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What do I need to know?

For some civil cases heard in Melbourne, you can find records by searching for the surname of the plaintiff or respondent. These cases cover approximately 1861 – 1893 and 1960 – 1966. These date ranges are dynamic, as the volunteer project to index civil case records for online searching is ongoing.

For the remainder of the cases, there is a two step process to locate a file.

The first step is to use the “find the index to civil case files” search below to locate the relevant year of the Supreme Court Index to Cause Books (1842-1989), and order the record for viewing.

The search below will return both

  • Record Series 5327 the Index to Civil Case Action/Cause Books (which will contain little information about the case, but will contain the case's action / cause number, which will help you discover the case file in Record Series 267)
  • Record Series 5328 the Civil Case Action/Cause Books (which may contain a case summary)

 

See our tips section on the right to find the action number online up to 1924; for cases from 1925 onwards, you’ll need to order the physical index book and view it in PROV’s North Melbourne Reading Room).

Next Steps

What are in these records?

In the Index to Action/Cause Books (Record Series 5327)

  • plaintiff and respondent's names
  • the case's action / cause number

 

In the Action/Cause Books (Record Series 5328)

  • a summary of the case (2 or 4 pages)
  • plaintiff and respondent's names
  • dates when documentation was filed
  • outcome of the case.

 

In the Civil Case File (Record Series 267)

  • document tendered to serve a summons
  • papers lodged by plaintiff or respondent
  • papers from the trial or before the action (including the judgement).

 

What you won’t find in a Civil Case File 

  • trial transcripts

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