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A court in the Sheriffdom of Tayside, Central and Fife
Please note that we are experiencing difficulties with our telephone services at the moment. We are working to resolve this, however please email forfar@scotcourts.gov.uk with any queries.
The Foundation Stone of the present Sheriff Court building was laid on 5 August 1869 by the Earl of Dalhousie. On 2 February 1871 Sheriff Robertson opened the present Sheriff Court building created by the architect Mr Wardrope, and described it as ‘handsome and commodious'.
There is a splendid ‘Hammer-Beam' roof in court one and escutcheons on the abutments carrying the roof arches exhibit carvings of a Thistle, a Rose, a Shamrock and a Daffodil, the emblems of Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales.
It is not permitted to take photos, or to film, from the private ground at the rear of the court.
Sheriff Court House
Market Street
Forfar
DD8 3LA
Emma Wheelan
DX 530674
01307 462186
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:
The Sheriff Clerk's office is closed from 14:00 to 16:00 on:
For urgent matters and applications when the office is closed please contact:
Dundee Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
Phone: 01382 229961
Email: dundee@scotcourts.gov.uk
All commissary applications will be processed locally within all of the courts within Tayside Central and Fife.
Justice of the Peace (JP) Signings by appointment only. Please book an appointment in advance by phoning the Sheriff Clerk’s Office.
New, first instance custody cases will be heard in all eight Tayside, Central and Fife Sheriff and Justice of the Peace (JP) Courts:
Unless the above court is closed for a public holiday, where by the following hub courts will be in operation:
To pay a fine or for information please go to paying a fine.
Small estate interviews are not taking place within the court buildings at this time, please contact your local Sheriff Court for more information and guidance.
The court is situated on a hill to the north of the town just off Brechin Road. All buses pass through the town centre and all bus stops are well marked with regard to their route. The town centre is about a 10 minute walk from the court building. Use the journey planner for public transportation information.
Please visit CycleStreets for details of the nearest cycle parking options.
For up to date timetables or to plan your journey visit stagecoach.
There is no rail station in Forfar, the nearest are at Dundee and Arbroath. Visit ScotRail or National Rail Enquiries for train times.
There is no public parking at the court, however there is a large public car park behind the council buildings next to the court.
There is a taxi rank in Castle Street about 10 minutes walk from the court.
On arrival, please report at reception or the Sheriff Clerk's Office. You will be directed from there to where you need to go.
If you are attending for jury duty please report at reception. If you are sitting on a jury, lunch and refreshments will be provided for you if the court sits into the afternoon.
Water is available to the public. There are a number of cafes and sandwich shops nearby, a list of which is in the foyer.
A loop induction service is available in all courtrooms for people who have hearing difficulties. Please contact the sheriff clerk if you require to use this facility.
There is disabled access and parking at the rear of the building. If you have any specific access requirements please contact the sheriff clerk.
Find out about the sheriffdom guidance, information and practice notes that apply to the courts in the Sheriffdom of Tayside, Central and Fife.
Please also refer to the:
Find out more about the courts in this sheriffdom.
Tayside, Central and Fife