VPRS 12914 Court of Petty Sessions/Magistrates' Court South Melbourne Register of Maintenance Orders

This series consists of a register of court orders in maintenance proceedings heard at South Melbourne Court of Petty Sessions/Magistrates' Court. The Maintenance Act 1928 and previously successive Marriages Acts established provisions for maintenance support to be provided by husbands who had left their wives or children without means of support. Courts of Petty Sessions were empowered to hear complaints regarding desertion and to set levels and enforce the payment of maintenance. This legislation was superseded by the Maintenance Act 1965. However the Commonwealth Family Law Act 1975 also has provision for the granting of maintenance and most orders are now made under this Act. Maintenance orders made in the Supreme Court were registered with the Courts of Petty Sessions and subsequently, the Magistrates' Courts for enforcement. The orders arrived at the Court in a sealed envelope to be registered. The register so formed was the official register of these orders; they were not recorded elsewhere. This series can be used to find details of cases documented in VPRS 12541 Court of Petty Sessions/Magistrates' Court Maintenance Orders.