Thursday, May 16, 2013

Denied justice due to lack of funds ? Litigants can apply for Exemption from Court fees in Scotland if you are on low income or in receipt of certain benefits

Parliament_House,_EdinburghLacking funds ? Don’t be denied justice just because of court fees WITH the tough financial times and lack of affordable legal representation in Scotland, it is important for those needing to access Scotland’s courts to remember there are avenues available to them to assist in their right to access to justice. One of those avenues is exemption from court fees if you are on benefits.

The following guide is reprinted from the Scottish Courts website regarding court fees, to assist readers who find themselves in such circumstances : Court Fees

There are various fees payable for submitting applications to the court and for lodging documents at different stages of the court procedure. The fees are set out in Scottish Statutory Instruments (referred to as a Fee Orders). These are regularly updated by Fee Amendment Orders.

Scottish Court Service Fees Statement

A summarised version of the Sheriff Court, Court of Session, High Court and Justice of the Peace Court Fees Orders covering the period from 10 December 2012 until 31 March 2015 can be accessed here

Fee exemption

You may be entitled to exemption from paying court fees in the following circumstances:

You or your spouse/civil partner are in receipt of:
  • income support
  • Income-based employment and support allowance
  • Pension credit guarantee credit
  • working tax credit, including child tax credit and gross annual income used for calculation of tax credit is £16,642 or less
  • working tax credit, including a disability element and gross annual income used for calculation of tax credit is £16,642 or less
  • working tax credit, including a severe disability element and gross annual income used for calculation of tax credit is £16,642 or less
You are in receipt of: 
  • income-based jobseeker’s allowance
  • universal credit (from 29 April 2013

If you are applying for fee exemption as you or your spouse/civil partner are in receipt of one of these benefits, you must provide a letter from either DWP or HMRC confirming the receipt of the benefits. Your exemption cannot be processed without proof of receipt of benefits.

You may also be entitled to exemption from paying court fees if:
  • You are receiving civil legal aid in respect of the matter for which the fee is payable (Section 13(2) of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 refers); or
  • The fee is payable in connection with a simplified divorce or dissolution of civil partnership application and you are receiving advice and assistance from a solicitor in respect of that application (Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 refers); or
  • The fee is payable in connection with work being undertaken by your solicitor which qualifies for civil legal aid as matter of “special urgency” (Section 36 of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 refers).

Applications where fee exemption does not apply:

You cannot apply for fee exemption if you are making an application in relation to commissary proceedings (dealing with a deceased person’s estate) or if lodging a petition for removal of disqualification from driving under the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.

Download a fee exemption form.

If anyone requiring to apply for exemption from court fees due to their financial circumstances does encounter too much ‘red tape’ or undue obstructions placed in their applications, Diary of Injustice journalists would like to hear from you, via scottishlawreporters@gmail.com

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

You trying to put lawyers out of business??GOOD!

Anonymous said...

So, I wonder.......given that there may be exemptions for a number of court fees etc, does this mean that the solicitor, solicitor Agents and Counsel cannot claim the full Bhoona from the Scottish Legal Aid Board plus their 20% handling fee?

Anonymous said...

didnt know about this so thanks

wonder how many applications they get and refuse?

Anonymous said...

Very useful to know, I wonder how many Court officials volunteer this information to party litigants?

Now that survey would be a good use of public funds.

Anonymous said...

Disability benefits seized for seven months no wonder Rosemary Winter-Scott wont comment thats a jail-able offence and if I have read this correctly she knows about this and has done nothing. Now that this is out the careers of all the people involved in this one will surely die a slow death with a jail sentence at the end of it. Another thing if people are declared bankrupt and on benefits how can they possibly be locked into a pay back scheme in the first place never mind years. This is so bad Winter-Scott should be arrested at her home with immediate effect.