VPRS 11736 County Court Register of Applications for Adoption (Records Not Transferred)

The adoption of children was first regulated by the Adoption of Children Act 1928 (No.3605). This Act established adoption as a legal transfer of custody and of parental responsibility and gave responsibility for making adoption orders to the courts. Prior to this time, adoptions were informal arrangements often made by private infants' homes.Under the 1928 Act an adoption application could be heard by the Supreme Court, County Court or Court of Petty Sessions. The choice of court depended upon the circumstances of the case and the wishes of the parties. The Adoption of Children Act 1958 (No.6192) removed the power to grant adoption orders from the jurisdiction of the Court of Petty Sessions. Since that time the County and Supreme Courts only have had the power to grant adoption orders, although in practice most have been granted by the County Court.In1929, the Melbourne County Court (VA 686) began to create Adoption Case Files, Adoption of Children Register (called Adoption Register from 1960), Register of Applications for Adoptions and Index Books of Adoptions (by surname of adoptive parents).The Register of Applications for Adoptions was used to register each application for adoption during the period 1929 to 1960. Since then VPRS 11737 Adoption Register (previously called the Adoption of Children Register) was used to allocate the next registration number.Information recorded in the Register includes:- Application/File Number- Date of Application- Name, age and occupation of couples applying- Name, age and sex of infant- Names of other respondents- Minute of Decision and remarks.Controlling AgencyFollowing the proclamation of section 8 of the Adoption (Amendment) Act 1987 (No.67) the court records were transferred to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.The Registrar became responsible for the management and control of records concerning adoptions which were in possession of the County Court, Supreme Court, and the Magistrates Courts at the commencement date of section 8 of the Act.