Scotland procedural deadlines
When is the deadline for ordinary cause: return of the initial writ?
Within 7 days after expiry of the period of notice. Establish the actual service branch and any altered notice period first. Returning the writ is not the defender's separate defences duty. The calculator requires the actual event and each condition of the selected branch.
- Period
- Within 7 days after expiry of the period of notice
- Trigger
- the actual expiry of the period of notice
- Rule
- Ordinary Cause Rules 9.1(3),9.3,9.4
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: return of the initial writ?
Within 7 days after expiry of the period of notice. Establish the actual service branch and any altered notice period first. Returning the writ is not the defender's separate defences duty. The calculator requires the actual event and each condition of the selected branch.
Responsible actor. Pursuer in a defended ordinary cause.
Identify the actual court and source branch.
Establish the actual expiry of the period of notice from the actual court process.
Establish the actual service branch and any altered notice period first. Returning the writ is not the defender's separate defences duty.
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(3),9.3,9.4How does this provision count time?
- 7 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.
- Return the initial writ with execution of service to the sheriff clerk. Use the required court route and complete every necessary supporting step.
7 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(3),9.3,9.4What do independently checked examples show?
Fictitious example
The actual source event is Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The confirmed branch is standard-defended. 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 standard-defended. The court period is unaltered. Independently count 7 calendar days after and excluding the event. The endpoint is Tuesday, October 20, 2026. | Tuesday, October 20, 2026 |
| Example 2. Material procedural branch | The actual source event is Tuesday, October 20, 2026. The confirmed branch is standard-defended. The court period is unaltered. Independently count 7 calendar days after and excluding the event. The endpoint is Tuesday, October 27, 2026. | Tuesday, October 27, 2026 |
| Example 3. Closed-day boundary | The actual court has an additional full-day closure on Tuesday, October 20, 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
- No hearing is fixed before the Options Hearing that requires earlier pleadings under 9.4.
- 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 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. Scotland ordinary cause defences after notice expiry concerns lodge defences 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. 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: return of the initial writ?
Which event starts this period?
Use the actual expiry of the period of notice. Establish the actual service branch and any altered notice period first. Returning the writ is not the defender's separate defences duty.
Ordinary Cause Rules 9.1(3),9.3,9.4What can change the ordinary date?
Establish the actual service branch and any altered notice period first. Returning the writ is not the defender's separate defences duty. 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. No hearing is fixed before the Options Hearing that requires earlier pleadings under 9.4. 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(3),9.3,9.4What completes this step?
Return the initial writ with execution of service to the sheriff clerk. Check the required forms, documents and completion route. Preparation or a later receipt date alone is insufficient.
Ordinary Cause Rules 9.1(3),9.3,9.4Official sources and review
Provisions used (1)
| Provision | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Ordinary Cause Rules 9.1(3),9.3,9.4 | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |