Catalogue description Records of Supreme Court Funds and the Supreme Court Pay Office

The Supreme Court Pay Office had its origins in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Court of Chancery established by the Court of Chancery Act 1725. In 1872 the functions of the accountant general were transferred to the Paymaster General under the Court of Chancery (Funds) Act 1872; in 1884, following the Supreme Court of Judicature (Funds etc) Act 1883, the several accounting departments of the Supreme Court were amalgamated in the Supreme Court Pay Office under the charge of the Paymaster General.

In practice, this work was undertaken by an assistant paymaster general for Supreme Court business who was also responsible for vote accounting work. In 1922 the latter responsibilities were transferred to the permanent secretary to the Lord Chancellor consequent upon his appointment as accounting officer for the Supreme Court vote.

In 1926 following the Supreme Court of Judicature (Consolidation) Act 1925 the Supreme Court Pay Office was also transferred to the control of the Lord Chancellor's Office, under the clerk of the crown as accountant general, but remained an Office of the Supreme Court under the executive direction of a chief accountant.

The Supreme Court Pay Office was responsible for carrying out the instructions of the court in respect of all funds transferred to, paid into or deposited in court to the credit of any cause, matter or account. For this purpose an account was maintained at the Bank of England in the name of the accountant general, although since the Administration of Justice Act 1977 it could be maintained at such other bank as designated by the Lord Chancellor with the concurrence of the Treasury.

In 1975 the Supreme Court Pay Office was re-named the Court Funds Office, and in 1987 it became a division of the Public Trustee Office, with the Public Trustee as Accountant General.