Sorry for any confusion.
The sheriff is a judge in a Scottish civil court.
A sheriff officer is an officer of the court, responsible for serving documents and enforcing court orders.
A decree is the legal term for a court judgement. Decree can be granted in the absence of a defender. If you were unaware of any court case you could ask for the case to be recalled but would have to have good reason.
A charge for payment is the first step after a decree (judgement) is granted. It is a very significant document. Once a charge for payment has been obtained you may have very few options.
The Accountant in Bankruptcy has a useful document 'Debt and the Consequences'. It might be helpful to read through it.
http://www.aib.gov.uk...nsequences%202012.pdf
If you signed a personal guarantee it would be useful to read the terms. I assume the gist of it would be that the individual would be responsible for the debts, whatever happened to the business.
Make an appointment with a lawyer - you do need proper legal advice. Good luck.