VPRS 7962 Court of Petty Sessions, Default Registers

This series comprises the record of proceeding conducted by the Bendigo Court of Petty Sessions (Magistrates Court since 1971) pertaining to civil actions for the recovery of debts which are initiated by the issue of a default summons. Under this procedure defendants who do not respond to the summons in the appropriate manner and within the specified time are deemed to be in default and judgements given against them at the request of the complainant. Registers detail summary information relating to each individual case where a default summons is issued in columns detailing: case number name of complainant name of defendant how action initiated nature of complaint decision. A remarks column records notations made by the presiding magistrate or administrative detail by the Clerk of the Court. Prior to the commencement of this series, detail pertaining to these actions was entered in VPRS 7961 Court of Petty Sessions Registers. A separate register (VPRS 7960) was also created from 1964 to detail any orders made to enforce unpaid debts resulting from this process. Prior to this date such information wa also detailed in VPRS 7961.