Minute for decree (sheriff court and Court of Session) meaning

In Scottish practice, a minute for decree is the pursuer’s written request to the sheriff court or Court of Session to pronounce decree (judgment), most commonly a decree of divorce. It is not a statutory term but a procedural expression used across civil actions. In family actions it is the step by which the pursuer seeks final decree once entitled to it—typically after the defender has not defended, after proof has established the ground, or following settlement—usually lodged with the supporting affidavits/evidence and any draft interlocutor required by the rules. Scotland has no two-stage divorce (there is no decree nisi). The minute seeks the final decree of divorce in one step. In England and Wales, the nearest equivalent is the application for a final order in divorce (formerly decree absolute). In Northern Ireland, divorce remains a two-stage process, where an application for decree absolute follows decree nisi. In Ireland, divorce is granted by decree of the Circuit Court or High Court on application; the Scottish term “minute for decree” is not used.