VPRS 762 Deeds Under 1871 Insolvency Act

Prior to 1871 insolvency cases were dealt with by the Commissioners of Insolvent Estates. The Insolvency Statute 1871 abolished these offices and deemed the Commissioners to be Judges of the newly established Court of Insolvency. This series consists of files pertaining to insolvency cases for the period 1871 to 1890. The series was created by the Court of Insolvency, Melbourne VA 2304 in the process of declaring a person insolvent in the Melbourne and metropolitan region. The series documents the legal proceedings for the distribution of the property of insolvent persons among their creditors and to relieve them of the unpaid balance of their liabilities. Documents pertaining to each case are bundled together and tied with pink tape. The front of each bundle details the registration number, the name of the insolvent and the date sequestrated and is signed by the Chief Clerk. The files in this series contain the original petition to the court, an order sequestering the estate and appointing an assignee, sworn statements from the insolvent stating reasons for his/her insolvency and seven schedules which consist of: A - list of debts to unsecured creditors B - list of debts to secured creditors C - list of losses and expenses for two years prior to the petition D - particulars of real properties, at and two years prior to the date of sequestration E - particulars of stock in trade and other personal property F - particulars of all debts due to insolvent G - balance sheet These papers are attached together. The number of unattached documents varies, but usually includes statements from creditors, notice of creditors meetings, minutes of meetings, affidavits of intention to apply for discharge, orders for leave to apply, and an order nisi. In the case of forced bankruptcy an order nisi subject to conditions as regards its taking effect was issued. The series ended in 1890 when a new numbering sequence was imposed on files created under the provisions of the Insolvency Act 1890 Procedure A person was considered insolvent when he/she was unable to meet his/her debts in full. A debtor would petition to be declared insolvent by the court and as such to be discharged of all debts. In the case of compulsory sequestration (confiscation) creditors would petition the court for an order. Other documents attached to the original petition included sworn statements of causes leading to insolvency, proofs of debt by creditors and an inventory of insolvent's estate. An Order of Sequestration gave temporary control of an insolvent persons property to an official assignee/trustee.

1871年之前，破产案件由破产财产专员（Commissioners of Insolvent Estates）处理。1871年《破产条例》（Insolvency Statute 1871）废除了这些职位，并将专员视为新设立的破产法院（Court of Insolvency）的法官。

本系列包含1871至1890年期间的破产案件相关文件，由墨尔本破产法院（VA 2304）在处理墨尔本及大都会地区个人破产宣告程序中创建。该系列记录了将破产者财产分配给债权人并免除其未偿债务余额的法律程序。

每个案件的相关文件被捆扎在一起，并用粉色彩带系好。每捆文件的封面详细注明登记号、破产者姓名、扣押日期，并由首席书记员签署。

该系列文件包含向法院提交的原始请愿书、扣押财产并指定受让人的命令、破产者说明其破产原因的宣誓陈述书，以及七份附表，具体包括：A - 无担保债权人债务清单；B - 有担保债权人债务清单；C - 请愿前两年的损失及费用清单；D - 扣押日期及此前两年的不动产详情；E - 贸易存货及其他个人财产详情；F - 欠破产者的所有债务详情；G - 资产负债表。这些文件均附在一起。未附文件的数量不等，但通常包括债权人陈述书、债权人会议通知、会议纪要、申请免除债务的意向誓章、申请许可令以及暂行命令（order nisi）。在强制破产的情况下，会发出附有生效条件的暂行命令。

本系列于1890年终止，当时根据1890年《破产法》（Insolvency Act 1890）的规定，对新创建的文件采用了新的编号序列。

程序：当个人无法全额偿还债务时，即被视为破产。债务人可向法院申请宣告破产，从而免除所有债务。在强制扣押（sequestration，没收）的情况下，债权人会向法院申请命令。附于原始请愿书的其他文件包括导致破产原因的宣誓陈述书、债权人的债务证明以及破产者财产清单。

《扣押令》（Order of Sequestration）赋予官方受让人/受托人对破产者财产的临时控制权。