VPRS 19130 Divorce Proceedings Books, Geelong

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This series comprises registers recording summary information of divorce proceedings heard at the Supreme Court of Victoria in Geelong.

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 for all divorce petitions until the proclamation of the Commonwealth Family Law Act 1975.

In relation to the recording of all divorce proceedings, Rule 297 of the Matrimonial Causes Rules under the Matrimonial Causes Act (Cth) 1959 (Commonwealth Statutory Rules 1960, No 97), which commenced operation on 1 February 1961, states each court was required to maintain a record of all matrimonial causes initiated at the Supreme Court known as a Divorce Proceedings Book. Prior to this the registers holding summary information were known as a Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Book. As of 2022, no Causes Books have been identified from from the Geelong circuit location.

Summary information for each petition includes the case number, names of the petitioner, respondent and their solicitors, dates of the filing of the petition and subsequent documentation, the nature of application, dates for setting down of the case and, if heard, the date of hearing, name of judge and judgement, and the names of other parties and their solicitors.