VPRS 5500 Record of Divorce Decrees Nisi Granted

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Until 1861 in Victoria, divorce was a matter for the ecclesiastical courts as it was in England until 1857 1858. The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act 1861 conferred upon the Supreme Court of Victoria the jurisdiction in matters matrimonial and authority in certain cases to decree the dissolution of the marriage. This continued to be the case until the passing of the Commonwealth Family Law Act 1975.

This series consists of lists of the decrees nisi granted by the divorce and matrimonial causes jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. The details included are the case number, the name of the person to whom the divorce was granted, the date upon which the decree nisi was granted or pronounced, the date of filing of the decree and any particulars such as reference to other divorce jurisdictions. At the back of the volumes are lists of petitions which had been dismissed or discontinued.