Trust deeds and debt help in Scotland
Struggling with debt? You are not on your own.
Clear, honest information about protected trust deeds and every other way of dealing with debt under Scots law. Read at your own pace, or talk it through when you are ready.
Start your enquiry
Roughly how much do you owe?
An estimate is fine. Pick a band to begin.
May not be suitable in all circumstances. Fees apply. Your credit rating may be affected. We only pass your answers to an insolvency practitioner firm if you agree.
- Written for Scots law
- Checked against official guidance
- Every option explained, not only trust deeds
- No obligation, and we never charge you
What is happening for you?
Choose whatever fits best. Each page explains your rights and what to do next.
- I am struggling to keep up with my debts See every way of dealing with debt in Scotland, side by side.
- I want to understand trust deeds What a protected trust deed is, and who it can and cannot help.
- Sheriff officers have been in touch What they can and cannot do, and what to do first.
- My wages or bank account have been arrested How much can be taken, and how an arrestment can end.
- I own my home and I am worried about it What happens to your home in each Scottish debt solution.
- I would like free, independent advice Free services across Scotland, with their numbers and hours.
Debt can happen to anyone
Illness, a job ending, a relationship breaking down, or bills that simply rose faster than pay. Thousands of people in Scotland use a formal debt solution every year. There is nothing to be ashamed of in looking at your options.
- 4,644
- protected trust deeds registered in Scotland in 2025 to 2026
- 1,362
- Debt Arrangement Scheme plans approved from April to June 2026
What is a trust deed?
You pass your assets to a trustee, who must be a licensed insolvency practitioner, and pay what you can afford towards your debts for a set period. The trustee acts for your creditors as a group. If the deed becomes protected and you keep to its terms, the remaining debts included in it are written off when you are discharged.
- £5,000
- Minimum total debt, including interest
- 48 months
- The usual payment period. It can be longer
- 5 weeks
- For creditors to object before it can be protected
- 6 years
- On your credit file, from the date it begins
There is more than one way through debt in Scotland
The right one depends on your debts, your income, your home and what matters most to you. A trust deed is only one of them.
- Debt Arrangement Scheme Repay your debts in full over time, with interest and charges frozen. Free to set up through an approved money adviser. Find out more
- Sequestration Scottish bankruptcy. It can suit people who cannot repay in a reasonable time. The fee is often waived. Find out more
- Minimal Asset Process A simpler route into bankruptcy, with no fee, for people with low income, few assets and debts up to £25,000. Find out more
- Moratorium on diligence Six months of protection from new enforcement while you get advice and decide what to do. Find out more
- Debt management plans An informal agreement to pay less. Flexible, but not legally binding, so interest may continue. Find out more
- Protected trust deed Pay what you can afford for a set time, usually 4 years. Fees apply, and there are real risks to weigh up. Find out more
How a protected trust deed works
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Get advice and information first
The insolvency practitioner must explain every option, give you an information pack, and allow you at least 3 days before you sign.
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Sign the trust deed
A licensed insolvency practitioner becomes your trustee. You agree to pay what you can afford, usually for 48 months.
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Creditors have 5 weeks to object
A notice goes on the public Register of Insolvencies. It becomes protected unless enough creditors object.
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Make your payments
Your payment is set using the Common Financial Tool and reviewed at least once a year. Fees come out of what you pay.
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Discharge
If you keep to the terms, the remaining debts included in it are written off. Discharge is not automatic.
The good and the hard parts of a trust deed
Both matter. Nobody should sign a trust deed having only heard about the first column.
What it can do
- One monthly payment, set at what you can afford after essential living costs
- Once protected, it stops earnings arrestments and binds your unsecured creditors
- A fixed end point, usually after 48 months of payments
- If you keep to the terms, the unsecured debts included in it are written off at discharge
What it can cost you
- Fees are taken from the money you pay in
- Your credit rating is affected for 6 years from the start
- Your name goes on the public Register of Insolvencies
- Homeowners usually have to deal with the equity in their home
- Some debts cannot be written off, such as student loans and court fines
- If it fails, creditors can chase you again and you could be made bankrupt
What happens when you get in touch
We do not arrange trust deeds ourselves, and we are not a charity. Here is exactly what happens to an enquiry.
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Tell us a little about your situation
A few short questions about your debts, your income and your home. You can stop at any point.
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A licensed firm calls you
If you agree, we pass your answers to a firm of licensed insolvency practitioners, who will call you at a time that suits you.
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You hear every option, then decide
They should explain all your options, including ones that are not a trust deed. There is no obligation to go ahead.
We never charge you. The firm may pay us a fee, which does not change what you pay. How our service works
Talking about money can be hard
If debt is affecting your sleep, your health or your family, you are far from alone, and there is support. You can also get free, impartial debt advice from MoneyHelper, Citizens Advice Scotland and other free services in Scotland.
What changes day to day
Common questions
What is a protected trust deed?
A protected trust deed is a formal, legally binding agreement under Scots law between you and your creditors. You pay what you can afford to a trustee, a licensed insolvency practitioner, usually for 48 months. If it becomes protected and you keep to the terms, the remaining unsecured debts included in it are written off when you are discharged.
How much debt do I need for a trust deed?
Your debts, including interest, must add up to at least £5,000. You must also have lived in Scotland, or had an established place of business there, at some point in the year before you sign. A trust deed is not available if you are currently bankrupt.
Is a trust deed a government scheme?
No. A protected trust deed is a legal process set out in the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 2016. It is supervised by the Accountant in Bankruptcy, but it is arranged and run by private insolvency practitioners, who charge fees. Be wary of any advert that calls it a government scheme.
Will I lose my home?
Not necessarily, but if you own your home you will usually be expected to deal with the equity in it, for example through a lump sum or extra payments after the payment period. If that cannot be agreed, the trustee may be able to sell. An adviser should explain exactly what it would mean for you before you sign anything.
Are you a charity?
No. We are an information website and enquiry service, and we never charge you. If we introduce you to an insolvency practitioner firm, they may pay us a fee, which does not change what you pay. Free, impartial debt advice is available from charities and advice services such as Citizens Advice Scotland and StepChange.
Ready to talk it through?
A licensed insolvency practitioner firm can go through every option with you, including ones that are not a trust deed. There is no obligation.
May not be suitable in all circumstances. Fees apply. Your credit rating may be affected. We do not arrange trust deeds ourselves. If you ask us to, we pass your details to a licensed insolvency practitioner firm, who will contact you. We are not a debt charity. If we introduce you to an insolvency practitioner or a debt advice firm, they may pay us a fee. This does not change what you pay.