Notice of Date for Removal
Formerly there was no prescribed form of notice of the date for removal and creditors and officers developed their own styles. That has now changed with a prescribed form in Form 4. This form is served by Sheriff Officer leaving the notice at the relevant property and sending a copy to the address at which he thinks it most likely the defender will be found. The date of the removal must be at least 48 hours after the notice is served. That period can be dispensed with on application to the sheriff.
Execution of Decree
There were no prescribed formalities to define when a decree of removing had been executed. A practice had developed of pinning a notice to the door with the Royal Initials and a statement that a removing had been effected. Now, an officer will complete an execution in Form 7 certifying the date and the fact that the decree has been executed. A copy of that certificate of execution will be affixed to the main door of the property.
There is nothing particularly novel in these provisions and they formalise the situation so there is a degree of certainty for officers, creditors and debtors.