Scotland procedural deadlines
When is the deadline for ordinary cause: lodge defences?
Within 14 days after notice expiry. Rule 9.6 requires the preceding notice of intention to defend. The service date does not replace the actual notice expiry. Commercial and family procedures have separate scope. The calculator requires the actual event and each condition of the selected branch.
- Period
- Within 14 days after notice expiry
- Trigger
- the actual expiry of the period of notice
- Rule
- Ordinary Cause Rules 9.1(1),(3),9.6(1)
The maintained Ordinary Cause Rules chapter for actions lodged on or after 2023-09-25.
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When is the deadline for ordinary cause: lodge defences?
Within 14 days after notice expiry. Rule 9.6 requires the preceding notice of intention to defend. The service date does not replace the actual notice expiry. Commercial and family procedures have separate scope. The calculator requires the actual event and each condition of the selected branch.
Responsible actor. Defender who lodged a notice of intention to defend.
Identify the actual court and source branch.
Establish the actual expiry of the period of notice from the actual court process.
Rule 9.6 requires the preceding notice of intention to defend. The service date does not replace the actual notice expiry. Commercial and family procedures have separate scope.
Confirm the actual source event, named sheriff court, applicable branch and each source condition. Only an unaltered ordinary period within the 2024 through 2028 court calendar is supported.
Ordinary Cause Rules 9.1(1),(3),9.6(1)How does this provision count time?
- 14 calendar days after the event. Exclude the event day.
- No automatic extension is inferred for a closed-day endpoint. The calculator refuses that endpoint pending review of the actual court and applicable provision.
- Lodge defences. Use the required court route and complete every necessary supporting step.
14 calendar days after the event. Exclude the event day.
No automatic extension is inferred for a closed-day endpoint. The calculator refuses that endpoint pending review of the actual court and applicable provision. National bank holidays do not establish the named court’s closure dates. Confirm the complete relevant court closure list.
Ordinary Cause Rules 9.1(1),(3),9.6(1)What do independently checked examples show?
Fictitious example
The actual source event is Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The confirmed branch is defender-notice-lodged. The court period is unaltered.
| Step | What is counted | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Example 1. Ordinary established facts | The actual source event is Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The confirmed branch is defender-notice-lodged. The court period is unaltered. Independently count 14 calendar days after and excluding the event. The endpoint is Tuesday, October 27, 2026. | Tuesday, October 27, 2026 |
| Example 2. Material procedural branch | The actual source event is Tuesday, October 20, 2026. The confirmed branch is defender-notice-lodged. The court period is unaltered. Independently count 14 calendar days after and excluding the event. The endpoint is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. | Tuesday, November 3, 2026 |
| Example 3. Closed-day boundary | The actual court has an additional full-day closure on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. No express extension is established for this branch. The actual court date needs review. | The endpoint falls on a closed court day. Check the actual court and applicable provision. No automatic adjustment is inferred. |
Fictitious established facts. These examples do not establish eligibility, effective service, relief or a direction.
Try these dates in the calculatorWhich conditions and exceptions apply?
- Source condition 1
- The current Chapter 9 applies. This is not a commercial, family or civil-partnership action.
- Source condition 2
- I established the actual notice expiry, including the service branch, any order and any express3.6(4) extension.
- Source condition 3
- The notice of intention to defend has actually been lodged and its copy sent as required by9.1.
- Source condition 4
- No different statutory period, extension, sist or court order changes this period.
- Confirm the actual source event, named sheriff court, applicable branch and each source condition. Only an unaltered ordinary period within the 2024 through 2028 court calendar is supported.
- Scotland return of an ordinary cause initial writ concerns return the initial writ with execution of service to the sheriff clerk from actual expiry of the period of notice. Scotland additional-procedure closing of the record concerns record closing and fix the Procedural Hearing from actual expiry of the adjustment period. Scotland ordinary cause notice after citation concerns observe the applicable period of notice from actual execution of service and the defender's residence or place of business. Those steps do not establish actual expiry of the period of notice for this procedure.
What must the responsible actor complete?
Questions about this procedure
When is the deadline for ordinary cause: lodge defences?
Which event starts this period?
Use the actual expiry of the period of notice. Rule 9.6 requires the preceding notice of intention to defend. The service date does not replace the actual notice expiry. Commercial and family procedures have separate scope.
Ordinary Cause Rules 9.1(1),(3),9.6(1)What can change the ordinary date?
Rule 9.6 requires the preceding notice of intention to defend. The service date does not replace the actual notice expiry. Commercial and family procedures have separate scope. The current Chapter 9 applies. This is not a commercial, family or civil-partnership action. I established the actual notice expiry, including the service branch, any order and any express3.6(4) extension. The notice of intention to defend has actually been lodged and its copy sent as required by9.1. No different statutory period, extension, sist or court order changes this period. No automatic extension is inferred for a closed-day endpoint. The calculator refuses that endpoint pending review of the actual court and applicable provision.
Ordinary Cause Rules 9.1(1),(3),9.6(1)What completes this step?
Lodge defences. Check the required forms, documents and completion route. Preparation or a later receipt date alone is insufficient.
Ordinary Cause Rules 9.1(1),(3),9.6(1)Official sources and review
Provisions used (1)
| Provision | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Ordinary Cause Rules 9.1(1),(3),9.6(1) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |