VPRS 20853 Court of Petty Sessions, Adoption Case Files, Nyah West

This series comprises records of adoption cases heard at the Court of Petty Sessions at Nyah West Courts (VA 4322). Researchers should note that in some instances, adoption cases were lodged at one court and then later heard at another, usually at a larger regional court. Often, these cases were re-registered, but this practice does not appear to be consistent. Adoption in Victoria 1929 – 1958 The adoption of children was first regulated by legislation with the commencement of the Adoption of Children Act 1928 (Vic). This Act established adoption as a legal transfer of custody and 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 Act, an adoption application could be heard by the Supreme Court (VA 2549), County Court (VA 686), or Court of Petty Sessions. The choice of court depended upon the circumstances of the case and the wishes of the parties. Adoption cases could be heard at the Court of Petty Sessions closest to where either the applicant(s) or the child resided. The Court could grant an adoption order if several parties gave their written consent to the adoption, namely the child’s natural parent(s) or guardian(s); the person having custody of the child; any person liable to contribute to the support of the child; or where the applicant was married, the applicant’s spouse. If the consent of any of these persons could not be obtained in writing, a higher court had to be used. Should the applicant(s) (i.e., the prospective adoptive parent(s)) choose, the County Court could grant an adoption order in any circumstance. The Supreme Court could grant an adoption order in any circumstance. Adoption in Victoria 1958 - present The passing of the Adoption of Children Act 1958 (Vic) removed the jurisdiction of the Court of Petty Sessions to grant adoption orders. Since that time the County and Supreme Courts have had the power to grant adoption orders, although in practice most have been granted by the County Court. Cases involving interstate and international adoptions are generally handled by the Supreme Court. With the changes brought about by the Adoption of Children Act 1984 (Vic), the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) (VA 983) obtained the original court records, wherever possible, from the Courts to enable them to obtain sufficient information to prepare "birth certificates" containing more information for adopted persons. All records in custody of the courts as of 1 January 1989 therefore came under the management and control of BDM. BDM also provides adoption information to Adoption Information Services from these records. Any records created after that date are still the responsibility of the respective Court as BDM are only able to request a memorandum of the adoption order, rather than the complete file.  Contents Adoption case files include applications for child adoptions, adult adoptions, or substituted parentage. The files generally contain: Adoption orders, adoption certificates Affidavits Birth certificate of child Summonses Guardian's consent for child to be adopted Identification documents Declarations Memoranda and correspondence Medical reports of the adopted child Where no date of adoption order is given, this is generally indicative of the adoption order not being issued. Adopted Children Register Under section 17 (1) of the Adoption of Children Act 1928 and the subsequent adoption acts, the Government Statist was required to establish and maintain an Adopted Children Register (VPRS 11683) in which entries were made as directed by adoption orders (VPRS 11682). All courts were required to inform the Office of the Government Statist and Actuary (VA 989) of adoption orders granted from 1929 to 1983, then BDM from 1983 onwards. Researchers should note that the Adopted Children Registration Number given in the central register (VRPS 11683) does not correspond to the case file number assigned by the court.

本系列馆藏记录涵盖尼亚韦斯特法院（Nyah West Courts，档案编号VA 4322）治安法院（Court of Petty Sessions）所审理的收养案件卷宗。研究人员需注意：部分收养案件最初于某一法院提交申请，后续转至另一法院（通常为规模更大的区域法院）审理，此类案件往往会进行重新登记，但该操作并无统一规范。

### 1929年至1958年维多利亚州收养制度
1928年《收养子女法》（Adoption of Children Act 1928 (Vic)）的施行，首次以立法形式规范维多利亚州的收养行为。该法确立收养为监护权与父母责任的合法转移方式，并将收养令的作出权责赋予各级法院。在此之前，收养多为私人育婴机构主导的非正式安排。

根据该法，收养申请可由最高法院（Supreme Court，档案编号VA 2549）、县法院（County Court，档案编号VA 686）或治安法院审理，法院的选择取决于案件具体情况与当事人意愿。

收养案件可由申请人或子女住所地就近的治安法院审理。若以下多方出具书面同意文件，法院即可作出收养令：子女的生父母/监护人、实际照料子女者、有义务抚养该子女者；若申请人为已婚人士，则还需申请人配偶的同意。

若无法取得上述任一主体的书面同意，则需诉诸更高层级法院。若申请人自愿选择，县法院可在任意情形下作出收养令；最高法院亦可在任意情形下作出收养令。

### 1958年至今维多利亚州收养制度
1958年《收养子女法》（Adoption of Children Act 1958 (Vic)）的通过，取消了治安法院作出收养令的司法管辖权。自此之后，收养令的作出权限由县法院与最高法院行使，实践中绝大多数收养令均由县法院作出。涉及跨州及国际收养的案件通常由最高法院审理。

1984年《收养子女法》（Adoption of Children Act 1984 (Vic)）的修订生效后，出生、死亡与婚姻登记处（Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, BDM，档案编号VA 983）可在可行范围内从各法院调取原始卷宗，以获取足够信息为被收养人办理包含更多详情的出生证明。因此，1989年1月1日前由法院保管的所有卷宗均交由登记处管理与管控。登记处还可通过该卷宗为收养信息服务机构提供收养相关信息。1989年1月1日后产生的卷宗仍由对应法院保管，因登记处仅可申请调取收养令备忘录，而非完整卷宗。

### 卷宗内容
收养案件卷宗涵盖儿童收养、成人收养或替代亲权的申请文件，通常包含以下内容：
- 收养令、收养证明书
- 宣誓书
- 子女出生证明
- 传票
- 子女收养监护人同意书
- 身份证明文件
- 声明书
- 备忘录与往来函件
- 被收养子女的医疗报告

若卷宗未注明收养令作出日期，通常意味着该收养令尚未签发。

### 被收养儿童登记册
根据1928年《收养子女法》第17条第1款及后续相关收养立法，政府统计官需设立并维护被收养儿童登记册（Adopted Children Register, VPRS 11683），并按照收养令的要求进行登记（VPRS 11682）。1929年至1983年间，所有法院均需向政府统计官与法务官办公室（Office of the Government Statist and Actuary, VA 989）通报所作出的收养令；1983年起，通报职责转由出生、死亡与婚姻登记处承担。研究人员需注意：中央登记册（VPRS 11683）中的被收养儿童登记编号与法院分配的案件卷宗编号并不对应。