements support our broader digital strategy to simplify, modernise, and streamline civil court processes. We would like to extend our thanks to everyone who contributed to the successful delivery of this project.

Need Support or More Information?

If you have any questions about the updates or would like guidance on using the new features, please contact: Civil Lab – civilonlinelab@scotcourts.gov.uk

You can also find further details, user guides, and registration links:

Sheriff Court User Guide

Court of Session User Guide