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A court in the Sheriffdom of Grampian, Highland and Islands
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.
Sheriff Court House
Low Street
Banff
AB45 1AU
521325
01261 812140
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.
If you are deaf, have hearing loss or are speech impaired you can contact us for free with Relay UK.
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.
The Sheriff Clerk's office is open Monday to Friday:
Festive closing times
The court closes at 15:00 on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and Tuesday 31 December 2024.
Sheriff Office closures
If the door is locked during our opening hours we are likely closed to observe a Public Holiday or undertake Staff Training. However, please note that this office is not always staffed. If you are travelling from a distance, please contact us on 01261 812140 in advance to confirm the office will be open.
The Sheriff Clerks Office will be closed from 13:00 for staff training on the following dates:
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.
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.
To pay a fine or for information please go to paying a fine.
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.
Cycle parking racks can be found in the parking lot nearby the court building on the CycleStreets cycle parking map.
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.
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.
There are no parking facilities at the court house. St May's Pay and Display car park is located next to the court.
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.
All witness should report to the court officer in the foyer or report to the Sheriff Clerk's office. Witnesses are advised that they should bring refreshments with them prior to attending court.
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.
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. No food or drink is allowed in the court room.
A loop induction system is available in the courtroom and Sheriff Clerk's office for hearing aid users. Please contact 01261 812140.
There is access for disabled people through a separate gate at the front of the building, and a ramp up to the front door.
Find out about the sheriffdom guidance, information and practice notes that apply to the courts in the Sheriffdom of Grampian, Highland and Islands.
Please also refer to the:
Find out more about the courts in this sheriffdom.
Grampian, Highland and Islands