VPRS 15144 Supreme Court Divorce Case Files, Warrnambool

This series consists of case files created to manage divorce proceedings in the Supreme Court, on circuit at Warrnambool. The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act 1861 (No.125) conferred upon the Supreme Court of Victoria, jurisdiction in matters matrimonial and authority in certain cases to decree the dissolution of a marriage. This remained the case until the passing of the Commonwealth Family Law Act 1975. Until 1861 divorce was a matter for the ecclesiastical courts. This was also the situation in England until 1857/58 (documents relating to some of these cases may be found in VPRS 282 Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Equity Case Files).The grounds for obtaining a divorce were virtually unchanged from 1861 to 1976. Section 5 of the original 1861 Act stated that 'a divorce may be obtained either by the husband or wife on the ground of adultery or cruelty or of desertion without cause for a period of two years.'Divorce proceedings commenced when the husband or wife or their legal representative (known as a Proctor) lodged a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage at the Prothonotary's Office. The party seeking the divorce was called the petitioner and the other person the respondent. In cases of adultery, the respondent's alleged sexual partner was named on the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage as the co-respondent.Most of the documents that constitute the Case File relate to the pre-hearing process (before the case was heard in Court) and examples of documents on the case file may include:Petition for Dissolution of MarriageAffidavit of Petitioner verifying the PetitionPraecipe for CitationCitationAppearance on behalf of the RespondentPraecipe for SearchAffidavit of Service of CitationRespondents AnswerAffidavits verifying answersCopy PleadingsPraecipe to set cause down for hearingNotices to ProduceDecree NisiCosts of Petitioner; andSearch for Decree Absolute.Every decree for dissolution or nullity of marriage was, in the first instance, a Decree Nisi or provisional judgement. The decree became Absolute after three months, provided that no party showed cause that the Courts decision was obtained by collusion, or that material facts were not previously disclosed to the Court. The Decree established the parties; presiding judge; date of hearing; order of Nisi on grounds of either desertion, adultery or cruelty; an order of the costs to be paid by the respondent; and a decision about the custody and maintenance of children.When a divorce became absolute both parties were then free to re-marry. If either party were dissatisfied with the decision of the Court they could, within three months of the Decree Nisi, lodge an appeal to the Full Court of the Supreme Court. A further appeal could then be lodged with the Privy Council in London.The original Act also gave the Court the power to set alimony payments (section 19) and make orders as to the custody of children (section 22). Contested post-divorce financial settlements were documented in VPRS 15145 Civil Case Files.AbolitionThis series ended in 1976 with the passing of the Commonwealth Family Law Act 1975. The final files in this series detailing cases heard in 1976 were brought under the Family Law Act 1975 rather than the Matrimonial Causes Act. The Supreme Court of Victoria heard these cases due to the period of adjustment between the passing of the Family Law Act 1975 and the establishment of the Family Court of Australia. Researchers should contact either the Family Court of Australia or National Archives of Australia for information regarding divorce cases for this period.

本系列包含维多利亚州最高法院在沃南布尔巡回审判期间处理离婚诉讼的案件档案。1861年《离婚及婚姻诉讼法》（第125号）赋予维多利亚州最高法院婚姻事项管辖权，并授权其在特定情形下判决解除婚姻关系。这种情况一直持续到1975年《联邦家庭法》通过为止。

1861年之前，离婚事宜由教会法院管辖。英格兰的情况亦是如此，直至1857/58年（部分相关案件文件可参见VPRS 282教会司法衡平案件档案）。

1861年至1976年间，离婚的法定理由基本未变。1861年原法案第5条规定：'夫妻任何一方均可基于通奸、虐待或无正当理由遗弃对方达两年之久的理由申请离婚。'

离婚诉讼程序始于夫妻一方或其法律代理人（称为Proctor）向首席书记官办公室提交离婚申请书。提出离婚的一方称为申请人，另一方称为被申请人。在通奸案件中，被申请人被指称的性伴侣会在离婚申请书中被列为共同被申请人。

案件档案中的大部分文件与庭审前程序相关（即案件开庭审理前），示例文件包括：
离婚申请书
申请人确认申请书的宣誓书
传唤令请求书
传唤令
被申请人的代理出庭声明
查询请求书
传唤令送达宣誓书
被申请人答辩书
确认答辩的宣誓书
诉状副本
排期审理请求书
提交证据通知书
暂准离婚令
申请人费用清单；及
绝对离婚令查询记录

所有解除婚姻或婚姻无效的判决最初均为暂准离婚令（Decree Nisi）或临时判决。若无人提出证据证明法院判决系通过串通获得，或此前未向法院披露重大事实，则该判决将在三个月后成为绝对离婚令。该判决需明确当事人、主审法官、审理日期、基于遗弃、通奸或虐待理由作出的暂准令、被申请人承担费用的命令，以及关于子女监护权和抚养费的决定。

离婚成为绝对判决后，双方均可自由再婚。若任何一方对法院判决不满，可在暂准离婚令作出后的三个月内向最高法院全体庭提出上诉，进而可向伦敦枢密院提出进一步上诉。

原法案还赋予法院设定赡养费（alimony）支付的权力（第19条）及作出子女监护权命令的权力（第22条）。有争议的离婚后财务和解文件记录于VPRS 15145民事案件档案中。

废除
本系列档案随着1975年《联邦家庭法》的通过于1976年终止。本系列中记录1976年审理案件的最终档案受《1975年家庭法》管辖，而非《婚姻诉讼法》。由于1975年《家庭法》通过至澳大利亚家庭法院成立之间存在过渡期，维多利亚州最高法院审理了这些案件。研究人员如需了解此期间离婚案件的信息，应联系澳大利亚家庭法院或澳大利亚国家档案馆。