VPRS 19135 Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Book, Shepparton

This series comprises volumes recording summary information of divorce proceedings heard in the Supreme Court of Victoria in Shepparton. 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. All extant volumes for the Shepparton circuit court in relation to divorce proceedings are known as Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Books. After 1961, Causes Books became known as Divorce Proceedings Books (according to Rule 297 of the Matrimonial Causes Rules under the Matrimonial Causes Act (Cth) 1959, Commonwealth Statutory Rules 1960, No 97). Although divorce cases continued to be heard in Shepparton until 1976, no Proceedings Books have been identified for the court. 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.