Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
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Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Rule Page
ORDER 1 1
PRELIMINARY 1
PART 1—GENERAL 1
1.01 Object 1
1.02 Authorising provisions 1
1.03 Commencement 1
1.04 Revocation 1
PART 2—APPLICATION OF RULES 2
1.05 Definitions 2
1.06 Application 2
1.07 Proceedings in another court 2
1.08 Order in pending proceeding 3
1.09 Costs 3
PART 3—INTERPRETATION 4
1.10 Definitions 4
PART 4—MISCELLANEOUS 6
1.11 Proceedings other than in open court 6
1.12 Procedure wanting or in doubt 7
1.13 Act by corporation 8
1.14 Corporation a party 8
1.15 Power to act by solicitor 8
1.16 Filing of documents 9
1.17 Seal of Court 9
1.18 Use of electronic messages for lodging Court documents 9
PART 5—OVERRIDING OBJECTIVE AND CASE
MANAGEMENT 9
1.19 Overriding objective 9
1.20 Duty of parties 10
1.21 Exercise of power 10
1.22 Case management 10
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ORDER 2 12
NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE RULES 12
2.01 Effect of non-compliance 12
2.02 Originating process 12
2.03 Application to set aside for irregularity 12
2.04 Dispensing with compliance 13
ORDER 3 13
TIME, SITTINGS, COURT OFFICE AND DOCUMENTS 13
3.01 Calculating time 13
3.02 Extension and abridgement 13
3.03 Fixing time 14
3.04 Time for service 14
3.04.1 Process in vacation 14
3.05 Content and form of documents 14
3.06 Registrar refusing to accept documents 16
3.07 Scandalous matter 16
ORDER 4 17
PROCESS IN THE COURT 17
4.01 Claim not to be divided 17
4.02 Names, addresses and representation of parties 17
4.02.1 Statement of claim 18
4.02.2 Motor vehicle collision 18
4.02.3 Form of complaint 19
4.02.4 Requirements for filing a complaint by an electronic
message 19
4.02.5 Complaints by electronic message to comply with Rules 19
4.02.6 Copy of complaint commenced by electronic message to
be provided upon request 20
4.03 Costs to be specified 20
4.04 Filing of process 21
4.05 Duration 21
4.06 Interlocutory application 22
4.07 Names of parties 22
4.08 Urgent cases 22
4.09 Discontinuance and withdrawal 22
4.10 Costs on discontinuance or withdrawal 23
4.11 Stay on new proceeding 23
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ORDER 5 23
SERVICE 23
5.01 When personal service necessary 23
5.02 Complaint to be served personally 23
5.03 How personal service effected 24
5.04 Service on particular defendants 24
5.05 Service on persons jointly sued 25
5.06 Claims for personal injury 26
5.07 How ordinary service effected 26
5.08 Acceptance of service by solicitor 27
5.09 Substituted service 28
5.10 Service of document by the Court 28
5.11 Affidavit of service 28
ORDER 5A 29
SERVICE OUT OF AUSTRALIA 29
5A.01 For what claims 29
5A.02 Form of complaint and indorsement 30
5A.03 Mode of service out of Australia 31
5A.04 Leave to apply for an order 31
5A.05 Stay, setting aside service, etc. 32
5A.06 Service of counterclaim or third party notice 32
5A.07 Application for order under Rule 5A.05 or 5A.06 33
ORDER 6 34
CLAIMS AND PARTIES 34
PART 1—JOINDER AND SEVERANCE 34
6.01 Joinder of claims 34
6.02 Joinder of parties permitted 34
6.03 Plaintiff suing for numerous persons 35
6.04 Business or firm name 35
6.04.1 Plaintiff suing owner or charterer of ship 35
6.05 Additions, removal, substitutions of party 35
PART 2—CONSOLIDATION 36
6.06 Consolidation of proceedings 36
6.07 Where several complaints against one defendant 36
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ORDER 7 37
COUNTERCLAIM 37
7.01 When counterclaim allowed 37
7.02 Form of counterclaim 37
7.03 Trial of counterclaim 37
7.04 Counterclaim on stay etc. of original proceeding 37
ORDER 8 38
THIRD PARTY PROCEDURE 38
8.01 Claims by third party notice 38
8.02 Filing and service of third party notice 38
8.03 Plaintiff may join third party 39
8.04 Separate disposal or stay of third party proceeding 39
8.05 Directions 39
8.06 Trial 40
8.07 Subsequent parties 40
8.08 Counterclaim 40
8.09 Contribution proceedings 40
8.10 Proceedings to enforce order for contribution or indemnity 40
ORDER 9 41
DEFENCE, REPLY AND PARTICULARS 41
9.01 Notice of defence after service 41
9.02 Content of defence 42
9.02.1 Reply 44
9.02.2 Alternative allegations 44
9.03 Particulars from plaintiff 44
9.04 Particulars from defendant 44
9.05 Time for giving notice 45
9.06 Particulars to be filed 45
9.07 Counterclaim and third party claim 45
9.08 Failure to give particulars 45
9.09 Request for referral of a medical question to a Medical
Panel—Form 9B 46
ORDER 9A 46
SUMMARY STAY OR DISMISSAL OF CLAIM AND STRIKING
OUT STATEMENT OF CLAIM OR DEFENCE 46
9A.01 Stay or order in proceeding 46
9A.02 Striking out pleading 47
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ORDER 10 48
ORDER IN DEFAULT OF DEFENCE OR COMPLIANCE 48
PART 1—ORDER IN DEFAULT OF DEFENCE 48
10.01 Plaintiff may apply for order 48
10.02 Affidavit required 48
10.02.1 Application by electronic message 49
10.03 Registrar may make order or refer to Court 50
PART 2—ORDER IN DEFAULT OF COMPLIANCE 51
10.04 Defendant may apply for costs order 51
10.05 Applications under Rule 10.04 51
10.06 Registrar may make order or refer to Court 51
PART 3—SUMMARY ORDERS FOR PLAINTIFF 52
10.07 Application 52
10.08 Application for an order 52
10.09 Affidavit in support 53
10.10 Service 54
10.11 Defendant to show cause 54
10.12 Affidavit in reply 54
10.13 Hearing of application 54
10.14 Cross-examination on affidavit 55
10.15 Order on counterclaim 55
10.16 Order where amount unascertained 56
10.17 Directions 56
10.18 Continuing for other claim or against other defendant 56
10.19 Setting aside order 56
PART 4—DISMISSAL OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS 57
10.20 Dismissal of complaints 57
10.21 Dismissal of certain adjourned proceedings 58
10.22 Reinstatement 58
ORDER 11 58
DISCOVERY 58
11.01 Definition 58
11.02 Notice for discovery 58
11.02.1 Discovery requiring leave of Court 59
11.03 Time for notice 59
11.04 Affidavit of documents 59
11.05 Time for making discovery 60
11.05.1 Continuing obligation to make discovery 60
11.06 Inspection of documents 60
11.07 Failure to make discovery 61
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ORDER 12 62
INTERROGATORIES 62
12.01 When interrogatories allowed 62
12.01.1 Interrogatories requiring leave of Court 62
12.02 Time for serving interrogatories 62
12.03 Statement as to who to answer 62
12.04 Time for answering interrogatories 62
12.05 Answers and objections 63
12.06 Who to answer 63
12.07 Failure to answer interrogatories 64
12.08 Answers as evidence 65
ORDER 13 65
PRELIMINARY DISCOVERY AND DISCOVERY FROM
NON-PARTY 65
13.01 Definitions 65
13.02 Privilege 66
13.03 Discovery to identify a defendant 66
13.04 Party an applicant 67
13.05 Discovery from prospective defendant 67
13.06 Party an applicant 68
13.07 Discovery from non-party 68
13.08 Procedure 68
13.09 Inspection of documents 69
13.10 Costs 69
ORDER 14 69
ADMISSIONS 69
14.01 Definition 69
14.02 Voluntary admission of facts 70
14.03 Notice for admission of facts 70
14.04 Notice for admission of documents 71
14.05 Cost of non-admission of fact or document 71
14.06 Restrictive effect of admission 72
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ORDER 15 72
OFFER OF COMPROMISE 72
PART 1—INTERPRETATION 72
15.01 Definitions 72
PART 2—OFFER OF COMPROMISE 72
15.02 Application 72
15.03 Time for making, accepting, etc. offer 73
15.04 Time for payment 74
15.05 Effect of offer 75
15.06 Disclosure of offer to Court 75
15.07 Failure to comply with accepted offer 75
15.08 Costs consequences of failure to accept 76
15.09 Multiple defendants 78
15.10 Offer to contribute 79
15.11 Transitional 79
ORDER 16 80
EVIDENCE GENERALLY 80
16.01 Evidence of witness 80
16.01.1 Quotation or assessment as evidence 80
16.02 When affidavit may be used 81
16.03 Use of affidavits when practicable 81
16.04 Attendance and production 81
16.05 View 82
16.06 Admission of documents 82
16.07 Person about to leave Victoria may be ordered to be
examined or to produce documents 82
ORDER 16A 83
APPLICATION UNDER SECTION 42E(1) OF THE EVIDENCE
ACT 1958 83
16A.01 Application of Order 83
16A.02 Form of application 83
16A.03 Filing 83
16A.04 Service 83
16A.05 Duty of applicant 84
16A.06 Payment of costs 84
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ORDER 17 84
WITNESS SUMMONSES 84
17.01 Attendance by summons 84
17.02 Filing summons 84
17.03 Service 85
17.04 Conduct money 85
17.05 Expenses of witnesses 85
17.06 Setting aside 86
17.07 Books of account 86
17.08 Production before date of attendance 86
ORDER 18 87
AFFIDAVITS 87
18.01 Form of affidavit 87
18.02 Affidavit by illiterate, blind or incapacitated person 88
18.03 Content of affidavit 89
18.04 Affidavit by two or more deponents 89
18.05 Alterations 89
18.06 Annexures and exhibits 89
18.07 Time for swearing 90
18.08 Irregularity 90
18.09 Filing 90
18.10 Affidavit sworn before party, solicitor 90
ORDER 19 91
EXPERT EVIDENCE 91
19.01 Application 91
19.02 Service of statement or copy of a report of an expert 91
19.03 Making a statement or copy of a report of other party
evidence 92
ORDER 19A 92
SERVICE OF MEDICAL REPORTS 92
19A.01 Application 92
19A.02 Counterclaim 92
19A.03 Definitions 93
19A.04 Notice for examination 95
19A.05 Expenses 95
19A.06 Report of examination 95
19A.07 Service of reports 95
19A.08 Time for service 96
19A.09 Other medical reports to be served 97
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19A.10 Proceeding against medical expert 97
19A.11 Medical report admissible 97
19A.12 No evidence unless disclosed in report 98
ORDER 20 99
APPLICATIONS 99
PART 1—GENERAL 99
20.01 Application of Order 99
20.02 Form of application 99
20.03 Form and filing 99
20.04 Service 99
20.05 Adjournment 100
20.06 Absence of party to application 100
PART 2—PARTICULAR APPLICATIONS UNDER THE
WORKERS COMPENSATION ACT 1958 AND THE ACCIDENT
COMPENSATION ACT 1985 100
20.07 Definition 100
20.08 Application for appointment of nominal defendant—
Forms 20B and 20C 100
20.09 Application for discharge 102
20.10 Application for revocation of direction of Conciliation
Officer 102
ORDER 21 102
ARBITRATION 102
21.01 Application 102
21.02 Statement of claim 103
21.03 Defence 103
21.04 No pleadings, discovery, interrogatories etc. 103
21.05 Parties to serve a list of documents 103
21.06 Service of reports and assessments in relation to
proceedings relating to motor vehicle accidents 104
ORDER 22 104
PRE-HEARING CONFERENCES 104
22.00 Referral of complaint for pre-hearing conference 104
22.01 Parties must attend a pre-hearing conference 105
22.02 Confidentiality 108
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ORDER 22A 108
MEDIATION 108
22A.01 Referral of proceeding or part of a proceeding to mediation 108
22A.02 Definitions 108
22A.03 Parties must attend mediation 109
22A.04 Consequences of failure to attend 110
22A.05 Orders by consent 110
22A.06 Mediator may adjourn a mediation 111
22A.07 Mediation report 111
22A.08 Confidentiality 111
22A.09 Extension of time limits 111
22A.10 Costs 111
ORDER 23 112
HEARING 112
23.01 Order of hearing 112
23.02 No addresses 112
23.03 Absence of party 112
23.04 Adjournment of hearing 112
ORDER 24 112
INSTRUMENTS ACT RULES 112
24.01 Definition 112
24.02 Application of Order 113
24.03 Form of complaint 113
24.04 Leave to defend 113
24.05 Order where leave not granted 113
24.06 Notice to parties 114
24.07 Leave to defend after order made 114
ORDER 25 115
ORDERS 115
25.01 General relief 115
25.02 Date of effect 115
25.03 Time for compliance 115
25.04 Orders may be drawn up; certified extract 115
25.05 Consent orders 116
25.06 Order where excess abandoned 116
25.07 Setting aside or varying self-executing order 116
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ORDER 26 117
COSTS 117
26.01 Costs to be fixed on day of hearing 117
26.02 Costs in accordance with Appendix A 118
26.03 Application of scale 118
26.04 Costs on counterclaim 118
26.05 Costs of discovery, particulars 119
26.06 Complaint not referred to arbitration 119
26.07 Costs after defence struck out 119
26.08 Costs after complaint dismissed 119
ORDER 26A 120
ASSESSMENT OF COSTS 120
26A.01 Application 120
26A.02 Definitions 120
26A.03 Bases of assessment 120
26A.04 Party and party basis 121
26A.05 Solicitor and client basis 121
26A.06 Indemnity basis 121
26A.07 General basis 121
26A.08 By whom costs to be assessed 121
26A.09 Costs of assessment 122
26A.10 Application for assessment 122
26A.11 Filing of bill 123
26A.12 Service of bill 123
26A.13 Undefended proceeding 123
26A.14 Content of bill 123
26A.15 Disbursement or fee not paid 124
26A.16 Charge of lawyer outside of Victoria 124
26A.17 Amendment of bill 125
26A.18 Agreement as to part of bill 125
26A.19 Objection to bill 125
26A.20 Discretionary costs 125
26A.21 Assessment where no objection 126
26A.22 Attendance of parties 127
26A.23 Costs in proceedings before registrar 127
26A.24 Costs reserved 127
26A.25 Reference to a magistrate 127
26A.26 Application by person liable to pay 128
26A.27 Solicitor at fault 128
26A.28 Cross costs 130
26A.29 Order on assessment 130
26A.30 Review by magistrate 131
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26A.31 Necessary or proper costs 132
26A.32 Unnecessary etc. work 132
26A.33 Increased allowance 132
26A.34 Copy documents 132
26A.35 Service of several documents 133
26A.36 Defendants with same solicitor 133
26A.37 Negotiations 133
26A.38 Retainer of counsel 133
26A.39 Advice and other work of counsel 133
26A.40 Premature brief 134
26A.41 Barrister and solicitor 134
ORDER 27 134
ENFORCEMENT OF ORDERS 134
PART 1—DEFINITIONS 134
27.01 Definitions 134
PART 2—WARRANTS GENERALLY 137
27.02 Issue of warrant 137
27.02.1 Issue of warrant consequent to request by electronic
message 138
27.03 Duration 139
27.04 Costs of prior execution 139
27.05 Interpleader 139
27.06 When interpleader decided against the claimant 140
27.07 Order against two or more persons 141
27.08 Order against partners 141
PART 3—WARRANTS TO SEIZE PROPERTY 142
27.09 Warrant to seize property 142
27.10 Form of warrant 143
27.10.1 Notice to person responsible for safekeeping of seized
property 143
PART 4—WARRANTS OF DELIVERY 143
27.11 Warrant of delivery 143
27.12 Form of warrant 143
PART 4A—ORAL EXAMINATION 144
27.12.1 Examination of judgment debtor 144
27.12.2 Issue of summons for oral examination consequent to
application by electronic message 146
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PART 5—ATTACHMENT OF EARNINGS ORDERS 147
27.12.3 Definition 147
27.13 Attachment of earnings order 147
27.15 Application for attachment of earnings order 148
27.16 Examination of judgment debtor 149
27.17 Making an order in absence of debtor 150
27.18 Contents of order 151
27.19 Service of order 153
27.20 Employer to make payments 153
27.21 Discharge or variation of order 154
27.22 Cessation of attachment of earnings order 154
27.23 Two or more attachment of earnings orders in force 155
27.24 Notice to judgment debtor of payments 155
27.25 Determination of earnings 156
27.26 Service 157
PART 6—ATTACHMENT OF DEBTS 157
27.27 Attachable debts 157
27.30 Order for attachment of debt 157
27.31 Dispute of liability by garnishee 158
27.33 Claim by another person 158
27.34 Discharge of garnishee 159
PART 7—IMPRISONMENT OF FRAUDULENT DEBTORS 159
27.35 Application for summons 159
ORDER 27A 159
SERVICE AND EXECUTION OF PROCESS RULES 159
27A.01 Definitions 159
27A.02 How application made 160
27A.03 Sealed copy of order 160
27A.04 Enforcement of order 160
27A.05 Fees 160
27A.06 Costs 161
27A.07 Interest 161
ORDER 28 162
JUDGMENT DEBT RECOVERY RULES 162
28.01 Definition 162
28.02 Application under section 5 162
28.03 Application under section 6 or 8 162
28.04 Notice of objection 163
28.05 Agreement under section 7 163
28.06 Order in absence of parties 163
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28.07 Summons for examination 163
28.08 Warrant of apprehension 164
28.09 Forms of notice 164
28.10 Warrant of commitment 164
28.11 Payments to be made to registrar 164
28.12 Certificate of discharge 164
28.13 Service and notification 164
28.14 Adjournment 164
ORDER 28A 165
PARTICULAR PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE BUILDING AND
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY SECURITY OF PAYMENT
ACT 2002 165
28A.01 Definitions 165
28A.02 Commencement of proceeding under section 28R of the
Act 165
28A.03 Power of registrar to make order in proceedings under
section 28R of the Act 165
28A.04 Setting aside an order 166
28A.05 Certification of debt by Court 166
28A.06 Application for stay of payments 166
ORDER 29 166
VENUE AND TRANSFER OF PROCEEDINGS 166
29.01 Venue of Court 166
29.02 Transfer of proceeding to the Court 167
ORDER 30 168
RE-HEARING 168
30.01 Application for re-hearing 168
30.02 Form of application 169
30.03 Re-hearing date 169
ORDER 31 169
SECURITY FOR COSTS 169
31.01 Definitions 169
31.02 When security for costs may be ordered 170
31.03 Manner of giving security 170
31.04 Failure to give security 170
31.05 Variation or setting aside 171
31.06 Payment by way of irrevocable guarantee 171
31.07 Requirements of guarantee 171
31.08 Liability of bank 171
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ORDER 32 172
PERSON UNDER DISABILITY 172
32.01 Litigation guardian of minor 172
32.02 Person with a disability 172
32.03 Litigation guardian of defendant 173
32.04 Power of litigation guardian 173
32.05 Compromise of claim by minor or a person with a
disability 173
32.06 Money to be paid into court 174
32.07 Investment of money 175
ORDER 33 175
REGISTRARS 175
33.01 Reference to a magistrate 175
33.02 Appeal from registrar 175
ORDER 34 176
APPEALS 176
34.01 Application of order 176
34.02 Notice of appeal 176
34.03 Amendment of grounds 176
34.04 Affidavit 176
34.05 Date for hearing 177
ORDER 35 177
MISCELLANEOUS RULES 177
35.01 Civil registry courts 177
35.01.1 Jurisdiction of Neighbourhood Justice Division 177
35.02 General power of amendment 177
35.02.1 Registrar's power of amendment 178
35.03 Directions 178
35.04 Injunctions 178
35.05 Preservation of property 178
35.06 Practice notes 179
__________________
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FORMS 180
Form 1A—Electronic Lodgment Authorisation 180
Form 4A—Complaint 181
Form 5A—Affidavit/Declaration of Service 183
Form 5AB—Complaint 184
Form 7A—Counterclaim 188
Form 7AB—Counterclaim 190
Form 8A—Third Party Notice 192
Form 8B—Notice Claiming Contribution 194
Form 9A—Notice Of Defence 195
Form 9B—Notice of Request Pursuant to Section 45(1)(b) of the
Accident Compensation Act 1985 197
Form 10A—Application for Order 198
Form 10B—Application for an Order for Costs 199
Form 10C—Application for Summary Order 200
Form 10D—Application for *Setting Aside/*Variation of Summary
Order 201
Form 11A—Notice for Discovery 201
Form 11B—Affidavit of Documents 202
Form 11C—Notice to Produce 204
Form 14A—Notice to Admit 205
Form 14B—Notice of Dispute 206
Form 16AA—Notice of Application under Section 42E(1) of the
Evidence Act 1958 207
Form 17A—Witness Summons to give Evidence 209
Form 17B—Witness Summons for Production 210
Form 17C—Witness Summons for Production and to give Evidence 212
Form 17D—Witness Summons for Production 214
Form 20A—Application 216
Form 20B—Application for Appointment of Nominal Defendant 216
Form 20C—Notice of Appointment of Nominal Defendant 217
Form 22AA—Mediation Report 218
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Form 24A—Complaint 220
Form 24B—Application for Leave to Defend 222
Form 24C—Application for Order 223
Form 24D—Notification of Decision 224
Form 24E—Application for Leave to Defend after Order made 225
Form 27A—Interpleader Summons 226
Form 27B—Warrant to Seize Property 227
Form 27BA—Notice to Person Responsible for Safekeeping of
Property Seized under a Warrant to Seize Property 229
Form 27C—Warrant of Delivery 230
Form 27CA—Summons to Attend for Oral Examination 232
Form 27CB—Summons to Attend to give Evidence or Produce
Documents 234
Form 27CC—Examination of a Judgment Debtor 235
Form 27CD—Examination of an Officer of a Judgment Debtor which
is a Corporation 242
Form 27D—Attachment of Earnings Summons 247
Form 27E—Affidavit in Support of Application for Attachment of
Earnings Order 248
Form 27F—Judgment Debtor's Statement of Financial Position 249
Form 27J—Order that Judgment Debtor Attend for Examination 253
Form 27K—Order that Person Indebted or Employer of Judgment
Debtor give Statement 253
Form 27L—Attachment of Earnings Order 254
Form 27P—Garnishee Order 257
Form 27Q—Garnishee Order 258
Form 27R—Affidavit in Support of Summons for Commitment 259
Form 27AA—Order 260
Form 27AB—Default Order for Debt 261
Form 27AC—Affidavit in Support of Enforcement 262
Form 28A—Application 264
Form 28B—Statement of Affairs by an Individual 267
Form 28BA—Statement of Affairs by an Officer of a Corporation 272
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Form 28C—Notice of Objection 275
Form 28D—Instalment Agreement 276
Form 28E—Summons for Examination 278
Form 28F—Application for Issue of Summons 280
Form 28G—Warrant of Apprehension 281
Form 28H—Notice 282
Form 28J—Notice 283
Form 28K—Notice 284
Form 28L—Warrant of Commitment 285
Form 28M—Certificate of Discharge 286
Form 30A—Application for Re-hearing 287
Form 31A—Irrevocable Bank Guarantee 288
Form 31B—Notice of Discharge and Payment into Court 288
Form 32A—Consent to Act as Litigation Guardian 289
Form 34A—Notice of Appeal 290
__________________
APPENDIX A 291
APPENDIX B 304
__________________
SCHEDULE 1—Rules Revoked 305
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1
STATUTORY RULES 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
Magistrates' Court Act 1989
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
The Chief Magistrate together with 2 Deputy Chief
Magistrates jointly make the following Rules:
ORDER 1
PRELIMINARY
PART 1—GENERAL
1.01 Object
The object of these Rules is to re-make with
amendments the rules of procedure in civil
proceedings in the Magistrates' Court of Victoria.
1.02 Authorising provisions
These Rules are made under section 16 of the
Magistrates' Court Act 1989 and all other
enabling powers.
1.03 Commencement
These Rules come into operation on 16 May 2009.
1.04 Revocation
The Rules in Schedule 1 to these Rules are
revoked.
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PART 2—APPLICATION OF RULES
1.05 Definitions
In this Part—
commencement date means the date referred to in
Rule 1.03;
former Rules means the Magistrates' Court Civil
Procedure Rules 1999;
pending proceeding means a civil proceeding in
the Court to which, immediately before the
commencement date, the former Rules
applied.
1.06 Application
(1) These Rules apply to every civil proceeding
commenced in the Court on or after the
commencement date except where inconsistent
with any Act or subordinate instrument within the
meaning of the Interpretation of Legislation Act
1984.
(2) These Rules apply, with any necessary
modification, to a pending proceeding and
anything required or permitted to be done under
these Rules with respect to a proceeding
commenced on or after the commencement date
shall or may be done in a pending proceeding.
1.07 Proceedings in another court
(1) Except as the Court otherwise orders these Rules
apply, with any necessary modification, to
proceedings commenced in another court and
remitted or transferred to or removed into the
Court on or after the commencement date as if
they were a proceeding commenced in the Court
on the day they were remitted, transferred or
removed.
r. 1.05
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(2) For the purposes of this Part a proceeding
commenced in another court and remitted or
transferred to or removed into the Court on or
after the commencement date shall be taken to be
a pending proceeding.
1.08 Order in pending proceeding
(1) Except as provided in this Rule, these Rules apply
to an order made in a pending proceeding as if it
had been given in a proceeding commenced after
the commencement date.
(2) An order made in a pending proceeding before the
commencement date may be enforced in
accordance with these Rules, but otherwise the
order shall have the same force and effect as if it
were made under any Act or Rules previously in
force.
(3) Without limiting paragraph (2)—
(a) no appeal may be brought, application to set
aside or vary made or other proceeding taken
in respect of an order made before the
commencement date which could not have
been brought, made or taken in respect of
that order under the former Rules
immediately before the commencement date;
(b) process commenced under the former Rules
to enforce an order made before the
commencement date may be continued or
carried out and aided in accordance with
those Rules.
1.09 Costs
(1) The amount of costs for work done in a pending
proceeding before the commencement date shall
be determined in accordance with the former
Rules and the amount of costs for work done in
the proceeding on or after that date shall be
determined in accordance with these Rules.
r. 1.08
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(2) For the purpose of this Rule work done in a
pending proceeding on or after the
commencement date in accordance with the
former Rules shall, so far as practicable, be taken
to have been done in accordance with these Rules.
PART 3—INTERPRETATION
1.10 Definitions
In these Rules, unless the context or subject matter
otherwise requires—
authorised user means a person or body
authorised by the Chief Magistrate under
Rule 1.18 to file documents by lodging
electronic messages with the Court;
Authority means the Victorian WorkCover
Authority established under section 18(1) of
the Accident Compensation Act 1985;
Conciliation Officer means a person nominated as
a Conciliation Officer under section 52D of
the Accident Compensation Act 1985;
corporation means any body corporate, whether
formed within or out of Victoria;
discovery includes discovery and inspection of
documents and discovery by written
interrogatories or oral examination and make
discovery of documents means make an
affidavit of documents complying with the
requirements of these Rules, file the affidavit
and serve a copy on the party or person
entitled to the discovery;
electronic message means data transmitted
electronically by an authorised user to the
Court;
r. 1.10
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employer in a proceeding under the Accident
Compensation Act 1985 has the same
meaning as in section 5(1) of that Act and in
a proceeding under the Workers
Compensation Act 1958 has the same
meaning as in section 3(1) of that Act;
Medical Panel means a Medical Panel under the
Accident Compensation Act 1985;
medical question has the same meaning as in
section 5(1) of the Accident Compensation
Act 1985;
order made means an order made by the Court at
the hearing of a proceeding or on the hearing
of an application in a proceeding;
personal injury includes any impairment of
mental condition or any disease;
plaintiff includes a claimant under section 44(1)
of the Workers Compensation Act 1958;
proceeding means any matter in the Court
commenced by complaint or as otherwise
provided by or under any Act or these Rules;
registrar means the principal registrar or the
registrar or deputy registrar of the Court at
the proper venue of the Court in relation to a
proceeding;
self-insurer has the same meaning as in
section 5(1) of the Accident Compensation
Act 1985;
solicitor means an Australian lawyer as defined in
the Legal Profession Act 2004, other than a
barrister as defined in that Act, and includes
an incorporated legal practice as defined in
that Act;
the Act means the Magistrates' Court Act 1989;
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worker in a proceeding under the Accident
Compensation Act 1985 has the same
meaning as in section 5(1) of that Act and in
a proceeding under the Workers
Compensation Act 1958 has the same
meaning as in section 3(1) of that Act.
PART 4—MISCELLANEOUS
1.11 Proceedings other than in open court
Unless the Court otherwise orders, the following
proceedings need not be conducted in open
court—
(a) an application to extend the validity of a
complaint, summons or witness summons
under Rule 4.05(2);
(b) an application for substituted service under
Rule 5.09;
(c) an application for an order in default of
defence or compliance under Part 1 or Part 2
of Order 10;
(d) an application for an order upon default of
compliance of the provisions of the
compromise of a proceeding;
(e) a pre-hearing conference conducted by a
magistrate, judicial registrar or registrar;
(f) a mediation conducted by an acceptable
mediator;
(g) an application for an order (subsequent to a
party failing to attend a mediation) under
Rule 22A.04;
(h) an application to extend the validity of a
warrant under Rule 27.03(2);
(i) an examination of a judgment debtor
conducted by a registrar under Rule 27.12.1;
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(j) an attachment of earnings order under
Rule 27.13 or an examination of the
judgment debtor or another person under
Rule 27.16;
(k) an application for an order for attachment of
debt under Rule 27.30;
(l) an application to approve a compromise and
for any other orders under Rule 32.05;
(m) a case transfer application and an application
to review a case transfer decision under the
Courts (Case Transfer) Act 1991;
(n) an application for leave to defend under
section 5 of the Instruments Act 1958;
(o) an application under section 5, 6 or 7 of the
Judgment Debt Recovery Act 1984;
(p) an application for the issue of a warrant to
arrest under section 134(5) of the Act;
(q) an application for the issue of an entry
permit under section 83 of the Occupational
Health and Safety Act 2004;
(r) any application, notice of which is not
required to be given by or under any Act or
these Rules to another person, whether or not
a party.
1.12 Procedure wanting or in doubt
Where the manner or form of the procedure—
(a) for commencing, or for taking any step, in a
proceeding; or
(b) by which the jurisdiction, power or authority
of the Court is exercisable—
is not prescribed by these Rules or by or under
any Act the general principles of practice and the
Rules and forms observed and used in the
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Supreme Court may, at the discretion of the Court,
be adopted and applied to any proceeding with
such modification as may be necessary.
1.13 Act by corporation
Where the Court makes an order that a
corporation do any act, it may order that the act be
done by the corporation by its appropriate officer.
1.14 Corporation a party
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a corporation must not
take any step in a proceeding except by a solicitor.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply—
(a) if by or under any Act or these Rules a
corporation is permitted to act other than by
a solicitor; and
(b) to the filing of a complaint, the giving of a
notice of defence and, in a case to which
Order 10 applies, obtaining an order by a
corporation which is a party or by an
employee, authorised in writing, of a
corporation which is a party.
1.15 Power to act by solicitor
(1) Unless the context or subject matter otherwise
requires, any act, matter or thing which under the
Act or these Rules or otherwise by law is required
or permitted to be done by a party may be done by
the party's solicitor.
(2) Where a solicitor ceases to act for a party in a
proceeding the solicitor must forthwith file notice
of ceasing to act and serve a copy on all parties
including the party for whom the solicitor has
ceased to act.
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1.16 Filing of documents
Except where otherwise provided by these Rules
or unless the Court otherwise orders, a document
is filed by its being lodged with the registrar in the
office of the Court at the proper venue of the
Court.
1.17 Seal of Court
(1) The principal registrar and every registrar shall
each have in his or her custody a stamp the design
of which shall as near as practicable be the same
as the design of the seal of the Court with the
addition of, in the case of—
(a) the principal registrar, the words "Principal
Registrar";
(b) a registrar, the word "Registrar".
(2) Making a document or a copy of a document with
a stamp referred to in paragraph (1) is sufficient
compliance with any requirements of these Rules
or an order of the Court that the document or copy
be sealed with the seal of the Court.
1.18 Use of electronic messages for lodging Court
documents
(1) The Chief Magistrate may authorise a person or
body to file documents in the Court by lodging
electronic messages with the Court.
(2) Any authorisation under paragraph (1) must be in
Form 1A.
PART 5—OVERRIDING OBJECTIVE AND CASE
MANAGEMENT
1.19 Overriding objective
(1) The overriding objective of these Rules is to
enable the Court to deal with a case justly.
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(2) Dealing with a case justly includes, so far as is
practicable—
(a) effectively, completely, promptly and
economically determining all the issues in
the case;
(b) avoiding unnecessary expense;
(c) dealing with the case in ways which are
proportionate to—
(i) the amount of money involved;
(ii) the complexity of the issues;
(d) allocating to the case an appropriate share of
the Court's resources, while taking into
account the need to allocate resources to
other cases.
1.20 Duty of parties
The parties are required to help the Court to
further the overriding objective.
1.21 Exercise of power
(1) In exercising any power under these Rules or in
interpreting any Rule the Court must seek to give
effect to the overriding objective.
(2) In exercising any power under these Rules the
Court may give any direction or impose any term
or condition it thinks fit.
(3) The Court may exercise any power under these
Rules of its own motion or on the application of a
party or of any person having a sufficient interest.
1.22 Case management
(1) The Court must further the overriding objective by
actively managing cases.
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(2) Active case management includes—
(a) encouraging the parties to cooperate with
each other in the conduct of proceedings;
(b) identifying the issues at an early stage;
(c) deciding promptly which issues need full
investigation and a hearing and accordingly
disposing summarily of the others;
(d) deciding the order in which the issues are to
be resolved;
(e) encouraging the parties to use an alternative
dispute resolution procedure if the Court
considers that appropriate and facilitating the
use of such procedure;
(f) helping the parties to settle the whole or part
of the case;
(g) fixing timetables or otherwise controlling the
progress of the case;
(h) considering whether the likely benefits of
taking a particular step justify the cost of
taking it;
(i) dealing with as many aspects of the case as it
can on the same occasion;
(j) dealing with the case without the parties
needing to attend court;
(k) making use of technology;
(l) giving directions to ensure that the hearing of
a case proceeds quickly and efficiently;
(m) limiting the time for the hearing or other part
of a case, including at the hearing the
number of witnesses and the time for the
examination or cross-examination of a
witness.
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ORDER 2
NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE RULES
2.01 Effect of non-compliance
(1) A failure to comply with these Rules is an
irregularity and does not render a proceeding or a
step taken, or any document or order therein a
nullity.
(2) Subject to Rules 2.02 and 2.03, where there has
been a failure to comply with these Rules, the
Court may—
(a) set aside the proceeding, either wholly or in
part;
(b) set aside any step taken in the proceeding, or
any document or order therein;
(c) exercise its powers under these Rules to
allow amendments and to make orders
dealing with the proceeding generally.
2.02 Originating process
The Court must not wholly set aside any
proceeding or the complaint by which the
proceeding was commenced on the ground that
the proceeding was commenced by the wrong
process.
2.03 Application to set aside for irregularity
The Court must not set aside any proceeding or
any step in any proceeding or any document or
order therein on the ground of a failure to comply
with these Rules on the application of any party
unless the application is made—
(a) within a reasonable time after the applicant
becomes aware of the failure; and
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(b) before the applicant has taken any fresh step
(save for filing a defence) after becoming
aware of the failure.
2.04 Dispensing with compliance
The Court may dispense with compliance with
any of the requirements of these Rules, either
before or after the occasion for compliance arises.
ORDER 3
TIME, SITTINGS, COURT OFFICE AND DOCUMENTS
3.01 Calculating time
(1) Any period of time fixed by these Rules or by any
order or by any document in any proceeding must
be calculated in accordance with this Rule.
(2) Where a time of one day or longer is to begin on,
or to be calculated from, a day or event, the day or
the day of the event shall be excluded.
(3) Where a time of one day or longer is to end on, or
to be calculated to, a day or event, the day or the
day of the event shall be included.
(4) Where a period of five days or less would include
a day on which an office of the Court is closed,
that day shall be excluded.
(5) Where the last day for doing any act at an office
of the Court is a day on which the office is closed,
the act may be done on the next day the office is
open.
3.02 Extension and abridgement
(1) The Court may extend or abridge any time fixed
by these Rules or by any order fixing, extending
or abridging time.
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(2) Subject to Rule 4.05, the Court may extend time
under paragraph (1) before or after the time
expires whether or not an application for the
extension is made before the time expires.
3.03 Fixing time
Where no time is fixed by these Rules or by order
for doing any act in a proceeding, the Court may
fix a time.
3.04 Time for service
(1) In this Rule document does not include a
complaint.
(2) In calculating the time fixed by these Rules or by
any order fixing, extending or abridging time any
document which is served after 4.00 p.m. or on
any day an office of the Court is closed shall be
taken to have been served on the next day the
office is open.
3.04.1 Process in vacation
(1) In calculating the time fixed by these Rules or by
any order fixing, extending or abridging time, the
period from 24 December to 7 January next
following shall be excluded, unless the Court
otherwise orders.
(2) Where the Court makes an order under paragraph
(1), it may give any direction as to service as it
thinks fit.
3.05 Content and form of documents
(1) A document prepared by a party for use in the
Court shall be prepared in accordance with this
Rule.
(2) A document must be headed "In the Magistrates'
Court of Victoria at", or, if the document is in a
proceeding in the Industrial Division of the Court
or a proceeding to be commenced in the Industrial
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Division of the Court "In the Magistrates' Court of
Victoria (Industrial Division) at" stating the
proper venue of the Court in which the proceeding
is or is to be commenced and must show any
identifying number assigned by the Court to the
proceeding.
(3) A document must be of durable paper
297 millimetres by 210 millimetres, the size
known as International Paper Size A4, and be
capable of receiving writing in ink.
(4) Both sides of the paper may be used, with double
spacing between the lines and a left-hand margin
of at least 40 millimetres.
(5) The text of a document must be clear, sharp,
legible and permanent.
(6) A document must not bear any erasure or
alteration that causes material disfigurement.
(7) A document, other than a complaint, must be
endorsed on the front sheet with—
(a) the title of the proceeding and any
identifying number;
(b) a short description of the document;
(c) the name of the party on whose behalf it is
filed;
(d) if a solicitor prepares the document, the
name, address, telephone number, document
exchange number, code reference of the
solicitor's firm and the solicitor's reference or
name of an individual in the firm to whom
reference can be made in respect of the
proceeding;
(e) if the party on whose behalf the document is
filed acts without a solicitor, the name
address and telephone number of that party.
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(8) The Court may require any document in a
proceeding to be prepared in any manner it thinks
fit.
(9) Dates, amounts and other numbers must be
expressed in figures and not in words.
3.06 Registrar refusing to accept documents
(1) A registrar may refuse to accept a document
where the registrar considers that the form or
contents of the document show that were the
document to be accepted the proceeding so
commenced would be an abuse of the process of
the Court.
(2) Where a document for use in the Court is not
prepared in accordance with these Rules or any
order of the Court—
(a) the registrar may refuse to accept it for filing
without the direction of the Court;
(b) the Court may order that the party
responsible shall not be entitled to rely upon
it in any manner in the proceeding until a
document which is properly prepared is filed.
(3) The Court may direct the registrar to accept a
document for filing.
3.07 Scandalous matter
Where a document for use in the Court contains
scandalous, irrelevant or otherwise oppressive
matter, the Court may order—
(a) that the offending matter be deleted; or
(b) if the document has been filed, that it be
taken off the file.
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ORDER 4
PROCESS IN THE COURT
4.01 Claim not to be divided
(1) A plaintiff must not divide a claim or cause of
action for the purpose of making two or more
complaints.
(2) A plaintiff who has a claim for more than the
amount for which a claim may be made in the
Court may abandon the excess by so stating in the
particulars of the claim.
4.02 Names, addresses and representation of parties
A complaint must—
(a) state the full name and address of the
plaintiff and an address for service of notices
and documents on the plaintiff; and
(b) if the plaintiff sues in person, state an
address for service of notices and documents
on the plaintiff within Victoria; and
(c) if the plaintiff sues or the defendant is sued
in a representative capacity, state the
capacity in which the plaintiff sues or the
defendant is sued in a representative
capacity; and
(d) state the name and address of the defendant;
and
(e) if the plaintiff sues by a solicitor, state the
name or firm and business address within
Victoria of the solicitor and also, if the
solicitor is the agent of another, the name or
firm and business address of the principal.
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4.02.1 Statement of claim
(1) A complaint must contain a statement of claim.
(2) A statement of claim must—
(a) contain in a summary form a statement of all
the material facts on which the plaintiff
relies, but not the evidence by which those
facts are to be proved;
(b) contain the necessary particulars of every
fact or matter;
(c) if the claim arises by or under any Act,
identify the specific provision relied on;
(d) state specifically the amount or other relief
or remedy sought;
(e) state the place where and the date when the
claim arose.
(3) A statement of claim may make inconsistent
allegations of fact if it makes clear that the
allegations are made in the alternative.
(4) A statement of claim must be divided into
paragraphs numbered consecutively, and each fact
or matter stated so far as practicable must be
contained in a separate paragraph.
4.02.2 Motor vehicle collision
(1) This Rule applies if the plaintiff's claim arises out
of a motor vehicle collision and the claim includes
a claim for the cost of repairs to the vehicle or for
the total loss of the vehicle.
(2) If the claim includes a claim for the cost of
repairs, an itemised quotation of the cost of repairs
must be attached to the complaint.
(3) If the claim includes a claim for the total loss of
the vehicle, an assessment of the loss must be
attached to the complaint.
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4.02.3 Form of complaint
(1) Unless subrule (2) applies, a complaint must be in
Form 4A.
(2) Where a complaint is to be served out of
Australia, the complaint must be in the form
required by Rule 5A.02(1).
4.02.4 Requirements for filing a complaint by an electronic
message
If a complaint (including a complaint upon a bill
of exchange) is filed by lodging an electronic
message, the electronic message must specify—
(a) whether or not the complaint is under the
Instruments Act 1958; and
(b) the full name of the plaintiff and an address
for service of notices and documents upon
the plaintiff; and
(c) the name and address of the defendant; and
(d) if the plaintiff sues by a solicitor, the name
or firm and business address within Victoria
of the solicitor; and
(e) the nature of the claim; and
(f) the place where and the date when the claim
arose; and
(g) the amount (if any) claimed and costs
claimed; and
(h) the proper venue of the Court.
4.02.5 Complaints by electronic message to comply with
Rules
A complaint which was filed by the lodgement of
an electronic message and is to be served on a
party must comply with these Rules.
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4.02.6 Copy of complaint commenced by electronic
message to be provided upon request
A copy of a complaint which was filed by lodging
an electronic message must be retained by or on
behalf of the plaintiff and the copy must be
provided to the Court at the request of the
registrar.
4.03 Costs to be specified
(1) If the plaintiff claims a sum of money only, the
complaint must be indorsed with a statement as
follows:
"If you pay the amount of $ and costs of
$ to the plaintiff or the plaintiff's solicitor
without giving notice of defence you may avoid
further costs.".
(2) The amount of costs in the indorsement must be—
(a) in the case of a claim for debt, liquidated
demand or claim arising from a motor
vehicle collision for cost of repairs only or
for total loss of vehicle only, the amount of
scale costs in item 1 in Appendix A
applicable to the amount claimed; or
(b) in any other case, the amount of scale costs
in item 2 in Appendix A applicable to the
amount claimed—
plus the fees (if any) for the filing and service of
the complaint.
(3) A registrar, upon application made before service
of any complaint, may fix an amount in respect of
additional disbursements reasonably and
necessarily incurred which amount must be
included in the indorsement on the complaint.
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4.04 Filing of process
(1) Unless otherwise provided in these Rules, a
proceeding must be commenced by the filing of a
complaint—
(a) in the office of the Court at the proper venue
of the Court; or
(b) by an authorised user lodging an electronic
message with the Court.
(2) If an office of the Court is closed, a complaint
may be produced by the plaintiff to the magistrate
and upon the plaintiff's undertaking that the
complaint will be lodged in the office on the day
that office is next open and giving such other
undertaking as the magistrate requires the
magistrate may initial the complaint and it shall
thereupon be taken to have been filed.
(3) A complaint is valid for all purposes if it bears the
allocated Court number and the date of filing.
(4) Data contained in electronic messages must be
stored by the Court in a computer database or
other device so as to be capable of being
reproduced therefrom.
(5) The date of filing of a complaint lodged by an
electronic message which complies with the Act
and the Rules is the date the electronic message is
received at the Court.
4.05 Duration
(1) A complaint, summons or witness summons is
valid for service for one year after the day it is
filed.
(2) If a complaint or summons has not been served on
a defendant or if a witness summons has not been
served on a witness, the Court may from time to
time extend the validity of the complaint,
summons or witness summons for such period
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from the day of the order as the Court directs, not
being more than one year from that day.
(3) An application for an extension under
paragraph (2) must be made on or before a day on
which a complaint, summons or witness summons
would cease to be valid and no order for extension
shall be made after a complaint summons or
witness summons ceases to be valid.
4.06 Interlocutory application
Unless the Court otherwise orders an interlocutory
or other application in a proceeding must be by
application.
4.07 Names of parties
(1) A person who commences a proceeding is called a
plaintiff and a person against whom a proceeding
is commenced is called a defendant.
(2) On an interlocutory or other application in a
proceeding the person making the application is
called an applicant and the person to whom notice
is given is called a respondent.
4.08 Urgent cases
In an urgent case, the Court may, on the
application of a person who intends to commence
a proceeding and upon the person's undertaking to
commence the proceeding within such time as the
Court directs, make any order which the Court
might make if the applicant had commenced the
proceeding and the application were made in the
proceeding.
4.09 Discontinuance and withdrawal
(1) A complaint, counterclaim or claim by third party
notice may be discontinued and a notice of
defence may be withdrawn at any time before the
day of hearing without the leave of the Court.
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(2) Notice in writing of discontinuance or withdrawal
must be filed and served on each other party.
(3) Discontinuance or withdrawal is not effective
until the notice under paragraph (2) is filed.
4.10 Costs on discontinuance or withdrawal
Unless the Court otherwise orders, a party who
discontinues or withdraws in accordance with
Rule 4.09 must pay the costs of the party to whom
the discontinuance or withdrawal relates to the
time of the discontinuance or withdrawal.
4.11 Stay on new proceeding
If by reason of discontinuance or withdrawal
under this Order a party is liable to pay the costs
of any other party, and the party, before paying
those costs, commences another proceeding for
the same or substantially the same cause of action,
the Court may by order stay the proceeding until
those costs are paid.
ORDER 5
SERVICE
5.01 When personal service necessary
Any document required or permitted to be served
in a proceeding may be served personally, but
unless personal service is required by these Rules
or by order, need not be served personally.
5.02 Complaint to be served personally
Except where otherwise provided by these Rules,
a complaint must be served personally on each
defendant, together with two notices of defence.
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5.03 How personal service effected
(1) Personal service of a document is effected—
(a) by leaving a copy of the document with the
person to be served or, if the person does not
accept the copy, by putting the copy down in
the person's presence and telling the person
the nature of the document; or
(b) by delivering a copy of the document to the
place of residence of the person to be served
to a person apparently above the age of
sixteen years who resides at that place but
when the place of residence is an hotel,
boarding house or similar establishment, to
some person apparently above that age who
is apparently in charge of the establishment
or engaged in the office of the establishment;
or
(c) if the person to be served conducts a
business, by delivering a copy of the
document to the place of business of the
person to be served to a person apparently
above the age of sixteen years who is
apparently in charge of that business or is
employed in the office of that business.
(2) To effect personal service it shall not be necessary
to produce the original document at the time of
service.
5.04 Service on particular defendants
Personal service of a document may be effected
by serving the document in accordance with
Rule 5.03, in the case of—
(a) a corporation, on the mayor, chairman,
president or other head officer of the
corporation, or on the town clerk, clerk,
treasurer, manager, secretary or other similar
officer of the corporation or, where provision
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is made by or under any Act for service on a
corporation, by serving the document in
accordance with that provision;
(b) a minor, on a parent or guardian of the
minor, and, if there is none, on the person
with whom he or she resides or in whose
care he or she is;
(c) the Crown in the right of the Commonwealth
or the Commonwealth, on the Secretary to
the Attorney-General's Department or any
person authorised under section 55E(4) of
the Commonwealth Act known as the
Judiciary Act 1903 as amended from time to
time to act in the name of the Australian
Government Solicitor;
(d) the Crown in the right of Victoria or the
State of Victoria, on the Victorian
Government Solicitor;
(e) the owner or charterer of a ship—
(i) on the owner, charterer or manager for
the time being; or
(ii) on the Victorian agent for the ship; or
(iii) in the case of a claim by a sailor,
including a seaman as defined in
section 3 of the Workers
Compensation Act 1958, other than
the master or the dependants of such a
sailor, on the master.
5.05 Service on persons jointly sued
Notwithstanding Rule 5.02, if a person makes a
claim against partners in the name of their firm, it
is sufficient if any of those partners is served with
the complaint and an order may be obtained and
enforced against the person or persons so served,
r. 5.05
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notwithstanding that others jointly liable have not
been served.
5.06 Claims for personal injury
(1) In any proceeding in which the plaintiff claims
damages in respect of personal injury caused by or
arising out of the use of a motor car, a complaint
shall not be taken to have been served on the
defendant unless a copy of the complaint is served
on the defendant in accordance with these Rules
and also on the Transport Accident Commission.
(2) If in a proceeding to which paragraph (1) applies a
copy of the complaint has been duly served on the
defendant but not on the Transport Accident
Commission the Court may, notwithstanding
paragraph (1), order that the complaint be taken to
have been served on the defendant.
(3) Service on the Transport Accident Commission
for the purposes of this Rule may be by ordinary
service.
5.07 How ordinary service effected
(1) If personal service of a document is not required,
the document may be served—
(a) by leaving the document at the address for
service of the person to be served; or
(b) by posting the document to the person to be
served at that person's address for service; or
(c) where provision is made by or under any Act
for service of a document on a corporation,
by serving the document in accordance with
that provision; or
(d) when the solicitor for a party has facilities
for the reception of documents in a document
exchange, by delivering the document into
those facilities; or
r. 5.06
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(e) where the solicitor for a party has a facility
for the reception of documents by facsimile
transmission, by transmitting the document
to that facility.
(2) The day of service of a document shall, where the
document—
(a) is sent by post in accordance with paragraph
(1)(b)—be taken to be the day it would be
delivered in the normal course of post;
(b) is delivered into the facilities of a document
exchange in accordance with paragraph
(1)(d)—be taken to be the day following the
day upon which it is so delivered or, where a
document is delivered on a Friday or a day
preceding a public holiday, be taken to be the
following Monday or the next working day
after the public holiday, as the case
requires—
or on such other day as may be proved.
(3) In this Rule, document exchange means any
document exchange for the time being approved
by the Chief Justice on the recommendation of the
Council of the Law Institute of Victoria.
5.08 Acceptance of service by solicitor
If in a proceeding a document is required or
permitted to be served on any person, and a
solicitor makes on a copy of the document a note
that the solicitor accepts service of the document
on behalf of the person served, the document
shall, unless the solicitor is shown not to have had
authority to accept service, be taken to have been
duly served on that person on the day on which
the solicitor makes the note or on such other day
as may be proved.
r. 5.08
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5.09 Substituted service
(1) If for any reason it is impracticable to serve a
document in the manner required by these Rules,
the Court may order that such steps be taken as
the Court specifies for the purposes of bringing
the document to the notice of the person to be
served.
(2) If the Court makes an order under paragraph (1),
the Court may order that the document be taken to
have been served on the happening of any
specified event, or on the expiry of any specified
time.
(3) The Court may make an order under paragraph (1)
notwithstanding that the person to be served is out
of Victoria or was out of Victoria when the
proceeding commenced.
5.10 Service of document by the Court
If, under these Rules or under an order of the
Court, any notice or other document is to be given
to or served on any person by the Court, then,
unless the Rules otherwise provide or the Court
otherwise orders, the notice or document is
sufficiently given or served in any manner in
which a document not requiring personal service
may be served under this Order.
5.11 Affidavit of service
(1) An affidavit or declaration of service of any
document must state by whom the document was
served, the hour of the day, day of the week and
date on which it was served and the place and
mode of service and must be in Form 5A.
(2) A document purporting to be an affidavit or
declaration of service shall be taken to be
evidence of the proper service of a document
unless the contrary is proved.
r. 5.09
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(3) An affidavit of service must be filed as soon as
practicable after service of an application or
summons.
ORDER 5A
SERVICE OUT OF AUSTRALIA
5A.01 For what claims
(1) A complaint may be served out of Australia
without leave of the Court where—
(a) the proceeding is one brought to enforce,
rescind, dissolve, rectify, annul or otherwise
affect a contract, or to recover damages or
other relief in respect of the breach of a
contract, and the contract—
(i) was made within Victoria;
(ii) was made by or through an agent
carrying on business or residing within
Victoria on behalf of a principal
carrying on business or residing out of
Victoria; or
(iii) is governed by the law of Victoria;
(b) the proceeding is brought in respect of a
breach committed within Victoria of a
contract wherever made, even though that
breach was preceded or accompanied by a
breach out of Victoria that rendered
impossible the performance of that part of
the contract which ought to have been
performed within Victoria;
(c) the proceeding is founded on a contract the
parties to which have agreed that the Court
shall have jurisdiction to entertain a
proceeding in respect of the contract;
r. 5A.01
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(d) the proceeding is founded on a tort
committed within Victoria;
(e) the proceeding is brought in respect of
damage suffered wholly or partly in Victoria
and caused by a tortious act or omission
wherever occurring;
(f) an injunction is sought ordering the
defendant to do or refrain from doing
anything within Victoria, whether or not
damages are also claimed in respect of a
failure to do or the doing of that thing;
(g) the proceeding is properly brought against a
person duly served within or out of Victoria
and another person out of Australia is a
necessary or proper party to the proceeding.
(2) A complaint may be served out of Australia under
subrule (1) notwithstanding that part of the cause
of action arose outside Victoria provided that a
material part of it arose in Victoria.
5A.02 Form of complaint and indorsement
(1) A complaint served on any defendant out of
Australia in accordance with this Order must be in
Form 5AB and, at the time of service on that
defendant, contain an indorsement stating the facts
and the particular paragraph of Rule 5A.01(1)
relied upon in support of such service.
(2) If the complaint is not in Form 5AB or does not
contain the indorsement referred to in subrule (1)
at the time it is filed, the plaintiff may, in
accordance with subrule (3), amend the complaint
to conform with Form 5AB and to include the
indorsement.
r. 5A.02
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(3) The complaint must be taken to be amended upon
the filing by the plaintiff of a copy of the
complaint to conform with Form 5AB with the
indorsement included.
(4) Upon the filing of an amended copy of the
complaint under subrule (3) or at any later time,
the registrar on the request of the plaintiff shall
seal a sufficient number of copies of the complaint
as amended for service and proof of service.
5A.03 Mode of service out of Australia
A complaint which is to be served out of Australia
must be served in accordance with Rule
5.03(1)(a).
5A.04 Leave to apply for an order
(1) Where no notice of defence is given within
42 days of a party being served with a complaint
out of Australia, the Court, if satisfied so far as it
concerns that party—
(a) that the subject matter of the complaint is
within Rule 5A.01;
(b) that the complaint complies with the
requirements of Rule 5A.02; and
(c) that the complaint was duly served on that
party—
may order that the plaintiff be at liberty to apply
for an order under Rule 10.01(1).
(2) An application for an order under subrule (1) must
be supported by affidavit or other evidence
showing the grounds on which the application is
made.
r. 5A.03
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5A.05 Stay, setting aside service, etc.
(1) The Court may make an order on application by a
party served with a complaint outside Australia
to—
(a) set aside the complaint or its service;
(b) set aside or vary an order made under
Rule 5A.04 where the application for an
order—
(i) was made on notice to the party, but the
party did not attend the hearing of the
application; or
(ii) was not made on notice to that party;
(c) stay the complaint.
(2) Without limiting subrule (1), the Court may make
an order under this Rule on the ground—
(a) that service out of Australia is not authorised
by these Rules; or
(b) that Victoria is not a convenient forum for
the hearing of the proceeding.
(3) The Court may make an order under this Rule
before an application is made under Rule 5A.04 or
before an order of the Court is made on such an
application.
5A.06 Service of counterclaim or third party notice
(1) This Rule applies to—
(a) a counterclaim against the plaintiff and
another person joined as defendant where the
person joined is not already a party to the
proceeding; and
(b) a third party notice filed in accordance with
Order 8.
r. 5A.05
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(2) A counterclaim or third party notice may be
served out of Australia without leave where the
claim made by the defendant in the counterclaim
or third party notice is of such a kind that if the
claim were made by complaint, the complaint
could be served out of Australia.
(3) Where subrule (2) applies the counterclaim must
be in Form 7AB.
(4) Where subrule (2) does not apply, the Court may
by order allow service out of Australia of a
counterclaim or third party notice.
5A.07 Application for order under Rule 5A.05 or 5A.06
(1) An application under Rule 5A.05 or 5A.06 shall
be supported by affidavit or other evidence
showing the grounds upon which the application
is made.
(2) Upon making an order under Rule 5A.05 or 5A.06
the Court may give directions with respect to
service and the time for filing a notice of defence
or for attendance before the Court or otherwise.
(3) Where a document is served out of Australia by
order of the Court made under Rule 5A.05 or
5A.06, a copy of the order, a copy of any affidavit
made in support of the application for the order
and, unless the Court otherwise orders, a copy of
any exhibit referred to in the affidavit shall be
served with the document.
r. 5A.07
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ORDER 6
CLAIMS AND PARTIES
PART 1—JOINDER AND SEVERANCE
6.01 Joinder of claims
(1) A plaintiff may join any number of claims against
a defendant whether the plaintiff makes the claims
in the same or in different capacities and whether
the claims are made against the defendant in the
same or in different capacities.
(2) If the Court considers that it is appropriate and
convenient to hear separately any claims joined in
one complaint, the Court may order that the
claims be heard separately.
(3) The total amount claimed where claims are joined
in the same complaint shall not exceed the
jurisdiction of the Court.
6.02 Joinder of parties permitted
Two or more persons may be joined as plaintiffs
or defendants in any proceeding—
(a) where—
(i) if separate proceedings were brought by
or against each of them, some common
question of law or fact would arise in
all the proceedings; and
(ii) all rights to relief claimed in the
proceeding (whether they are joint,
several or alternative) are in respect of
or arise out of the same transaction or
series of transactions; or
(b) where the Court, before or after the joinder,
gives leave to do so.
r. 6.01
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6.03 Plaintiff suing for numerous persons
If, in a proceeding for a debt or liquidated demand
or for unliquidated damages there are numerous
parties who have the same interest, one or more of
the persons may sue on behalf of or for the benefit
of all the parties so interested.
6.04 Business or firm name
If, in a proceeding for a debt or liquidated demand
or for unliquidated damages a person carries on
business in a name or style other than the person's
own name, that person may sue or be sued in that
name or style.
6.04.1 Plaintiff suing owner or charterer of ship
It is sufficient in a proceeding to describe the
owner or charterer of a ship as the owner or
charterer of the named ship and the provisions of
Order 17 of Chapter I of the Rules of the County
Court with respect to the disclosure of names of
partners apply, with any necessary modification,
to the disclosure of the names of the owners or
charterers.
6.05 Additions, removal, substitutions of party
At any stage of a proceeding the Court may order
that any person—
(a) who ought to be a party be added as a party
or substituted for a party;
(b) who is not a proper or a necessary party
cease to be a party.
r. 6.03
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PART 2—CONSOLIDATION
6.06 Consolidation of proceedings
If two or more complaints are pending in the
Court, and—
(a) some common question of law or fact arises
in both or all of them;
(b) the rights to relief claimed in those
proceedings are in respect of or arise out of
the same transaction or series of transactions;
or
(c) for any other reason it is desirable to make
an order under this Rule—
the Court may order the proceedings to be
consolidated, or to be heard at the same time or
one immediately after the other, or may order any
of them to be stayed until after the determination
of any other of them.
6.07 Where several complaints against one defendant
(1) If several complaints by different plaintiffs against
the same defendant are pending in the Court and
the claims arise out of the same circumstances, the
defendant may apply to the Court for an order that
all but one of the complaints be stayed.
(2) An application under paragraph (1) must be
accompanied by an undertaking by the defendant
that the defendant will be bound to be heard in
respect of all other proceedings to be stayed by the
order.
(3) On an application under paragraph (1) the court
shall select the proceeding to be heard.
r. 6.06
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ORDER 7
COUNTERCLAIM
7.01 When counterclaim allowed
(1) A defendant who has a claim against a plaintiff
may counterclaim in the proceedings.
(2) These Rules apply to a counterclaim as if the
plaintiff were the defendant and the defendant
were the plaintiff.
(3) A defendant who counterclaims shall file and
serve the counterclaim no later than 21 days after
notice of defence is given unless the Court
otherwise orders.
7.02 Form of counterclaim
(1) Unless subrule (2) applies, a counterclaim must be
in Form 7A.
(2) Where a counterclaim is to be served out of
Australia, the counterclaim must be in Form 7AB.
(3) Two notices of defence in Form 9A, with any
necessary modification, must be served with a
counterclaim.
7.03 Trial of counterclaim
A counterclaim shall be heard at the hearing of the
claim unless the Court otherwise orders.
7.04 Counterclaim on stay etc. of original proceeding
If the original complaint is stayed, dismissed,
discontinued or struck out or if a decision is given
for the plaintiff, a counterclaim nevertheless may
be prosecuted.
r. 7.01
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ORDER 8
THIRD PARTY PROCEDURE
8.01 Claims by third party notice
If a defendant claims as against a person not
already a party to the proceeding (in this Order
called the third party)—
(a) any contribution or indemnity;
(b) any relief or remedy relating to or connected
with the original subject matter of the
proceeding and substantially the same as
some relief or remedy claimed by the
plaintiff; or
(c) that any question relating to or connected
with the original subject matter of the
proceeding should be determined not only as
between the plaintiff and the defendant but
also as between either or both of them and
the third party—
the defendant may join the third party as a party to
the proceeding and make the claim against the
third party by filing and serving a third party
notice in Form 8A.
8.02 Filing and service of third party notice
(1) A claim against a third party must be commenced
by filing a third party notice.
(2) A third party notice together with a copy of the
complaint must be served on the third party in the
same manner as a complaint is served on a
defendant.
(2.1) A third party notice served under paragraph (2)
must also be served on the plaintiff and on any
other party who has given a notice of defence.
r. 8.01
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(3) A third party becomes a party to the proceeding
when served with the notice.
(3.1) A third party who has a claim against any other
party in the proceeding may counterclaim and
Order 7 shall apply as if the third party is a
defendant who counterclaims.
(4) A third party notice must not be served more than
42 days after the day on which notice of defence
is given unless the Court otherwise orders.
8.03 Plaintiff may join third party
(1) If a defendant files a third party notice against a
person the plaintiff may join that person as a
defendant.
(2) The plaintiff must give notice in writing to the
third party, the defendant or defendants and the
registrar that the third party is joined as defendant.
(3) When the notice is filed and served the third party
becomes a defendant to the proceeding.
8.04 Separate disposal or stay of third party proceeding
If a third party notice has been filed and served
the Court may at any time before the complaint is
determined—
(a) order that the defendant's claim or any part
of the claim or the facts on which the claim
or any part of the claim depends be dealt
with or inquired into separately; or
(b) stay proceedings on the defendant's claim.
8.05 Directions
The Court may give directions or make any order
for directions in the proceeding involving the
defendant and the third party.
r. 8.03
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8.06 Trial
Unless the Court otherwise orders—
(a) the third party may attend and take part at the
hearing of the complaint; and
(b) the third party shall be bound by the result of
the hearing.
8.07 Subsequent parties
With the leave of the Court, a third party who
wishes to obtain relief of the kind mentioned in
Rule 8.01 against any other person, may file and
serve a notice on that person or persons and on
every other person who is then a party to the
proceeding and, if the other person or persons are
not parties, must also serve a copy of the
complaint.
8.08 Counterclaim
If a defendant has served a counterclaim, this
Order with any necessary modification, applies as
if the defendant were the plaintiff and the plaintiff
were the defendant.
8.09 Contribution proceedings
If a party claims against another party to the
proceeding contribution pursuant to Part IV of the
Wrongs Act 1958, a notice claiming relief of the
kind described in Rule 8.01 must be in Form 8B.
8.10 Proceedings to enforce order for contribution or
indemnity
(1) Where an order is made for a plaintiff against a
defendant, any order made in favour of the
defendant against a third party or co-defendant
(other than an order under Part IV of the Wrongs
Act 1958) shall not be enforced, without leave of
the Court, to any greater extent than that to which
the order against the defendant has been satisfied.
r. 8.06
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(2) Where a defendant seeks to enforce an order for
contribution or indemnity by the issue of a
warrant to seize property or a warrant of delivery
the defendant shall file with the registrar an
affidavit stating either—
(a) that the defendant has paid the whole or part
(stating what part) of the sum in respect of
which the defendant is entitled to
contribution or indemnity; or
(b) that the defendant has by order of the Court
under Rule 8.10(1) been granted leave to
enforce the order against the third party or
co-defendant—
and the registrar may then issue either a warrant to
seize property or a warrant of delivery.
ORDER 9
DEFENCE, REPLY AND PARTICULARS
9.01 Notice of defence after service
(1) A defendant may give notice of defence at any
time after the service of a complaint, but except
by leave of the Court a notice of defence must not
be given if—
(a) the plaintiff has obtained an order under
Part 1 of Order 10; or
(b) by order of the Court the defendant's notice
of defence has been struck out.
(2) Notice of defence is given by serving a notice of
defence in Form 9A on the plaintiff at the address
for service stated in the complaint and by filing a
copy with the registrar.
(3) A copy of a notice of defence may be filed with
the registrar by means of facsimile transmission.
r. 9.01
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(4) A notice of defence must—
(a) contain a statement that the defendant
intends to defend the complaint; and
(b) contain a defence as provided by Rule 9.02;
and
(c) state the name and address of the defendant,
and the address for service of the defendant;
and
(d) if the defendant defends by a solicitor, state
the name or firm and business address within
Victoria of the solicitor and also, if the
solicitor is an agent of another, the name or
firm and business address of the principal.
(4.1) Despite subrule (4), if the complaint was served
on the defendant under the Service and Execution
of Process Act 1992 of the Commonwealth, the
address for service of the defendant duly stated in
a notice of defence in accordance with that Act is
the address for service of the defendant.
(5) If the complaint was served on the defendant out
of Australia, the notice of defence must state an
address for service within Victoria.
9.02 Content of defence
(1) A defence must state which of the facts stated in
the statement of claim are—
(a) admitted;
(b) denied;
(c) not admitted.
(2) A defendant who in the defence does not state
whether a fact stated in the statement of claim is—
(a) admitted;
(b) denied;
r. 9.02
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(c) not admitted—
must be taken to admit the fact.
(3) A defendant who states that a fact stated in the
statement of claim is denied must—
(a) give the reasons for denying the fact; and
(b) if the defendant intends to prove a fact
different from that stated in the statement of
claim, state with necessary particulars the
fact that the defendant intends to prove.
(4) Save with the leave of the Court, a defendant who
states that a fact stated in the statement of claim is
not admitted must not except in cross-examination
adduce any evidence with respect to that fact at
the hearing of the proceeding.
(5) The defendant must state specifically with
particulars any fact or matter which—
(a) makes the claim of the plaintiff not
maintainable; or
(b) if not stated specifically, might take the
plaintiff by surprise; or
(c) raises questions of fact not arising out of the
statement of claim.
(6) If the defence arises by or under any Act, the
defence must identify the specific provision relied
on.
(7) A defence must be divided into paragraphs
numbered consecutively, and each fact or matter
stated so far as practicable must be contained in a
separate paragraph.
(8) The defendant cannot rely upon the defence of
tender unless within 7 days after giving notice of
defence the defendant pays to the registrar the
amount alleged to have been tendered.
r. 9.02
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9.02.1 Reply
(1) If the defendant serves a notice of defence, and
the plaintiff intends at the hearing to prove or
establish any fact or matter which—
(a) makes the defence stated in the notice of
defence not maintainable; or
(b) if not stated specifically in the notice, might
take the defendant by surprise; or
(c) raises questions of fact not arising out of the
notice—
the plaintiff must serve and file a reply.
(2) A reply must be divided into paragraphs
numbered consecutively, and each fact or matter
stated so far as practicable must be contained in a
separate paragraph.
(3) A reply must be served and filed within 21 days
after service of the notice of defence.
9.02.2 Alternative allegations
The defendant in a defence and the plaintiff in a
reply may make inconsistent allegations of fact if
it is made clear that the allegations are made in the
alternative.
9.03 Particulars from plaintiff
(1) The defendant may give notice to the plaintiff that
the defendant requires further particulars of the
plaintiff's claim.
(2) A notice seeking further particulars must be in
writing and must specify in respect of which facts
or matters alleged particulars are sought.
9.04 Particulars from defendant
(1) The plaintiff may give notice to the defendant that
the plaintiff requires further particulars of the
defendant's defence.
r. 9.02.1
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(2) A notice seeking further particulars must be in
writing and must specify in respect of which facts
or matters alleged particulars are sought.
9.05 Time for giving notice
Unless the Court otherwise orders, a notice under
Rule 9.03 or 9.04 must not be given more than
14 days after the day on which notice of defence
is given.
9.06 Particulars to be filed
Within 14 days of receiving a notice seeking
particulars, a party must file and serve the further
particulars.
9.07 Counterclaim and third party claim
This Order applies, with any necessary
modification, to a counterclaim and to a claim by
third party notice as if the counterclaim or the
third party claim were a proceeding.
9.08 Failure to give particulars
(1) If a party fails to comply with a notice requiring
further particulars, the Court may make an
order—
(a) requiring the party to provide the further
particulars within a time specified by the
Court; or
(b) requiring the party to provide the further
particulars within a time specified by the
Court and on failure to do so—
(i) if the party is a plaintiff, that the
complaint be dismissed; or
(ii) if the party is a defendant, that the
party's notice of defence, if any, be
struck out; or
r. 9.05
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(c) if the party is a plaintiff, that the complaint
be dismissed; or
(d) if the party is a defendant, that the party's
notice of defence, if any, be struck out.
(2) A defendant whose notice of defence is struck out
in accordance with paragraph (1)(b)(ii) or (1)(d)
shall, for the purpose of Rule 10.01, be taken to be
a defendant who does not give notice of defence.
(3) An application for an order under paragraph (1)
must be made before the day fixed for hearing of
the complaint.
9.09 Request for referral of a medical question to a
Medical Panel—Form 9B
(1) A request by a party for the Court to refer a
medical question to a Medical Panel for an
opinion under section 45(1)(b) of the Accident
Compensation Act 1985 must—
(a) state clearly the medical question for
referral;
(b) be in Form 9B.
(2) A copy of the request must be served on all other
parties to the proceeding who have an address for
service not less than two days before the request is
to be considered by the Court.
ORDER 9A
SUMMARY STAY OR DISMISSAL OF CLAIM AND
STRIKING OUT STATEMENT OF CLAIM OR DEFENCE
9A.01 Stay or order in proceeding
(1) If a proceeding generally or any claim in a
proceeding—
(a) does not disclose a cause of action; or
r. 9.09
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(b) is scandalous, frivolous or vexatious; or
(c) is an abuse of the process of the Court—
the Court may upon the application of a defendant
who has filed a defence stay the proceeding
generally or in relation to any claim or make an
order for the defendant in the proceeding
generally or in relation to any claim.
(2) If the defence to any claim in a proceeding—
(a) does not disclose an answer; or
(b) is scandalous, frivolous or vexatious—
the Court may make an order for the plaintiff in
the proceeding generally or in relation to any
claim.
(3) In this Rule a claim in a proceeding includes a
claim by counterclaim and a claim by third party
notice, and a defence includes a defence to a
counterclaim and a defence to a claim by third
party notice.
9A.02 Striking out pleading
(1) If a statement of claim, defence or reply or any
part of a statement of claim, defence or reply—
(a) does not disclose a cause of action or
defence;
(b) is scandalous, frivolous or vexatious;
(c) may prejudice, embarrass or delay the fair
hearing of the proceeding;
(d) is otherwise an abuse of the process of the
Court—
the Court may order that the whole or part of the
statement of claim, defence or reply be struck out
or amended.
r. 9A.02
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(2) This Rule, with any necessary modification,
applies where the defendant counterclaims or
claims against a third party.
ORDER 10
ORDER IN DEFAULT OF DEFENCE OR COMPLIANCE
PART 1—ORDER IN DEFAULT OF DEFENCE
10.01 Plaintiff may apply for order
(1) If a defendant does not give notice of defence
within 21 days after the service of a complaint or
any other time fixed by the Court for giving notice
of defence, the plaintiff may apply for an order.
(2) An application under paragraph (1) must be—
(a) in Form 10A; or
(b) subject to Rule 10.02.1, made by electronic
message by an authorised user.
10.02 Affidavit required
An application under Rule 10.01 to which
Rule 10.01(2)(a) applies must be filed with the
registrar and must be accompanied by—
(a) where the claim—
(i) is for a debt or liquidated demand; or
(ii) is a claim arising from a motor vehicle
collision and the claim is—
(A) for the cost of repairs only; or
(B) for total loss of the vehicle only—
an affidavit or declaration of service of the
complaint; and
r. 10.01
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(b) in any other case—
(i) an affidavit or declaration of service of
the complaint;
(ii) an affidavit or affidavits verifying the
complaint and the nature and extent of
the injury loss or damage suffered by
the plaintiff.
10.02.1 Application by electronic message
(1) An application under Rule 10.01 to which
Rule 10.01(2)(b) applies may be filed by an
authorised user by lodging an electronic message
where the claim is for a debt or liquidated
demand.
(2) The authorised user lodging the electronic
message must possess, at the time of lodging the
electronic message, an affidavit or declaration of
service of the complaint to which the electronic
message relates.
(3) The electronic message must contain a statement
containing the following details obtained from the
affidavit or declaration of service—
(a) name and address of person who effected
service;
(b) mode of service;
(c) identity of person served;
(d) hour of the day, day of the week, date and
place of service;
(e) distance travelled by person who effected
service;
(f) date and place of swearing;
(g) name and authorisation of person before
whom affidavit was sworn or declaration
was declared.
r. 10.02.1
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(4) If requested to do so by the Court or the registrar,
the authorised user must file the affidavit or
declaration of service.
10.03 Registrar may make order or refer to Court
(1) If an application has been made to which
paragraph (a) of Rule 10.02 or Rule 10.02.1(1)
applies and the registrar is satisfied that an order
should be made, the registrar must make such an
order.
(1.1) In an application under paragraph (1) the registrar
must fix the amount of costs and interest as is
appropriate in the circumstances in accordance
with Appendix A.
(2) If an application has been made to which
paragraph (a) of Rule 10.02 or Rule 10.02.1(1)
applies and the registrar is not satisfied that an
order should be made, the registrar may, or if the
plaintiff so requests must, refer the matter to the
Court for decision.
(2.1) If an application has been made to which
paragraph (b) of Rule 10.02 applies, the registrar
must refer the matter to the Court for decision.
(3) If the registrar refers an application to the Court,
the Court may—
(a) make the order sought in the application;
(b) direct that a further affidavit or affidavits be
filed;
(c) give directions as to the application;
(d) refuse to make the order sought in the
application;
(e) make any other order it considers
appropriate.
r. 10.03
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(4) If the Court, under paragraph (3)(b), directs a
further affidavit or affidavits to be filed, upon the
filing of such affidavit or affidavits, the registrar
may make an order.
(5) The registrar must notify the plaintiff of any order
made by him or her or (if the application has been
referred to the Court) any decision or order of the
Court.
PART 2—ORDER IN DEFAULT OF COMPLIANCE
10.04 Defendant may apply for costs order
(1) If a complaint is dismissed under
Rule 9.08(1)(b)(i), Rule 9.08(1)(c),
Rule 11.07(1)(b)(i), Rule 11.07(1)(c),
Rule 12.07(1)(b)(i), Rule 12.07(1)(c),
Rule 22.01(6)(a) or Rule 22A.04(1)(a), the
defendant may apply for an order for costs.
(2) An application under paragraph (1) must be in
Form 10B.
10.05 Applications under Rule 10.04
(1) An application under Rule 10.04 must be filed
with the registrar.
(2) Where the complaint is dismissed under
Rule 9.08(1)(b)(i), Rule 11.07(1)(b)(i) or
Rule 12.07(1)(b)(i) the application under
paragraph (1) must be accompanied by an
affidavit in support of the order(s) sought in the
application.
10.06 Registrar may make order or refer to Court
(1) If an application has been made under Rule 10.04
and the registrar is satisfied that an order should
be made, the registrar must make such an order
and must fix the amount of costs as is appropriate
in the circumstances in accordance with
Appendix A.
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(2) If an application has been made under Rule 10.04
and the registrar is not satisfied that an order
should be made, the registrar may, or if the
defendant so requests must, refer the matter to the
Court for decision.
(3) If the registrar refers an application to the Court,
the Court may—
(a) make the order sought in the application;
(b) direct that a further affidavit or affidavits be
filed;
(c) give directions as to the application;
(d) refuse to make the order sought in the
application;
(e) make any other order it considers
appropriate.
(4) If the Court, under paragraph (3)(b), directs a
further affidavit or affidavits to be filed, upon the
filing of such affidavit or affidavits, the registrar
may make an order.
(5) The registrar must notify the defendant of any
order made by him or her or (if the application has
been referred to the Court) any decision or order
of the Court.
PART 3—SUMMARY ORDERS FOR PLAINTIFF
10.07 Application
This Part applies only to a claim or counterclaim
for a debt or liquidated demand.
10.08 Application for an order
(1) Where the defendant has given a notice of
defence, the plaintiff may at any time apply to the
Court for an order against the defendant on the
ground that the defendant has no defence to the
r. 10.07
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whole or part of the claim, or no defence except as
to the amount of the claim.
(2) An application under paragraph (1) must be in
Form 10C.
(3) The application must be filed and, on filing, the
application shall be taken to have been made.
(4) An affidavit or affidavits in support of the
application must be filed before the hearing of the
application.
(5) Except by order of the Court the plaintiff shall
make only one application for an order under
paragraph (1).
10.09 Affidavit in support
(1) An application for an order shall be supported by
an affidavit verifying the facts on which the claim
or part of the claim to which the application
relates is based and stating that in the belief of the
deponent there is no defence to that claim or part,
or no defence except as to the amount claimed.
(2) Where a statement in a document tends to
establish a fact within paragraph (1) and at the
hearing of the proceeding the document would be
admissible by or under the Evidence Act 1958 or
any other Act to verify the fact, the affidavit under
paragraph (1) may set forth the statement.
(3) An affidavit under paragraph (1) may contain a
statement of fact based on information and belief
if the grounds are set out and having regard to all
the circumstances the Court considers that the
statement ought to be permitted.
r. 10.09
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10.10 Service
The plaintiff shall serve the application and a copy
of the affidavit or affidavits in support and of any
exhibit referred to therein on the defendant not
less than 14 days before the day for hearing
named in the application.
10.11 Defendant to show cause
(1) The defendant may show cause against the orders
sought in the application by affidavit or otherwise
to the satisfaction of the Court.
(2) An affidavit under paragraph (1) may contain a
statement of fact based on information and belief
if the grounds are set out.
(3) Unless the Court otherwise orders, the defendant
shall serve a copy of any affidavit and of any
exhibit referred to therein on the plaintiff not less
than 3 days before the day for hearing named in
the application.
10.12 Affidavit in reply
Where the defendant serves an affidavit under
Rule 10.11, the Court may by order allow the
plaintiff to rely upon an affidavit in reply.
10.13 Hearing of application
(1) On the hearing of the application the Court may—
(a) dismiss the application;
(b) make an order in favour of the plaintiff
against the defendant on the claim or part of
the claim unless the defendant satisfies the
Court that in respect of that claim or part a
question ought to be heard and determined at
a hearing or that there ought for some other
reason be a hearing of that claim or part;
r. 10.10
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(c) give the defendant leave to defend with
respect to the claim or part of the claim
either unconditionally or on terms as to
giving security, paying money into court,
time, the mode of hearing or otherwise.
(2) The Court may stay execution of any order made
under paragraph (1)(b) until after the hearing of
any counterclaim made by the defendant in the
proceeding.
10.14 Cross-examination on affidavit
(1) The Court may order any party or the maker of
any affidavit to attend and be examined and cross-
examined, or to produce any papers, books or
documents, or copies of or extracts therefrom.
(2) Where a party is a corporation, the Court may
make an order under paragraph (1) in respect of
any director, manager, secretary or other similar
officer thereof or any person purporting to act in
any such capacity.
10.15 Order on counterclaim
(1) Where a plaintiff has given a notice of defence to
a counterclaim, the defendant may at any time
apply to the Court for an order against the plaintiff
on the ground that the plaintiff has no defence to
the whole or part of the counterclaim or no
defence except as to the amount of the
counterclaim.
(2) This Part shall, with any necessary modification,
apply to an application under paragraph (1) as if
the plaintiff were the defendant and the defendant
the plaintiff.
r. 10.14
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10.16 Order where amount unascertained
Where on an application under this Part for an
order the amount of the debt or liquidated demand
is not established to the satisfaction of the Court,
and where if the amount were established the
Court would make an order, the Court may make
a declaration as to liability for the debt or
liquidated demand and order that its amount be
ascertained in such manner as the Court directs,
and give leave to apply for an order for the debt or
liquidated demand once the amount is ascertained.
10.17 Directions
Where leave is given to defend, or where an order
is made on a claim or part of a claim but execution
of the order is stayed pending the hearing of a
counterclaim or of the proceeding, as the case may
be, the Court may give directions as to the further
conduct of the proceeding.
10.18 Continuing for other claim or against other
defendant
Where a plaintiff obtains an order on a claim or
part of a claim against any defendant, the plaintiff
may continue with the proceeding for the
remainder of the claim or any other claim against
that defendant or any other defendant.
10.19 Setting aside order
(1) The Court may set aside or vary any order given
against a party who does not attend on the hearing
of an application under Rule 10.08 or 10.15 and
may give directions as to the future conduct of the
proceeding.
r. 10.16
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(2) An application referred to in paragraph (1) must
be—
(a) filed;
(b) in Form 10D;
(c) supported by affidavit or affidavits.
(3) The affidavit or affidavits in support must be filed
before the hearing of the application.
(4) The applicant must serve a copy of the application
and a copy of any affidavit and of any exhibit
referred to therein on the respondent to the
application not less than 3 days before the day for
hearing named in the application.
(5) The Court may adjourn the hearing of the
application on such terms as it thinks fit.
PART 4—DISMISSAL OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS
10.20 Dismissal of complaints
(1) A complaint stands dismissed as against any
defendant at the expiration of three months after
the period of the validity for service of the
complaint, or, if that period has been extended,
after the expiration of any extension of the period,
if, at the time of expiration, that defendant has not
filed a notice of defence and an order in default of
defence has not been made against that defendant.
(2) The Court may from time to time, by order,
extend the period of three months referred to in
subrule (1) for a period of not more than six
months after the day of the order.
(3) If an order is made under subrule (2), the period of
three months in subrule (1) is to be taken to be
substituted by the extended period ordered by the
Court.
r. 10.20
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10.21 Dismissal of certain adjourned proceedings
A complaint, counterclaim or third party
procedure that is adjourned to a day to be fixed
(however expressed) stands dismissed at the
expiration of six years after the adjournment of
the complaint, counterclaim or third party
procedure.
10.22 Reinstatement
(1) The Court may reinstate any complaint that stands
dismissed by operation of Rule 10.20.
(2) The Court may reinstate any—
(a) complaint; or
(b) counterclaim; or
(c) third party procedure—
that stands dismissed by operation of Rule 10.21.
ORDER 11
DISCOVERY
11.01 Definition
In this Order possession means possession,
custody or power.
11.02 Notice for discovery
(1) Except where these Rules otherwise provide, any
party to a proceeding may serve on any other
party a notice for discovery requiring the party
served to make discovery of all documents which
are or have been in that party's possession relating
to the proceeding.
(2) A notice for discovery must be in Form 11A.
r. 10.21
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11.02.1 Discovery requiring leave of Court
(1) Despite Rule 11.03 a notice for discovery shall not
be served without leave of the Court in—
(a) a proceeding under the Accident
Compensation Act 1985;
(b) a proceeding under the Workers
Compensation Act 1958.
(2) If leave is granted under paragraph (1) Rule 26.05
shall not apply, unless the Court otherwise orders.
11.03 Time for notice
A notice for discovery must not be served more
than 28 days after the day on which notice of
defence is given unless the Court otherwise
orders.
11.04 Affidavit of documents
An affidavit of documents for the purpose of
making discovery of documents must be in
Form 11B and must—
(a) identify the documents which are or have
been in the possession of the party making
the affidavit;
(b) enumerate the documents in convenient
order and describe each document or, in the
case of a group of documents of the same
nature, describe the group, sufficiently to
enable the document or group to be
identified;
(c) distinguish those documents which are in
possession of the party making the affidavit
from those that have been but are no longer
in the party's possession, and as to any
document which has been but is no longer in
the possession of the party, state when the
r. 11.02.1
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party parted with the document and the
party's belief as to what has become of it;
(d) if the party making the affidavit claims that
any document in the party's possession is
privileged from production, state sufficiently
the grounds of the privilege.
11.05 Time for making discovery
A party on whom a notice for discovery is served
must, within 28 days after service of the notice,
make discovery of documents.
11.05.1 Continuing obligation to make discovery
A party who has made an affidavit of documents
is under a continuing obligation to make discovery
of documents with respect to documents of which
the party obtains possession after making the
affidavit.
11.06 Inspection of documents
(1) A party may by notice to produce served on
another party require that that party produce for
inspection any document in that party's possession
referred to—
(a) in an affidavit of documents;
(b) in particulars of claim, notice of defence or
counterclaim or in any affidavit.
(2) The party on whom a notice to produce is served
in accordance with paragraph (1) shall within
7 days after service, serve on the party requiring
production a notice appointing a time within
7 days after service of the notice under this
paragraph when and a place where the documents
may be inspected.
(3) A notice to produce must be in Form 11C.
r. 11.05
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11.07 Failure to make discovery
(1) If a party fails to comply with a notice for
discovery, the Court may make an order—
(a) requiring the party to make discovery of
documents within a time specified by the
Court; or
(b) requiring the party to make discovery of
documents within a time specified by the
Court and on failure to do so—
(i) if the party is a plaintiff, that the
complaint be dismissed; or
(ii) if the party is a defendant, that the
party's notice of defence, if any, be
struck out; or
(c) if the party is a plaintiff, that the complaint
be dismissed; or
(d) if the party is a defendant, that the party's
notice of defence, if any, be struck out.
(2) A defendant whose notice of defence is struck out
in accordance with paragraph (1)(b)(ii) or (1)(d)
shall, for the purpose of Rule 10.01, be taken to be
a defendant who does not give notice of defence.
(3) This Rule applies, with any necessary
modification, to a counterclaim and to a claim by
third party notice as if the counterclaim or the
third party claim were a proceeding.
(4) An application for an order under paragraph (1)
must be made before the day fixed for hearing of
the complaint.
r. 11.07
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ORDER 12
INTERROGATORIES
12.01 When interrogatories allowed
Except where these Rules otherwise provide any
party to a proceeding may serve on any other
party interrogatories relating to any question
between them in the proceeding.
12.01.1 Interrogatories requiring leave of Court
(1) Despite Rule 12.02 interrogatories shall not be
served without leave of the Court in—
(a) a proceeding under the Accident
Compensation Act 1985;
(b) a proceeding under the Workers
Compensation Act 1958.
(2) If leave is granted under paragraph (1) Rule 26.05
shall not apply, unless the Court otherwise orders.
12.02 Time for serving interrogatories
Interrogatories must not be served more than
28 days after the day on which notice of defence
is given except with the leave of the Court.
12.03 Statement as to who to answer
If interrogatories are to be answered by two or
more parties, the interrogating party must state in
the document containing the interrogatories which
of them each party is required to answer.
12.04 Time for answering interrogatories
If interrogatories are served on a party, the party
within 28 days after service must answer by
affidavit and serve a copy on the party who served
the interrogatories.
r. 12.01
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12.05 Answers and objections
(1) A party interrogated must answer each
interrogatory specifically by answering the
substance of the interrogatory without evasion
unless it is objectionable on any of the grounds in
paragraph (2).
(2) If a party objects to answering any interrogatory
the party must state briefly on which of the
following grounds the party objects to answer—
(a) the interrogatory does not relate to any
question between the party and the
interrogating party;
(b) the interrogatory is unclear or vague or too
wide;
(c) the interrogatory is oppressive;
(d) the interrogatory requires the party to
express an opinion which the party is not
qualified to give;
(e) privilege, and must also state sufficiently the
grounds of privilege.
12.06 Who to answer
Interrogatories shall be answered—
(a) where the person on whom the
interrogatories are served is—
(i) a natural person, by that party;
(ii) a corporation, by an officer of the
corporation or by any person duly
authorised by it to answer; or
(b) by any person as the Court may direct.
r. 12.05
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12.07 Failure to answer interrogatories
(1) If a party fails to answer interrogatories, the Court
may make an order—
(a) requiring the party to answer the
interrogatories within a time specified by the
Court; or
(b) requiring the party to answer the
interrogatories within a time specified by the
Court and on failure to do so—
(i) if the party is a plaintiff, that the
complaint be dismissed; or
(ii) if the party is a defendant, that the
party's notice of defence, if any, be
struck out; or
(c) if the party is a plaintiff, that the complaint
be dismissed; or
(d) if the party is a defendant, that the party's
notice of defence, if any, be struck out.
(2) A defendant whose notice of defence is struck out
in accordance with paragraph (1)(b)(ii) or (1)(d)
shall, for the purpose of Rule 10.01, be taken to be
a defendant who does not give notice of defence.
(3) This Rule applies, with any necessary
modification, to a counterclaim and to a claim by
third party notice as if the counterclaim or the
third party claim were a proceeding.
(4) An application for an order under paragraph (1)
must be made before the day fixed for hearing of
the complaint.
r. 12.07
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12.08 Answers as evidence
(1) On an application in or at the hearing of a
proceeding a party may tender as evidence—
(a) one or more answers to interrogatories given
by another party without tendering the
others;
(b) part of an answer to an interrogatory without
tendering the whole of the answer.
(2) Upon the tender of the whole or part of an answer
to an interrogatory, the Court may look at the
whole of the answers and if any other answer or
any part of an answer is so connected with the
matter tendered that the matter tendered ought not
to be used without the other answer or part, the
Court may reject the tender unless that other
answer or part is also tendered.
ORDER 13
PRELIMINARY DISCOVERY AND DISCOVERY FROM
NON-PARTY
13.01 Definitions
In this Order, unless the context or subject matter
otherwise requires—
applicant means applicant for an order under this
Order;
description includes the name, place of residence,
place of business, occupation and sex of the
person against whom the applicant desires to
bring a proceeding and whether that person
is an individual or a corporation;
possession means possession, custody or power.
r. 12.08
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13.02 Privilege
An order made under this Order shall not operate
to require the person against whom the order is
made to produce any document which, on the
ground of privilege, the person could not be
required to produce—
(a) in the case of an order under Rule 13.03
or 13.05, if the applicant had commenced a
proceeding against that person;
(b) in the case of an order under Rule 13.04
or 13.06, if the applicant had made that
person a party to the proceeding;
(c) in the case of an order made under
Rule 13.07, if that person had been served
with a witness summons for production of
the document at the trial of the proceeding.
13.03 Discovery to identify a defendant
(1) If an applicant, having made reasonable inquiries,
is unable to ascertain the description of a person
sufficiently for the purpose of commencing a
proceeding in the Court against that person (in this
Rule called the person concerned) and it appears
that some person has or is likely to have
knowledge of facts, or has or is likely to have or
has had or is likely to have had in the person's
possession any document or thing, tending to
assist in such ascertainment, the Court may make
an order under paragraph (2).
(2) The Court may order that the person, and in the
case of a corporation, the corporation by an
appropriate officer, must—
(a) attend before the Court to be orally examined
in relation to the description of the person
concerned;
r. 13.02
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(b) make discovery to the applicant of all
documents which are or have been in the
possession of the person or the corporation
relating to the description of the person
concerned.
(3) If the Court makes an order under paragraph
(2)(a), it may order that the person or corporation
against whom or which the order is made shall
produce to the Court on the examination any
document or thing in the person's or the
corporation's possession relating to the description
of the person concerned.
13.04 Party an applicant
Rule 13.03 applies, with any necessary
modification, where the applicant is a party to a
proceeding and wishes to make in the proceeding
against a person who is not a party a claim which
the applicant could properly have made in the
proceeding had the person been a party.
13.05 Discovery from prospective defendant
Where—
(a) there is reasonable cause to believe that the
applicant has or may have the right to obtain
relief in the Court from a person whose
description the applicant has ascertained;
(b) after making all reasonable inquiries, the
applicant has not sufficient information to
enable the applicant to decide whether to
commence a proceeding in the Court to
obtain that relief; and
(c) there is reasonable cause to believe that that
person has or is likely to have or has had or
is likely to have had in the person's
possession any document relating to the
question whether the applicant has the right
to obtain the relief and that inspection of the
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document by the applicant would assist the
applicant to make the decision—
the Court may order that that person shall make
discovery to the applicant of any document of the
kind described in paragraph (c).
13.06 Party an applicant
Rule 13.05 applies, with any necessary
modification, where the applicant is a party to a
proceeding and there is reasonable cause to
believe that the applicant has or may have the
right to obtain against a person who is not a party
relief which the applicant could properly have
claimed in the proceeding had the person been a
party.
13.07 Discovery from non-party
On the application of any party to a proceeding
the Court may order that a person who is not a
party and in respect of whom it appears that the
person has or is likely to have or has had or is
likely to have had in the person's possession any
document which relates to any question in the
proceeding shall make discovery to the applicant
of any such document.
13.08 Procedure
(1) An application under Rule 13.03, 13.04, 13.05,
13.06 or 13.07 must be made by application
served on every party to the proceeding and
served personally on the person against whom the
order is sought.
(2) An application under paragraph (1) must be
supported by an affidavit—
(a) stating the facts on which the application is
made; and
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(b) specifying or describing the documents or
any class of documents in respect of which
the order is sought.
(3) A copy of the supporting affidavit must be served
on every person on whom the application is
served.
13.09 Inspection of documents
Rule 11.06 applies, with any necessary
modification, to the inspection of the documents
referred to in an affidavit of documents made and
served in accordance with this Order as if the
affidavit were an affidavit of documents as
mentioned in Rule 11.06.
13.10 Costs
(1) On an application under this Order the Court may
make an order for the costs and expenses of the
applicant, of the person against whom the order is
made or sought and of any party to the
proceeding, including the costs of making and
serving any affidavit of documents, or of
producing any document for inspection in
accordance with Rule 13.09.
(2) The Court may make an order under this Order on
condition that the applicant give security for the
costs and expenses of the person against whom
the order is made.
ORDER 14
ADMISSIONS
14.01 Definition
In this Order, authenticity of a document means
that a document—
(a) is what it purports to be;
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(b) if an original or described as such, is an
original document and was printed, written,
signed or executed as it purports to have
been;
(c) if a copy or described as such, is a true copy.
14.02 Voluntary admission of facts
(1) A party may, by notice served on another party,
admit, in favour of the other party, for the purpose
of the proceeding only, the facts specified in the
notice.
(2) A party may, by leave of the Court, withdraw an
admission made in accordance with paragraph (1).
14.03 Notice for admission of facts
(1) A party may serve on another party a notice
stating that unless that party, within a time to be
expressed in the notice (which shall not be less
than 14 days after service), disputes the facts
specified in the notice, that party shall, for the
purpose of the proceeding only, be taken to admit
those facts.
(2) If the party served with the notice does not dispute
any fact specified by serving notice that the party
disputes the fact within the time allowed for that
purpose, the party shall, for the purpose of the
proceeding only, be taken to admit that fact.
(3) A party may, by leave of the Court, withdraw an
admission which is taken to have been made
under paragraph (2).
(4) A notice under paragraph (1) shall be in
Form 14A, and a notice under paragraph (2) shall
be in Form 14B.
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14.04 Notice for admission of documents
(1) A party may serve on another party a notice
stating that unless that party, within a time to be
expressed in the notice (which shall not be less
than 14 days after service), disputes the
authenticity of the documents mentioned in the
notice, that party shall, for the purpose of the
proceeding only, be taken to admit the
authenticity of those documents.
(2) If the party served with the notice does not dispute
the authenticity of any document mentioned by
serving notice that the party disputes its
authenticity within the time allowed for that
purpose, the party shall, for the purpose of the
proceeding only, be taken to admit its authenticity.
(3) A party may, by leave of the Court, withdraw an
admission which is taken to have been made
under paragraph (2).
(4) A notice under paragraph (1) shall be in
Form 14A, and a notice under paragraph (2) shall
be in Form 14B.
14.05 Cost of non-admission of fact or document
If a party serves a notice—
(a) under Rule 14.03(2) disputing a fact, and
afterwards that fact is proved in the
proceeding; or
(b) under Rule 14.04(2) disputing the
authenticity, and afterwards the authenticity
of that document is proved in the
proceeding—
that party shall pay the costs of proof, unless the
Court otherwise orders.
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14.06 Restrictive effect of admission
An admission made by a party under this Order is
for the purpose of the particular proceeding only
and shall not be used against the party as an
admission in any other civil proceeding.
ORDER 15
OFFER OF COMPROMISE
PART 1—INTERPRETATION
15.01 Definitions
In this Order—
claim includes a counterclaim and any claim made
in accordance with Order 8;
defendant includes a defendant by counterclaim
and a party against whom a claim is made in
accordance with Order 8;
plaintiff includes a defendant who serves a
counterclaim and a party who makes a claim
in accordance with Order 8.
PART 2—OFFER OF COMPROMISE
15.02 Application
(1) The plaintiff and the defendant may in respect of
any claim in a proceeding serve on one another an
offer of compromise on the terms specified in the
offer.
(2) An offer of compromise in respect of a claim may
be on terms that take into account any other claim
between the plaintiff and the defendant made in
the proceeding.
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(3) An offer of compromise must—
(a) be in writing and be prepared in accordance
with Rule 3.05; and
(b) contain a statement to the effect that it is
served in accordance with this Order.
(4) For the avoidance of any doubt, the making of or
acceptance of an offer of compromise under this
Order does not affect the operation of—
(a) section 105 of the Act; and
(b) any regulations made under section 105—
concerning the awarding of costs.
15.03 Time for making, accepting, etc. offer
(1) An offer of compromise may be served at any
time before an order in respect of the claim to
which it relates.
(2) A party may serve more than one offer of
compromise.
(3) An offer of compromise may be expressed to be
limited as to the time the offer is open to be
accepted after service on the party to whom it is
made, but the time expressed shall not be less than
7 days after such service.
(4) A party on whom an offer of compromise is
served must within 3 days after service serve a
written acknowledgment of service on the party
serving the offer.
(5) A party on whom an offer of compromise is
served may accept the offer by serving notice of
acceptance in writing on the party who made the
offer before—
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(a) the expiration of the time specified in
accordance with subrule (3) or, if no time is
specified, the expiration of 7 days after
service of the offer; or
(b) an order in respect of the claim to which the
offer relates—
whichever event is the sooner.
(6) An offer of compromise must not be withdrawn
during the time it is open to be accepted, unless
the Court otherwise orders.
(7) An offer of compromise is open to be accepted
within the period referred to in subrule (5)
notwithstanding that during that period the party
on whom the offer is served makes an offer of
compromise to the party who served the offer of
compromise, whether or not the offer made by the
party served is made in accordance with this Part.
(8) Upon the acceptance of an offer of compromise in
accordance with subrule (5), unless the Court
otherwise orders, the defendant must pay the costs
of the plaintiff in respect of the claim up to and
including the day the offer was served.
(9) If an offer of compromise contains a term which
purports to negative or limit the operation of
subrule (8), that term has no effect for any
purpose under this Part.
15.04 Time for payment
An offer of compromise providing for payment of
a sum of money to a plaintiff must, unless it
otherwise provides, be taken to be an offer
providing for payment of that sum within 30 days
after acceptance of the offer.
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15.05 Effect of offer
An offer of compromise made in accordance with
this Part must be taken to be an offer of
compromise made without prejudice, unless the
offer otherwise provides.
15.06 Disclosure of offer to Court
(1) No statement of the fact that an offer of
compromise has been made must be contained in
any document filed in the proceeding.
(2) Where an offer of compromise has not been
accepted, then, except as provided by Rule
15.08(6), communication with respect to the offer
must not be made to the Court on the hearing of
the proceeding until after all questions of liability
and the relief to be granted have been determined.
(3) Subrules (1) and (2) do not apply where an offer
of compromise provides that the offer is not made
without prejudice.
15.07 Failure to comply with accepted offer
(1) If a party to an accepted offer of compromise fails
to comply with the terms of the offer, then, unless
for special cause the Court otherwise orders, the
other party is entitled, as that other party may
elect, to—
(a) an order in the proceeding in the terms of the
accepted offer; or
(b) where the party in default is the plaintiff, an
order that the proceeding be dismissed, and
where the party in default is the defendant,
an order that the plaintiff be permitted to
proceed as if a notice of defence had not
been filed, and in either case to an order
accordingly.
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(2) If a party to an accepted offer of compromise fails
to comply with the terms of the offer, and a
defendant in the proceeding has made a claim by
counterclaim or third party notice which is not the
subject of the accepted offer, the Court may make
such order in the proceeding under subrule (1) and
make an order that the proceeding, counterclaim
or claim by third party notice be continued as it
thinks fit.
15.08 Costs consequences of failure to accept
(1) This Rule applies to an offer of compromise
which has not been accepted at the time of an
order on the claim to which the offer relates.
(2) If an offer of compromise is made by a plaintiff
and not accepted by the defendant, and the
plaintiff obtains an order on the claim to which the
offer relates no less favourable to the plaintiff than
the terms of the offer, then, unless the Court
otherwise orders, the plaintiff is entitled—
(a) if the claim of the plaintiff is for damages for
or arising out of death or bodily injury, to an
order against the defendant for costs in
respect of the claim to be fixed on a party
and party basis in accordance with
paragraph (c);
(b) in the case of any other claim of the plaintiff,
to an order against the defendant for costs in
respect of the claim up to and including the
day the offer was served to be fixed on a
party and party basis and for costs thereafter
to be fixed on a party and party basis in
accordance with paragraph (c);
(c) unless scale G in Table 1 of Appendix A
applies to a claim, party and party costs must
be fixed on the next highest scale in that
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Table to the scale that, if not for this Rule,
would apply.
(3) If an offer of compromise is made by a defendant
and not accepted by the plaintiff, and the plaintiff
obtains an order on the claim to which the offer
relates not more favourable to the plaintiff than
the terms of the offer, then, unless the Court
otherwise orders, the plaintiff is entitled to an
order against the defendant for costs in respect of
the claim up to and including the day the offer
was served fixed on a party and party basis and
the defendant is entitled to an order against the
plaintiff for costs in respect of the claim thereafter
fixed on a party and party basis.
(4) For the purpose of subrule (3), if the offer of
compromise was served on the first or a later day
of the hearing of the proceeding, then, unless the
Court otherwise orders, the plaintiff is entitled to
costs in respect of the claim to the opening of the
court next after the day on which the offer was
served fixed on a party and party basis, and the
defendant is entitled to costs in respect of the
claim thereafter fixed on a party and party basis.
(5) If a plaintiff obtains an order of the Court for the
recovery of a debt or damages and—
(a) the order includes an amount for interest or
damages in the nature of interest; or
(b) by or under any Act the Court awards the
plaintiff interest or damages in the nature of
interest—
for the purpose of determining the consequences
as to costs referred to in subrules (2) and (3) the
Court must disregard so much of the amount
recovered by or awarded to the plaintiff for
interest or damages in the nature of interest as
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relates to the period after the day the offer of
compromise was served.
(6) For the purpose only of subrule (5), the Court may
be informed of the fact that the offer of
compromise was served, and of the date of
service, but must not be informed of its terms.
(7) Subrules (2) and (3) do not apply unless the Court
is satisfied by the party serving the offer of
compromise that that party was at all material
times willing and able to carry out that party's part
of what was proposed in the offer.
(8) Where the plaintiff obtains an order for the
recovery of a debt or damages, and the amount of
the debt or the damages was not in dispute, but
only the question of liability, subrule (2) does not
apply unless the Court is satisfied that the
plaintiff's offer was of a genuine compromise.
15.09 Multiple defendants
If 2 or more defendants are alleged to be jointly or
jointly and severally liable to the plaintiff in
respect of a debt or damages and rights of
contribution or indemnity appear to exist between
the defendants, the consequences as to costs
referred to in Rule 15.08 do not apply to an offer
of compromise unless—
(a) in the case of an offer made by the plaintiff,
the offer is made to all the defendants, and is
an offer of compromise of the claim against
all of them;
(b) in the case of an offer made to the plaintiff—
(i) the offer is to compromise the claim
against all defendants; and
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(ii) where the offer is made by two or more
defendants, by the terms of the offer the
defendants who made the offer are
jointly or jointly and severally liable to
the plaintiff for the whole amount of
the offer.
15.10 Offer to contribute
(1) Where in any proceeding a defendant makes a
claim (in this Rule called a contribution claim) to
recover contribution or indemnity against any
person, whether a defendant to the proceeding or
not, in respect of any claim for a debt or damages
made by the plaintiff in the proceeding, any party
to the contribution claim may serve on any other
party to the contribution claim an offer to
contribute toward a compromise of the claim
made by the plaintiff on the terms specified in the
offer.
(2) The Court may take an offer to contribute into
account in determining whether it should order
that the party on whom the offer to contribute was
served should pay the whole or part of—
(a) the costs of the party who made the offer;
(b) any costs which that party is liable to pay to
the plaintiff.
(3) Rules 15.05 and 15.06 apply, with any necessary
modification, to an offer to contribute as if it were
an offer of compromise.
15.11 Transitional
Order 15 as in force immediately before 1 January
2001 continues to apply to an offer of compromise
served before that date.
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ORDER 16
EVIDENCE GENERALLY
16.01 Evidence of witness
Except where otherwise provided by any Act or
by these Rules or unless the Court otherwise
orders, the evidence of a witness—
(a) at the hearing of a complaint must be taken
orally on oath or by affirmation; and
(b) on any other application must be by
affidavit.
16.01.1 Quotation or assessment as evidence
(1) In a complaint, counterclaim or claim by third
party notice which arises from a motor vehicle
collision and includes a claim—
(a) for the cost of repairs to a motor vehicle, an
itemised quotation of the cost of repairs; or
(b) for total loss of a motor vehicle, an
assessment of the loss—
attached to the complaint, counterclaim or claim
by third party notice is evidence of the cost of
repairs or the loss (as the case may be).
(2) A party against whom damages are sought may,
by notice in writing served on the party claiming
relief not more than 42 days after service of the
complaint counterclaim or claim by third party
notice to which an itemised quotation or
assessment is attached, require the maker of the
quotation or assessment to attend the hearing for
the purposes of cross-examination.
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16.02 When affidavit may be used
At the hearing of a complaint a party may use an
affidavit by any particular witness or an affidavit
as to particular facts if—
(a) at least 21 days before the hearing that party
serves notice of intention to do so, with a
copy of the affidavit annexed on the party
against whom the affidavit is to be used; and
(b) the party on whom the notice is served does
not at least 10 days before the hearing serve
notice on the party who served the notice
that objection is taken to the use of the
affidavit.
16.03 Use of affidavits when practicable
A party must whenever practicable use affidavits
in accordance with Rule 16.02.
16.04 Attendance and production
(1) The Court may in any proceeding make an order
for—
(a) the attendance of any person for the purpose
of being examined; or
(b) the attendance of any person and production
by that person of any document or thing
specified or described in the order; or
(c) the production by any corporation of any
document or thing described in the order.
(2) An order under paragraph (1) shall not operate to
require the person against whom the order is made
to produce any document which the person could
properly object to produce on the ground of
privilege.
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16.05 View
The Court may during the proceeding inspect any
place, process or thing.
16.06 Admission of documents
(1) If any document is produced to the Court from
proper custody it shall be read without further
proof if it appears genuine and if no objection to
its admission is made.
(2) If objection is taken to a document produced
under paragraph (1), the Court may adjourn the
hearing for proof of the document and if the
document is afterwards proved then, unless the
Court otherwise orders, the party who made the
objection shall pay the costs incurred by the
objection.
(3) The Court may, on the hearing of a complaint, if it
considers it is proper to do so and there is no real
dispute as to the contents or authenticity of an
original document, admit as evidence a copy of
the document without enquiring into the non-
production of the original document.
16.07 Person about to leave Victoria may be ordered to be
examined or to produce documents
(1) If the Court on the application of any party is
satisfied by evidence upon oath that any person—
(a) is able to give material evidence or to
produce relevant or material documents or
things relating to a pending complaint; and
(b) is likely to be absent from Victoria at the
time the complaint comes on for hearing—
the Court may order that, before the hearing—
(c) the evidence of that person be taken; or
(d) the documents or things be produced by that
person.
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(2) An order under paragraph (1) must be served on—
(a) the person named in the order; and
(b) all other parties to the complaint.
(3) An order under paragraph (1) must be served on
the person named in the order personally.
(4) The person named in the order must, at a
reasonable time before the evidence is to be taken
or documents are to be produced, be given a
reasonable sum for expenses and Rules 17.04 and
17.05 shall, with any necessary modification,
apply to an order under this Rule.
ORDER 16A
APPLICATION UNDER SECTION 42E(1) OF THE EVIDENCE
ACT 1958
16A.01 Application of Order
This Order applies to an application for a direction
under section 42E(1) of the Evidence Act 1958.
16A.02 Form of application
Notice of an application must be in Form 16AA.
16A.03 Filing
The applicant must file the notice at least 7 days
before the person the subject of the application is
due to appear before or give evidence or make a
submission to the Court.
16A.04 Service
As soon as practicable after the filing of the notice
the applicant must serve a copy on every other
party.
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16A.05 Duty of applicant
If, whether before or after a direction has been
given, an applicant no longer requires the person
the subject of the application to appear before or
give evidence or make a submission to the Court
by audio visual link or audio link, the applicant
must notify the Registrar forthwith.
16A.06 Payment of costs
Unless the Court otherwise orders, the appropriate
amount prescribed by the regulations under
section 42H(1) of the Evidence Act 1958 shall be
paid in the first instance by the applicant.
ORDER 17
WITNESS SUMMONSES
17.01 Attendance by summons
(1) In any proceeding the Court may by witness
summons order that a person to whom the witness
summons is addressed attend at the hearing or at
any stage of the proceeding for the purpose of
giving evidence or of producing any document or
thing or for both purposes.
(2) A witness summons shall be in Form 17A, 17B,
17C or 17D whichever is appropriate.
17.02 Filing summons
(1) An order by witness summons for the attendance
of a person in a proceeding shall be taken to be
made upon the signing of the witness summons by
a registrar.
(2) A witness summons requiring a person to attend
for the purpose of giving evidence may be
addressed to any number of persons.
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(3) A witness summons requiring the production of a
document or thing must be addressed to one
person only except in the case of partners where
all the members of a firm may be addressed in the
witness summons.
17.03 Service
Service of a witness summons—
(a) if the person to whom the witness summons
is addressed is a natural person, shall be by
personal service of a copy on the person to
whom the witness summons is addressed in
accordance with Rule 5.03;
(b) if the person to whom the witness summons
is addressed is a corporation, shall be by
service of a copy in accordance with
Rule 5.04(a) or, where provision is made by
or under any Act for service of a document
on a corporation, in accordance with that
provision.
17.04 Conduct money
A person to whom a witness summons is
addressed shall be excused from complying with
the summons unless conduct money, sufficient to
meet the person's reasonable expenses of
complying is given or tendered to that person at
the time of service of the witness summons or a
reasonable time before the day the witness is
required to attend in answer to the summons.
17.05 Expenses of witnesses
(1) A party must pay to—
(a) a person not a party who attends before the
Court, whether in compliance with a witness
summons or not, and whom the party calls as
a witness; or
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(b) a person not a party who attends before the
Court, in compliance with a witness
summons served by the party, and is not
called as a witness by any party—
the fees and expenses of and income lost by that
person.
(2) The Court may order that a party pay to a person
referred to in subrule (1) the fees, expenses and
income lost to which, by virtue of that subrule, the
person is entitled.
(3) Where an order is made under subrule (2), the
Court must fix the amount of the fees, expenses
and income lost.
(4) If a person not a party who attends before the
Court whether in compliance with a witness
summons or not, before being sworn, requests the
Court to fix an amount to be paid to him or her as
a witness, the Court must do so.
(5) Unless the Court otherwise orders, no witness
must be compelled to give evidence until the
amount fixed by the Court under subrule (4) has
been paid.
17.06 Setting aside
The Court may set aside a witness summons either
wholly or in part.
17.07 Books of account
Nothing in this Order shall affect the provisions of
Division 3A of Part III of the Evidence Act 1958
relating to books of account.
17.08 Production before date of attendance
(1) A witness summons for production requiring
production before the Court or an officer of the
Court shall, unless the Court otherwise orders,
permit the person to whom the witness summons
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is addressed, instead of producing the document
or thing before the Court or officer of the Court, to
produce it to the registrar by hand or by post, in
either case so that the registrar receives it not later
than 2 days before the day on which production is
required by the witness summons to be made.
(2) This Rule does not apply to so much of a witness
summons as requires a person to attend for the
purpose of giving evidence.
ORDER 18
AFFIDAVITS
18.01 Form of affidavit
(1) An affidavit must be made in the first person.
(2) Unless the Court otherwise orders, an affidavit
must state the place of residence of the deponent
and his or her occupation or, if he or she has none,
his or her description, and that he or she is a party
to the proceeding or employed by a party, if such
be the case.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), where a deponent
makes an affidavit in a professional or other
occupational capacity, the affidavit may, instead
of stating the deponent's place of residence, state
the address of his or her place of business, the
position he or she holds and the name of his or her
firm or employer, if any.
(4) An affidavit must be divided into paragraphs
numbered consecutively, each paragraph being as
far as possible confined to a distinct portion of the
subject.
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(5) Every affidavit must be signed by the deponent,
except as provided by Rule 18.02(1), and the jurat
must be completed and signed by the person
before whom it is sworn.
(6) Each page of an affidavit must be signed by the
person before whom it is sworn.
(7) The first page of an affidavit must be headed
immediately beneath the title of the proceeding
with the name of the deponent and the date of
swearing.
(8) An affidavit must on the outside identify the party
on whose behalf it is filed and state the name of
the deponent and the date of swearing.
18.02 Affidavit by illiterate, blind or incapacitated person
(1) If it appears to the person before whom an
affidavit is sworn that the deponent is illiterate,
blind or physically incapacitated he or she must
certify in or below the jurat that—
(a) the affidavit was read in his or her presence
to the deponent; and
(b) the deponent seemed to him or her to
understand it; and
(c) the deponent made his or her signature or
mark in the person's presence.
(2) If an affidavit is made by an illiterate, blind or
physically incapacitated deponent and a certificate
in accordance with paragraph (1) does not appear
on the affidavit, it may not be used in evidence
unless the Court is satisfied that the affidavit was
read to the deponent and that the deponent seemed
perfectly to understand it.
r. 18.02
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18.03 Content of affidavit
(1) Except where otherwise provided by or under
these Rules an affidavit must be confined to facts
which the deponent is able to state of his or her
own knowledge.
(2) In an application in a proceeding an affidavit may
contain a statement of fact based on information
and belief if the grounds are set out in the
affidavit.
18.04 Affidavit by two or more deponents
If an affidavit is made by two or more deponents,
the names of the persons making the affidavit
shall be inserted in the jurat, except that, if the
affidavit is sworn by both or all the deponents at
one time before the same person, it shall be
sufficient to state that it was sworn by "each of the
abovenamed" deponents.
18.05 Alterations
Notwithstanding any interlineation, erasure or
other alteration in the jurat or body, an affidavit—
(a) may be filed, unless the Court otherwise
orders; but
(b) may not be used without the leave of the
Court unless the person before whom it is
sworn has initialled the alteration.
18.06 Annexures and exhibits
(1) A document referred to in an affidavit must not be
annexed to the affidavit but may be referred to as
an exhibit.
(2) An exhibit to an affidavit must be identified by a
separate certificate annexed to it bearing the same
title as the affidavit and signed by the person
before whom the affidavit is sworn.
r. 18.03
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Order 18
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S.R. No. 49/2009
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18.07 Time for swearing
Unless the Court otherwise orders an affidavit
may be used in a proceeding notwithstanding that
it was sworn before the commencement of the
proceeding.
18.08 Irregularity
Notwithstanding any irregularity in form an
affidavit may—
(a) unless the Court otherwise orders, be filed;
(b) with the leave of the Court, be used in
evidence.
18.09 Filing
(1) An affidavit must be filed.
(2) Unless the Court otherwise orders, an affidavit—
(a) which has not been filed; or
(b) which has not been served or filed in
compliance with an order in respect of its
service or filing—
must not be used by the party by or on whose
behalf it was made.
18.10 Affidavit sworn before party, solicitor
(1) An affidavit sworn before—
(a) a party;
(b) a partner in a firm which is a party; or
(c) an employee of a party—
shall not be used in evidence by or on behalf of
the party.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply where the Crown is
the party on whose behalf the affidavit is to be
used and the affidavit is sworn before an
employee of the Crown.
r. 18.07
-- 108 of 324 --
Order 19
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S.R. No. 49/2009
91
ORDER 19
EXPERT EVIDENCE
19.01 Application
This Order does not apply—
(a) to any itemised quotation or assessment to
which Rule 16.01.1 applies; or
(b) if an affidavit made by an expert witness is
served pursuant to Rule 16.02.
19.02 Service of statement or copy of a report of an expert
(1) A party who intends at the hearing to adduce the
evidence of a person as an expert witness must,
not later than 10 days before the day fixed for the
hearing, serve on every other party a statement in
accordance with subrule (2) or a copy of a report
in accordance with subrule (2.1).
(2) The statement must—
(a) give the name and address of the witness;
(b) describe the qualifications to give evidence
as an expert; and
(c) give the substance of the evidence it is
proposed to adduce from the witness as an
expert.
(2.1) In—
(a) any claim for damages for personal injury; or
(b) a proceeding under the Accident
Compensation Act 1985; or
(c) a proceeding under the Workers
Compensation Act 1958—
a party may serve on another party a copy of a
report of an expert witness.
r. 19.01
-- 109 of 324 --
Order 19A
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S.R. No. 49/2009
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(2.2) The report must—
(a) give the name of the witness; and
(b) describe the qualifications to give evidence
as an expert.
(3) Save with the leave of the Court or by consent of
the parties, a party must not except in cross-
examination adduce at the trial of a proceeding
any evidence from a witness as an expert unless
that party has served a statement under subrule (1)
or a copy of a report under subrule (2.1).
19.03 Making a statement or copy of a report of other
party evidence
A party may put in evidence a statement or a copy
of a report served on that party by another party in
accordance with Rule 19.02.
ORDER 19A
SERVICE OF MEDICAL REPORTS
19A.01 Application
This Order applies to a proceeding—
(a) under the Accident Compensation Act
1985;
(b) under the Workers Compensation Act
1958;
(c) in which the plaintiff claims damages for
personal injury.
19A.02 Counterclaim
This Order shall, with any necessary modification,
apply to a counterclaim in a proceeding of the
kind referred to in Rule 19A.01.
r. 19.03
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19A.03 Definitions
In this Order, unless the context or subject matter
otherwise requires—
dentist means—
(a) a person registered or qualified to be
registered in the dentists' division of the
register kept by the Dental Practice
Board of Victoria under the Health
Professions Registration Act 2005 or
registered or qualified to be registered
as a dentist under any corresponding
enactment of another State or a
Territory;
(b) a person entitled to practise dentistry in
a place out of Australia under an
enactment of that place corresponding
to the Health Professions Registration
Act 2005, whether or not the person
does so practise;
examination means an examination for medical,
dental or psychological purposes as the case
requires;
hospital report means a statement in writing
concerning the plaintiff made by or on behalf
of a hospital, rehabilitation centre or other
like institution;
medical expert means medical practitioner,
dentist, or psychologist as the case requires;
medical matters includes dental matters and
psychological matters;
medical practitioner means—
(a) a medical practitioner registered or
qualified to be registered by the
Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria
under the Health Professions
r. 19A.03
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Order 19A
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S.R. No. 49/2009
94
Registration Act 2005 or registered or
qualified to be registered as a medical
practitioner under any corresponding
enactment of another State or a
Territory;
(b) a person entitled to practise medicine in
a place out of Australia under an
enactment of that place corresponding
to the Health Professions Registration
Act 2005, whether or not the person
does so practise;
medical report—
(a) means a statement on medical matters
concerning the plaintiff whether in
writing or oral made by a medical
expert; and
(b) includes any document which the
medical expert intends should be read
with the statement whether the
document was in existence at the time
the statement was made or was a
document which the medical expert
obtained or caused to be brought into
existence subsequently;
psychologist means—
(a) a psychologist registered or qualified to
be registered as a psychologist under
the Health Professions Registration
Act 2005 or registered or qualified to
be registered as a psychologist under
any corresponding enactment of
another State or a Territory; or
(b) a person who practises psychology in a
place outside Victoria;
r. 19A.03
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Order 19A
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S.R. No. 49/2009
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serve, in relation to the service of a medical
report, means—
(a) where the medical report was in
writing, serve a copy; and
(b) where the medical report was oral,
serve notice in writing of its substance.
19A.04 Notice for examination
(1) The defendant may request the plaintiff in writing
to submit to appropriate examinations by a
medical expert or experts at specified times and
places.
(2) Where a plaintiff refuses or neglects without
reasonable cause to comply with a request under
paragraph (1), the Court may, if the request was
on reasonable terms, stay the proceeding.
19A.05 Expenses
(1) The costs of and incidental to the examination
shall be costs in the proceeding.
(2) Without limiting paragraph (1), the defendant
shall, on request by the plaintiff whether before or
after the plaintiff is examined, pay to the plaintiff,
a reasonable sum to meet his or her travelling and
other expenses of and incidental to the
examination.
19A.06 Report of examination
A defendant for whom a plaintiff is examined
under Rule 19A.04 shall as soon as practicable
after the examination obtain from the medical
expert a medical report.
19A.07 Service of reports
(1) A plaintiff shall serve on each other party who has
an address for service in the proceeding any
medical report (other than a medical report served
on or supplied to the plaintiff by another party)
r. 19A.04
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Order 19A
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S.R. No. 49/2009
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which the plaintiff intends to tender or the
substance of which the plaintiff intends to adduce
in evidence at the hearing.
(2) Where a plaintiff obtains possession, custody or
power of a hospital report which the plaintiff
intends to call at the hearing, this Rule and
Rule 19A.08, with any necessary modification,
applies as if the report were a medical report.
(3) A defendant or a third or subsequent party must
serve on each other party who has an address for
service in the proceeding any medical report
(other than a medical report served on or supplied
to the defendant or a third or subsequent party by
another party) in the possession, custody or power
of or made to or obtained by or for the defendant,
third or subsequent party.
19A.08 Time for service
Unless the Court otherwise orders, the time for
service of a medical report by a party required
under Rule 19A.07 to serve a medical report shall
be—
(a) in a proceeding under the Accident
Compensation Act 1985 or the Workers
Compensation Act 1958, within 14 days of
the proceeding being given a date for
hearing;
(b) in a proceeding involving a claim for
damages for personal injury, not less than
14 days before the date fixed for a pre-
hearing conference, mediation or hearing
(whichever occurs first);
(c) in the case of a medical report made to or
obtained by or for a party after the times
referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b), forthwith.
r. 19A.08
-- 114 of 324 --
Order 19A
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S.R. No. 49/2009
97
19A.09 Other medical reports to be served
Where after a plaintiff has served a medical report
under Rule 19A.07(1) the medical expert who
made the report makes another medical report to
the plaintiff, then, notwithstanding that the
plaintiff no longer intends to tender the medical
report so served or to adduce its substance in
evidence at the hearing, or does not intend to
tender the other medical report or to adduce its
substance in evidence at the hearing, the plaintiff
shall serve the other medical report forthwith.
19A.10 Proceeding against medical expert
(1) This Rule applies to a proceeding in which the
plaintiff claims damages for personal injury
sustained as a result of medical or the like
treatment or advice given in respect of any
physical or mental condition of the plaintiff.
(2) Unless the Court otherwise orders, a party who is
required to serve a copy of a hospital report or
medical report under this Order may exclude from
the copy served any expression of opinion in the
original report on the question of liability and, if
the original report contains any statement with
respect to the facts on which the opinion is based,
any statement with respect to a fact that relates
only to the question of liability.
19A.11 Medical report admissible
(1) This Rule applies in the case of a medical report
sought to be admitted pursuant to section 47 of the
Accident Compensation Act 1985.
(2) A medical report a copy of which was served
under this Order is admissible as evidence of the
opinion of the medical expert who gave the report
and, where the medical expert's oral evidence of a
fact upon which the opinion was based would be
admissible, as evidence of that fact.
r. 19A.09
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Order 19A
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(3) Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), a medical report
may be used in evidence by the party who served
a copy of the report or by any party on whom the
copy was served.
(4) If a medical report is tendered by the party who
served a copy of the report, that party shall cause
the medical expert who gave the report to attend at
the hearing of the proceeding to be cross-
examined if notice that such attendance is required
is served on the party by any other party not later
than five days before the commencement of the
hearing, and if the medical expert does not attend
for cross-examination the Court may order that the
medical report be not received in evidence.
(5) If a medical report is tendered by a party on whom
a copy of the report was served—
(a) that party shall cause the medical expert who
gave the report to attend at the hearing of the
proceeding to be cross-examined, and if the
medical expert does not attend the Court may
order that the medical report be not received
in evidence;
(b) if the report is received in evidence and the
medical expert is cross-examined by any
party against whom the report is received, at
the conclusion of the cross-examination the
party who tendered the report may examine
the expert as if by re-examination.
19A.12 No evidence unless disclosed in report
Save with the leave of the Court or by consent of
the parties, a party shall not except in cross-
examination adduce evidence from a medical
expert on medical matters concerning the plaintiff
unless that evidence is disclosed by a medical
report served in accordance with this Order.
r. 19A.12
-- 116 of 324 --
Order 20
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S.R. No. 49/2009
99
ORDER 20
APPLICATIONS
PART 1—GENERAL
20.01 Application of Order
Unless otherwise provided by these Rules this
Order applies to any interlocutory or other
application in a proceeding other than an
application under Order 10.
20.02 Form of application
An application in a proceeding made on notice to
any person must be by application, unless the
Court otherwise orders, and must be supported by
an affidavit or affidavits.
20.03 Form and filing
(1) Unless otherwise provided by these Rules, an
application in a proceeding must be in Form 20A.
(2) An application must be filed and, on filing, an
application shall be taken to have been made.
(3) An affidavit or affidavits in support of an
application must be filed before the hearing of the
application.
20.04 Service
(1) The applicant must serve a copy of an application
and a copy of any affidavit in support on every
person to whom notice of the application is to be
given unless otherwise provided by these Rules.
(2) Every application must be served within a
reasonable time before the day for hearing named
in the application, and in no case later than
2.00 p.m. on the previous day, or where the office
of the Court was closed on the day before the day
r. 20.01
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Order 20
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S.R. No. 49/2009
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for hearing, not later than 2.00 p.m. on the day the
office was last open.
20.05 Adjournment
The Court may adjourn the hearing of an
application on such terms as it thinks fit.
20.06 Absence of party to application
(1) If any person to whom an application is addressed
fails to attend, the Court may hear the application
if satisfied that the application was duly served.
(2) If on an application the applicant fails to attend,
the Court may dismiss the application or make
such other order as it thinks fit.
PART 2—PARTICULAR APPLICATIONS UNDER THE
WORKERS COMPENSATION ACT 1958 AND THE
ACCIDENT COMPENSATION ACT 1985
20.07 Definition
In this Part, unless the context or subject matter
otherwise requires—
the Act means the Workers Compensation Act
1958;
20.08 Application for appointment of nominal
defendant—Forms 20B and 20C
(1) An application for the appointment of a nominal
defendant under section 5A, 16 or 25E of the Act
must be—
(a) made after the filing of a complaint;
(b) accompanied by an affidavit in support of the
application;
(c) in Form 20B.
r. 20.05
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Order 20
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(2) The affidavit in support of the application must—
(a) state the reasons for the application;
(b) give details of any attempts to identify or
find the employer or the employer's insurer;
(c) if the employer was a company which has
been wound up, exhibit advice from the
Australian Securities and Investments
Commission that the company has been
wound up;
(d) except where the application is to have the
Authority named as the nominal defendant,
exhibit the consent in writing of the person
proposed for appointment as nominal
defendant.
(3) If the Court makes an order for the appointment of
a nominal defendant on an application under
paragraph (1), unless the Court directs otherwise,
the party obtaining the order must give notice of
the appointment to all parties to the complaint and
serve on the nominal defendant—
(a) a notice of the appointment in Form 20C;
(b) a copy of the application;
(c) a copy of the affidavit in support;
(d) notice of any hearing date subsequent to the
appointment, fixed in the proceeding, if any;
and
(e) a copy (including any amended copies) of
the complaint (if any) showing the nominal
defendant as defendant and giving full
particulars of the claim against the alleged
employer in respect of whom the nominal
defendant was appointed;
(f) where appropriate, particulars of the claim
for contribution.
r. 20.08
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Order 21
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S.R. No. 49/2009
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20.09 Application for discharge
(1) At any time after receiving notice of appointment,
the nominal defendant appointed by the Court
may apply to the Court to be discharged from
acting in that capacity.
(2) Unless the Court directs otherwise, or the
application is by consent, the application must be
supported by an affidavit setting out the facts on
which the discharge is requested.
20.10 Application for revocation of direction of
Conciliation Officer
An application under section 60(2) of the
Accident Compensation Act 1985 for the
revocation of a direction given by a Conciliation
Officer pursuant to Division 2 of Part 3 of that Act
must be—
(a) in Form 20A with such modification as is
necessary; and
(b) accompanied by an affidavit in support of the
application.
ORDER 21
ARBITRATION
21.01 Application
This Order applies to a proceeding in which the
monetary relief sought is less than the amount set
out in section 102(1) of the Act and which the
Court must refer to arbitration in accordance with
that section.
r. 20.09
-- 120 of 324 --
Order 21
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S.R. No. 49/2009
103
21.02 Statement of claim
The statement of claim in a proceeding referred to
in Rule 21.01 must state with particularity the
date, place, circumstances and cause of action
upon which the claim is based together with the
amount or other relief or remedy sought.
21.03 Defence
The notice of defence in a proceeding referred to
in Rule 21.01 must state with particularity the
date, place, circumstances, facts or matters relied
on in defence of the claim.
21.04 No pleadings, discovery, interrogatories etc.
No party in a proceeding referred to in Rule 21.01
may—
(a) serve a request for further and better
particulars of claim, counterclaim or
defence;
(b) serve and file a reply;
(c) serve a notice to admit any fact or the
authenticity of any document;
(d) serve a notice for discovery;
(e) serve interrogatories;
(f) serve an expert witness statement;
(g) apply to the Court for an order under Part 3
of Order 10.
21.05 Parties to serve a list of documents
(1) If the amount of the claim or the counterclaim in a
proceeding referred to arbitration in accordance
with this Order is $5000 or more, each party must
serve on each other party a list of documents not
less than 14 days before the date fixed for a pre-
hearing conference or, if no such date is fixed,
r. 21.02
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then 14 days before the date fixed for the
arbitration.
(2) A list of documents must identify each document
in the possession of the party serving the list
that—
(a) supports the claim, defence, or counterclaim;
or
(b) is injurious to that claim, defence or
counterclaim.
21.06 Service of reports and assessments in relation to
proceedings relating to motor vehicle accidents
(1) If in any proceeding that has been referred to
arbitration in accordance with this Order there is a
claim or counterclaim for damages arising out of a
motor vehicle accident, each party (the serving
party) must serve on each other party a copy of
any assessor's report or documents relating to such
an assessment in the possession of the serving
party.
(2) Any report or documents required to be served
under paragraph (1) must be served not less than
14 days before the date fixed for a pre-hearing
conference or, if no such date is fixed, then
14 days before the date fixed for the arbitration.
ORDER 22
PRE-HEARING CONFERENCES
22.00 Referral of complaint for pre-hearing conference
For the purposes of section 107(1) of the Act, the
Court constituted by—
(a) a magistrate; or
r. 21.06
-- 122 of 324 --
Order 22
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(b) a registrar—
may order that a complaint be referred to a
magistrate or a registrar for a pre-hearing
conference.
22.01 Parties must attend a pre-hearing conference
(1) For the avoidance of any doubt, in this Rule a
complaint includes a claim by counterclaim and a
claim by third party notice, and a notice of
defence includes a notice of defence to a
counterclaim and a notice of defence to a claim by
third party notice.
(2) If a proceeding or any part of a proceeding is
referred to a pre-hearing conference, all parties
must attend the pre-hearing conference—
(a) personally; and
(b) if a party has appointed a legal practitioner
or other person empowered by law to appear
for the party, together with that legal
practitioner or other person.
(3) If a party referred to in subrule (2) is a
corporation—
(a) a legal practitioner; and
(b) a person in the exclusive employment of the
corporation who is authorised in writing to
attend the pre-hearing conference on behalf
of the corporation—
must attend the pre-hearing conference.
(4) In addition to the requirements of subrules (2)
and (3), all parties must have present at the
pre-hearing conference a person who has the
authority to decide whether or not to settle the
proceeding or settle the part of the proceeding that
has been referred to a pre-hearing conference.
r. 22.01
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Order 22
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(5) If an insurer is indemnifying a party, the person
referred to in subrule (4) may be an officer or
employee of the insurer.
(6) If a party does not attend a pre-hearing conference
after receiving notice to attend, the magistrate or
the Court constituted by a registrar may—
(a) in the case of failure by a plaintiff, dismiss
the complaint; or
(b) in the case of failure by a defendant or other
party, make an order that that party's notice
of defence be struck out.
(7) Where at a pre-hearing conference, the Court,
including the Court constituted by a registrar,
dismisses a complaint or strikes out a notice of
defence the Court may also—
(a) make an order for the defendant's costs of the
proceeding; or
(b) make an order on the claim, if the claim is
for a debt or liquidated demand or is a claim
arising from a motor vehicle collision and
the claim is for the cost of repairs only or for
total loss of the vehicle only.
(8) Where the Court, whether constituted by a
magistrate or a registrar, adjourns a pre-hearing
conference, the Court may make an order as to the
costs of the adjournment in accordance with the
scale of costs in Appendix A.
(9) A party whose notice of defence is struck out in
accordance with paragraph (6)(b) shall, for the
purposes of Rule 10.01, be taken to be a defendant
who does not give notice of defence.
(10) If all the parties to a proceeding (including any
third parties) agree at a pre-hearing conference
upon the terms in which an order should be made,
including an order for the final disposition of a
r. 22.01
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Order 22
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complaint, the Court constituted by a registrar, if
satisfied that the order sought is one proper to be
made under this Rule, may make the order.
(11) Where a proceeding or part of a proceeding is
referred to a pre-hearing conference, the Court
constituted by a registrar may exercise the powers
of the Court under—
(a) Rule 3.02;
(b) Rule 6.06;
(c) Rule 8.07;
(d) Rule 9.08(1), unless the adequacy of further
particulars is in issue;
(e) Rule 11.07(1), unless the adequacy of
discovery is in issue;
(f) Rule 12.07(1), unless the adequacy of
answers to interrogatories is in issue;
(g) Rule 29.01(6);
(h) Rule 35.02, but not as to costs, except to
order that the question of costs be reserved;
(i) Rule 35.03;
(j) Rule 35.05(1) for an order for inspection of
property, but excluding an order for
detention or preservation of property;
(k) section 102(3) of the Act (to order that a
complaint be heard and determined by the
Court and not referred to arbitration).
(12) The Court constituted by a registrar may dispense
with compliance with any of the requirements of
this Rule, either before or after the occasion for
compliance arises.
Note
Also refer to Rule 2.04.
r. 22.01
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22.02 Confidentiality
The proceedings of a pre-hearing conference shall
be confidential and no answers given or
admissions made at a pre-hearing conference shall
be used or referred to at the hearing nor be
disclosed to the Court or arbitrating magistrate at
the hearing without the consent of all parties.
ORDER 22A
MEDIATION
22A.01 Referral of proceeding or part of a proceeding to
mediation
A magistrate or a registrar may refer a proceeding
or any part of a proceeding to an acceptable
mediator for mediation under section 108(1) of the
Act.
22A.02 Definitions
In this Order—
acceptable mediator means a person whom a
magistrate or a registrar decides is acceptable
to mediate a complaint, including, but not
restricted to, a person who is—
(a) a registrar or deputy registrar;
(b) a local legal practitioner (within the
meaning of the Legal Profession Act
2004), who has been approved as a
mediator by the Law Institute (within
the meaning of that Act);
(c) a local legal practitioner (within the
meaning of the Legal Profession Act
2004), who has been approved as a
mediator by the Victorian Bar (within
the meaning of that Act);
r. 22.02
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(d) a mediator accredited by The Institute
of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia,
ACN 008 520 045;
(e) if the amount of monetary relief sought
in a complaint is less than $10 000, a
mediator within the meaning of
section 21K of the Evidence Act 1958,
or a person working with or for the
body known as the Dispute Settlement
Centre of Victoria, established by Order
of the Governor in Council of 7 June
1994 under section 21K of the
Evidence Act 1958;
mediation report means a notice in Form 22AA.
22A.03 Parties must attend mediation
(1) If a proceeding or any part of a proceeding is
referred to mediation, all parties must attend the
mediation—
(a) personally; and
(b) if a party has appointed a legal practitioner
or other person empowered by law to appear
for the party, together with that legal
practitioner or other person.
(2) If a party referred to in subrule (1) is a
corporation—
(a) a legal practitioner; and
(b) a person in the exclusive employment of the
corporation who is authorised in writing to
attend the mediation on behalf of the
corporation—
must attend the mediation.
(3) In addition to the requirements of subrules (1)
and (2), all parties must have present at the
mediation a person who has the authority to
r. 22A.03
-- 127 of 324 --
Order 22A
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S.R. No. 49/2009
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decide whether or not to settle the proceeding or
settle the part of the proceeding that has been
referred to mediation.
(4) If an insurer is indemnifying a party, the person
referred to in subrule (1) may be an officer or
employee of the insurer.
22A.04 Consequences of failure to attend
(1) If a party does not attend a mediation at the time
and place nominated by the mediator, a magistrate
or a registrar may—
(a) if the party is a plaintiff, dismiss the
proceeding; or
(b) if the party is a defendant or other party,
make an order that the party's notice of
defence be struck out.
(2) In this Rule a proceeding includes a claim by
counterclaim and a claim by third party notice,
and a notice of defence includes a notice of
defence to a counterclaim and a notice of defence
to a claim by third party notice.
(3) An order under subrule (1) may include an order
for the costs of the mediation that may be in
accordance with the scale of costs in Appendix A.
(4) For the purposes of Rule 10.01, a party whose
notice of defence is struck out in accordance with
subrule (1)(b), is to be taken to be a defendant
who does not give notice of defence.
22A.05 Orders by consent
If all the parties to a proceeding (including any
third parties) agree at mediation upon the terms of
an order to be made, including an order for the
final disposition of a proceeding, a registrar may
make the order.
r. 22A.04
-- 128 of 324 --
Order 22A
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S.R. No. 49/2009
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22A.06 Mediator may adjourn a mediation
On or before the day fixed for mediation, the
mediator may, with the consent of the parties,
adjourn a mediation to another date.
22A.07 Mediation report
Within 7 days of a mediation having been
completed, the mediator must file a mediation
report in Form 22AA and provide a copy of the
report to each party who attended the mediation.
22A.08 Confidentiality
Except as all the parties who attend the mediation
in writing agree, no evidence shall be admitted of
anything said or done by any person at the
mediation.
22A.09 Extension of time limits
Despite Rules 8.02(4), 9.05, 11.03 and 12.02, but
subject to any order made under Rule 22A.04, if a
proceeding is referred to mediation, the time for
taking any step in a proceeding under any of those
Rules must be calculated from the date of filing of
a mediation report and not the day on which
notice of defence is given.
22A.10 Costs
If a proceeding where the monetary relief sought
is less than $10 000 is mediated, the costs of the
parties of the mediation are in accordance with
Appendix A, in addition to any other amount,
whether under the Magistrates' Court (Arbitration)
Regulations 2000 or otherwise.
r. 22A.06
-- 129 of 324 --
Order 23
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S.R. No. 49/2009
112
ORDER 23
HEARING
23.01 Order of hearing
The Court may give directions as to the order of
evidence and generally as to the conduct of the
hearing of a complaint.
23.02 No addresses
Unless the Court otherwise orders, no opening or
closing addresses may be made at the hearing of
any complaint.
23.03 Absence of party
If, when the hearing of a proceeding is called on,
any party is absent, the Court may—
(a) proceed with the hearing;
(b) strike out or dismiss the complaint;
(c) adjourn the hearing; or
(d) make any other order which the Court
considers appropriate.
23.04 Adjournment of hearing
The Court may at any time adjourn a hearing on
such terms as it thinks fit.
ORDER 24
INSTRUMENTS ACT RULES
24.01 Definition
In this Order—
the Act means the Instruments Act 1958.
r. 23.01
-- 130 of 324 --
Order 24
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
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24.02 Application of Order
(1) This Order applies to any proceeding in the Court
under Part I of the Act.
(2) Except where inconsistent with the Act or this
Order the Rules apply to any proceeding under
Part I of the Act.
24.03 Form of complaint
(1) A complaint upon a bill of exchange commenced
after the bill has become due shall be in
Form 24A.
(2) The amount of costs stated in the indorsement on
the complaint must be the amount of scale costs
applicable to the amount claimed plus the fees
(if any) for the filing and service of the complaint.
24.04 Leave to defend
(1) Leave to defend under section 5 of the Act may be
given by the Court.
(2) An application for leave to defend must be made
without notice to any person, within the time
allowed by section 5 of the Act.
(3) An application for leave must be in Form 24B and
must be filed.
(4) The applicant for leave must file in support of the
application an affidavit sworn by himself or
herself or by another person who can depose to
the facts from his or her own knowledge.
24.05 Order where leave not granted
(1) A plaintiff who is entitled to an order under
section 4 of the Act may apply to the registrar for
an order for the amount claimed together with
costs and fees (if any) for filing and service of the
complaint as the scale allows.
r. 24.02
-- 131 of 324 --
Order 24
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S.R. No. 49/2009
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(2) An application for such an order must be filed and
must be in Form 24C.
(3) Where the registrar is satisfied that—
(a) the complaint has been served in accordance
with section 4 of the Act; and
(b) the defendant has not been given leave to
defend under section 5 of the Act—
the registrar must make an order.
24.06 Notice to parties
As soon as practicable after the Court has made a
decision on an application for leave to defend, the
registrar must notify the parties by notice in
Form 24D.
24.07 Leave to defend after order made
(1) A defendant who wishes to apply under section 6
of the Act must—
(a) file an application in Form 24E; and
(b) not less than five days before the day for
hearing of the application serve a copy of the
application on the complainant personally.
(2) An application under section 6 must state the
special circumstances relied upon by the
applicant.
(3) The Court may set aside the order on such terms
as the Court thinks fit.
(4) Upon filing an application under section 6, no
steps to enforce the order shall be taken for
fourteen days from the date of filing or until the
application is heard (whichever is the earlier).
(5) An applicant who fails to appear on the hearing of
the application shall not make a further
application without the leave of the Court.
r. 24.06
-- 132 of 324 --
Order 25
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S.R. No. 49/2009
115
ORDER 25
ORDERS
25.01 General relief
The Court may at any stage of a proceeding on the
application of any party make such order as the
case requires notwithstanding that the order was
not sought in the complaint.
25.02 Date of effect
An order made by the Court must, unless the
Court otherwise orders, bear the date of and take
effect on and from the day it is made.
25.03 Time for compliance
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), an order which requires
a person to do an act shall be taken to mean,
unless the Court otherwise orders, that the act
must be done within 14 days after service of an
order or of a certified extract from the register of
the order.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to—
(a) so much of an order as requires a person to
pay money otherwise than into Court; or
(b) an order for the delivery of goods.
25.04 Orders may be drawn up; certified extract
(1) An order may be drawn up by a party and verified
by the registrar if a party so desires.
(2) Except where a special form of order is prescribed
by these Rules, a certified extract from the Court
record of any order shall be sufficient for any
purpose for which an order is required.
r. 25.01
-- 133 of 324 --
Order 25
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
116
25.05 Consent orders
(1) If all parties to a complaint (including any third
parties) agree to the making of an order for the
final disposition of a complaint (not being an
order relating to enforcement of an order) and
written consent of all parties is filed, the Court
constituted by a registrar may make an order in
the terms set out in the consents without
appearance by any party.
(1.1) Except as provided in paragraph (1) or as
otherwise provided by these Rules, the Court
constituted by a registrar may make any order
(which order may include an order for costs) in
any proceeding, summons or application with or
without appearance of any party if satisfied that
the order sought is by the consent of the parties to
the proceeding, summons or application.
(2) If the registrar is not satisfied that an order should
be made under paragraph (1.1), the registrar may,
or if a party requests must, refer the matter to the
Court for decision.
25.06 Order where excess abandoned
An order of the Court in a complaint referred to in
Rule 4.01(2) is conclusive evidence for any
purpose of abandonment of the excess of a claim
above the jurisdictional limit of the Court.
25.07 Setting aside or varying self-executing order
(1) In this Rule, self-executing order means an order
that upon the failure of a party to do any act or
take any step which under these Rules the party is
required to do or take or to comply with an order
that the party do any such act or take any such
step—
(a) if the party is a plaintiff, that the complaint
be dismissed;
r. 25.05
-- 134 of 324 --
Order 26
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
117
(b) if the party is a defendant, that the defence of
the party, if any, be struck out.
(2) A defendant whose defence is struck out upon the
failure to comply with a self-executing order is,
for the purpose of Rule 10.01, taken to be a
defendant who does not give notice of defence.
(3) The Court may set aside or vary, as the case
requires—
(a) a self-executing order;
(b) the dismissal of a complaint upon the failure
of a plaintiff to comply with a self-executing
order;
(c) the striking out of a notice of defence upon
the failure of a defendant to comply with a
self-executing order;
(d) an order made under Rule 10.01 upon the
failure of a defendant to comply with a self-
executing order;
(e) an order made under Rule 10.04 upon the
failure of a plaintiff to comply with a self-
executing order.
ORDER 26
COSTS
26.01 Costs to be fixed on day of hearing
(1) Unless it is impracticable to do so, the Court must
fix the costs of any complaint or application on
the day on which the complaint or application is
heard and determined.
(2) If costs are not fixed by the Court as provided for
by subrule (1), Order 26A applies.
r. 26.01
-- 135 of 324 --
Order 26
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
118
26.02 Costs in accordance with Appendix A
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), costs must be fixed in
accordance with the scale of costs in Appendix A
to these Rules.
(2) If in any case the Court thinks that any item in the
scale is inadequate or excessive, the Court may
allow a greater or lesser sum than the scale
provides.
(3) If the scale of costs does not provide for any case,
the Court may allow reasonable costs.
26.03 Application of scale
In applying the scale of costs between party and
party, the amount recovered shall determine the
scale of the plaintiff's costs and the amount sought
to be recovered shall determine the scale of the
defendant's costs.
26.04 Costs on counterclaim
If a counterclaim is made, the scale upon which
the costs of the parties are to be fixed must, unless
the Court otherwise orders, be determined—
(a) if the plaintiff succeeds on both the claim
and the counterclaim, by the amount which
the plaintiff recovers on the claim, unless the
amount of the counterclaim is the larger, in
which case the costs incurred after service of
the counterclaim shall be determined by the
amount of the counterclaim;
(b) if the defendant succeeds on both the claim
and the counterclaim, by the amount which
the defendant recovers on the counterclaim
or the amount of the plaintiff's claim,
whichever is the larger;
(c) if both parties are successful, by the amounts
which they recover on their respective
claims;
r. 26.02
-- 136 of 324 --
Order 26
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
119
(d) if both claim and counterclaim fail, by the
amount claimed by the opposite party.
26.05 Costs of discovery, particulars
Unless the Court otherwise orders—
(a) the costs of and incidental to discovery or
interrogatories and answers thereto must be
borne by the party requiring discovery or
interrogating;
(b) the costs of and incidental to seeking
particulars under Rule 9.03 or 9.04 must be
borne by the party seeking particulars.
26.06 Complaint not referred to arbitration
If the Court orders under section 102(3) of the Act
that a complaint be heard and determined
otherwise than by referring it to arbitration, the
Court may make such order concerning the costs
of the complaint as it thinks fit.
26.07 Costs after defence struck out
Where an order is made under Rule 9.08(1)(b)(ii),
Rule 9.08(1)(d), Rule 11.07(1)(b)(ii),
Rule 11.07(1)(d), Rule 12.07(1)(b)(ii),
Rule 12.07(1)(d), Rule 22.01(6)(b) or
Rule 22A.04(1)(b), costs fixed consequent on the
making of the order may include scale costs in the
proceeding up to and including the order striking
out the notice of defence.
26.08 Costs after complaint dismissed
Where an order is made under Rule 9.08(1)(b)(i),
Rule 9.08(1)(c), Rule 11.07(1)(b)(i),
Rule 11.07(1)(c), Rule 12.07(1)(b)(i),
Rule 12.07(1)(c), Rule 22.01(6)(a) or
Rule 22A.04(1)(a), costs consequent upon the
complaint being dismissed may include scale
costs in the proceeding up to and including the
application for an order for costs.
r. 26.05
-- 137 of 324 --
Order 26A
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
120
ORDER 26A
ASSESSMENT OF COSTS
26A.01 Application
(1) Unless the Court has fixed costs as provided by
Order 26, this Order applies to costs in a
proceeding which by these Rules or any order of
the Court are to be paid to a party to the
proceeding by another party.
(2) Nothing in this Order operates to prevent the
Court from fixing the costs of any proceeding.
(3) This Order does not apply to a proceeding under
Division 2 of Part 5 of the Act.
26A.02 Definitions
In this Order—
assessed costs means costs assessed in accordance
with this Order;
bill means a bill of costs;
costs includes disbursements;
folio means 100 words and any number, however
set out must count as one word;
registrar includes the principal registrar and a
deputy registrar.
26A.03 Bases of assessment
Subject to this Order, costs in a proceeding which
are to be assessed must be assessed on—
(a) a party and party basis; or
(b) a solicitor and client basis; or
(c) an indemnity basis; or
(d) such other basis as the Court may direct.
r. 26A.01
-- 138 of 324 --
Order 26A
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
121
26A.04 Party and party basis
On an assessment on a party and party basis, all
costs necessary or proper for the attainment of
justice or for enforcing or defending the rights of
the party whose costs are being assessed must be
allowed.
26A.05 Solicitor and client basis
On an assessment on a solicitor and client basis,
all costs reasonably incurred and of reasonable
amount must be allowed.
26A.06 Indemnity basis
(1) Subject to subrule (2), on an assessment on an
indemnity basis, all costs must be allowed except
in so far as they are of an unreasonable amount or
have been unreasonably incurred.
(2) Any doubt which the registrar may have as to
whether the costs were unreasonably incurred or
were unreasonable in amount must be resolved in
favour of the party to whom the costs are payable.
26A.07 General basis
Except as provided by these Rules or any order of
the Court, costs must be assessed on a party and
party basis.
26A.08 By whom costs to be assessed
(1) Unless the Court otherwise orders, costs assessed
in accordance with this Order must be assessed by
the registrar.
(2) A registrar may assist another registrar to assess a
bill.
r. 26A.04
-- 139 of 324 --
Order 26A
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
122
26A.09 Costs of assessment
(1) Costs to be assessed under an order must include
the costs of the assessment.
(2) After service of an application under Rule 26A.10
for the assessment of costs, the party entitled to
costs and the party liable for them may serve on
one another an offer of compromise in respect of
the amount of the costs to be assessed, and
Order 15 is, with any necessary modification,
applicable as if the order of the registrar on the
assessment were an order at the hearing.
(3) Subject to this Rule and to any order of the Court,
the registrar may make orders for the costs of an
assessment.
(4) The registrar may allow any fee, cost or
disbursement in full, or in part.
(5) Should the registrar consider the fee, cost or
disbursement provided by the Scale of Fees in
Appendix A to be inadequate to compensate for
the work actually done, the registrar may allow an
appropriate fee which the registrar considers to be
fair and reasonable in the circumstances.
26A.10 Application for assessment
(1) An application to the registrar for costs to be
assessed must be made by application in
accordance with Order 20, save that no affidavit in
support is required.
(2) Unless the registrar otherwise directs, the
application must be served not less than 21 days
before the day for hearing named in the
application.
r. 26A.09
-- 140 of 324 --
Order 26A
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
123
26A.11 Filing of bill
(1) A party who applies for costs to be assessed must
file a bill in respect of the costs with the registrar
at the time the application under Rule 26A.10 is
filed.
(2) The bill must be prepared in accordance with
Rule 26A.14.
(3) The registrar may direct the party to lodge before
the day for hearing named in the application any
documents in the party's possession, custody or
power that will be required for the purpose of
evidence on the assessment.
26A.12 Service of bill
The registrar must not assess costs unless the
party entitled to costs serves a copy of the bill on
the party liable for the costs before or at the time
of service of the application under Rule 26A.10.
26A.13 Undefended proceeding
A party who applies for costs to be assessed need
not serve an application or copy of a bill on a
defendant who has not filed a notice of defence.
26A.14 Content of bill
(1) In a bill for assessment under this Order, charges
and disbursements must be set out in separate
columns, and the amounts in each column must be
totalled at the foot of each page and the total
carried forward to the top of the next page.
(2) The bill must contain—
(a) items numbered in chronological order
describing briefly the work done by the
solicitor for the party entitled to costs, and
stating beside each item the amount claimed
for the work and the amount of any
disbursement made;
r. 26A.11
-- 141 of 324 --
Order 26A
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
124
(b) at the conclusion of the chronological
description of the work done, a description,
having regard to the matters referred to in
Rule 26A.20, of work done justifying an
allowance under Appendix A of the amount
claimed beside that item.
(3) For the purpose of paragraph (2)(a), work done in
Victoria by an employee or agent of the solicitor
is to be taken to have been done by the solicitor.
(4) If work for which costs are claimed was done by a
clerk of the solicitor and that fact is relevant to the
amount of costs allowable for the work, the name
and position of the clerk must be stated in the bill.
26A.15 Disbursement or fee not paid
(1) A disbursement may be included in a bill
notwithstanding that it has not been paid if the bill
states that fact.
(2) On the assessment, the disbursement may be
allowed if—
(a) it is paid before assessment; or
(b) an undertaking to the Court, satisfactory to
the registrar, is given that it will be paid
within a time specified in the undertaking.
26A.16 Charge of lawyer outside of Victoria
If a bill includes a charge for work done by a
lawyer practising in a place out of Victoria—
(a) the charge must be shown as a disbursement;
and
(b) so far as practicable, the charge must, if
allowed, be allowed in an amount
appropriate to the place where the lawyer
practises.
r. 26A.15
-- 142 of 324 --
Order 26A
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
125
26A.17 Amendment of bill
A magistrate or the registrar may at any stage—
(a) give leave to a party to amend or withdraw a
bill;
(b) order that a party file another bill.
26A.18 Agreement as to part of bill
If the parties agree in writing that part of the costs
to be assessed may be allowed at a specified
amount and the agreement is subscribed to the bill
or filed—
(a) Rule 26A.14 does not apply to what is
agreed unless the registrar otherwise directs;
(b) Rules 26A.16 and 26A.17 apply to the
agreement as they apply to a bill.
26A.19 Objection to bill
(1) A party on whom an application under
Rule 26A.10 and a bill is served may by notice
object to any item in the bill.
(2) The notice must state by a list each item in the bill
to which the party objects, and must also state
specifically and concisely the grounds of
objection to each item.
(3) The notice must be filed with the registrar and
served on the party filing the bill and on any other
party to whom the application for the assessment
is addressed not less than 7 days before the day
for hearing named in the application.
26A.20 Discretionary costs
(1) Except as these Rules or any order of the Court
otherwise provides, the fees and allowances which
are discretionary that are referred to in Appendix
A must be allowed at the discretion of the
registrar.
r. 26A.17
-- 143 of 324 --
Order 26A
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
126
(2) In exercising the discretion under subrule (1) the
registrar must have regard to—
(a) the complexity of the item or of the
proceeding in which it arose and the
difficulty or novelty of the questions
involved;
(b) the nature and importance of the proceeding;
(c) the skill, specialised knowledge and
responsibility involved;
(d) the number and importance of the documents
prepared or perused, without regard to
length;
(e) the place where and the circumstances in
which the business involved was transacted;
(f) the labour involved and the time spent by the
solicitor or counsel;
(g) the amount or value of any money or
property involved;
(h) any other fees and allowances payable to the
solicitor or counsel in respect of other items
in the same proceeding;
(i) any other relevant circumstances.
26A.21 Assessment where no objection
If no objection to a bill is made in accordance
with Rule 26A.19, the registrar may allow or
disallow the amount of the costs in whole or in
part.
r. 26A.21
-- 144 of 324 --
Order 26A
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
127
26A.22 Attendance of parties
(1) The registrar may give directions with respect
to—
(a) the parties to whom an application under
Rule 26A.10 must be addressed;
(b) the parties who should attend or be
represented on any assessment.
(2) The registrar may disallow the costs of attendance
on an assessment of any party whose attendance is
unnecessary.
(3) Despite subrules (1) and (2), any party interested
may attend an assessment before the registrar.
26A.23 Costs in proceedings before registrar
If in any proceeding before the registrar any party
is guilty of neglect or delay, or puts any other
party to unnecessary or improper expense relative
to the proceeding, the registrar may direct that
party to pay any costs that the registrar thinks
proper.
26A.24 Costs reserved
(1) Where by order of the Court the costs of any
interlocutory or other application or of any step in
a proceeding are reserved, and the Court does not
thereafter direct by and to whom those costs are to
be paid, then unless the Court otherwise orders,
the registrar may by order so direct.
(2) Subrule (1) must not apply where after the order
that costs be reserved is made the Court
determines that no further order be made with
respect to those costs.
26A.25 Reference to a magistrate
The registrar may refer to a magistrate for
directions any question arising on an assessment.
r. 26A.22
-- 145 of 324 --
Order 26A
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
128
26A.26 Application by person liable to pay
(1) If a party who is entitled to be paid costs and to
have the costs assessed under this Order does not
apply to have the costs assessed within 30 days
after service on the party of a request in writing to
do so by a party liable for the costs, the registrar
may order the party entitled to file and serve an
application under Rule 26A.10 and may fix a time
for compliance.
(2) If a party in respect of whom an order is made
under subrule (1) fails to comply with the order,
the registrar may—
(a) disallow the costs of the party or allow a
nominal or other sum for costs;
(b) order the party to pay the costs of any other
party.
26A.27 Solicitor at fault
(1) This Rule applies if—
(a) a party fails to have costs assessed within the
time fixed under Rule 26A.26(1) and the
failure is occasioned by the neglect or delay
of the party's solicitor; or
(b) in any proceedings before the registrar the
solicitor for any party—
(i) is guilty of neglect or delay; or
(ii) causes any other party unnecessary
expense.
(2) The registrar may—
(a) order the solicitor to pay costs to any party in
respect of the proceedings before the
registrar;
r. 26A.26
-- 146 of 324 --
Order 26A
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
129
(b) refuse to allow the fees to which the solicitor
would otherwise be entitled for drawing any
bill or for any attendance before the registrar.
(3) If the solicitor objects to an order made by the
registrar under subrule (2), the solicitor may apply
for review of the order.
(4) An application under subrule (3) must be made by
notice.
(5) The notice under subrule (4) must state
specifically and concisely the grounds of
objection to the order.
(6) The solicitor must file a copy of the notice on
each party interested within 14 days after the
order of the registrar.
(7) On the review, unless the Court otherwise
orders—
(a) further evidence must not be received;
(b) the solicitor giving notice must not raise any
ground of objection not stated in the notice.
(8) On the review, the Court may—
(a) exercise all the powers and discretions of the
registrar with respect to the subject matter of
the review;
(b) set aside or vary the order of the registrar;
(c) remit any matter to the registrar;
(d) make such order as the case requires.
(9) Except so far as a magistrate or a registrar
otherwise orders, a review under this Rule must
not operate as a stay of execution or of
proceedings under the order of the registrar to
which the review relates.
r. 26A.27
-- 147 of 324 --
Order 26A
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
130
26A.28 Cross costs
(1) If a party entitled to be paid costs is also liable to
pay costs, the registrar may—
(a) assess the costs which that party is liable to
pay and set off the amount allowed against
the amount the party is entitled to be paid
and by order state the amount of the balance
and the parties by whom and to whom the
balance is payable; or
(b) decline to make an order as to the costs
which the party is entitled to be paid until
that party has paid or tendered the amount
that party is liable to pay.
(2) Costs may be set off under paragraph (1)(a)
despite a solicitor for a party having a lien for
costs in the proceeding.
26A.29 Order on assessment
(1) If the registrar assesses a bill or otherwise fixes an
amount for costs, the result must be stated in the
form of an order.
(2) The registrar may, after the conclusion of the
assessment of any bill, make a final order with
respect to the amount at which the registrar allows
the costs or disallows the costs.
(3) In the course of the assessment the registrar may
make separate and interim orders in respect of any
item in a bill.
(4) The registrar may at any time correct a clerical
mistake in an order made under this Rule or an
error arising in an order from any accidental slip
or omission.
(5) If costs are assessed, an order of the registrar for
payment of any amount found to be due may be
enforced in the same manner as an order for the
payment of money.
r. 26A.28
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(6) Subrule (5) applies to an interim order for
payment of any item in a bill of costs made under
this Rule.
26A.30 Review by magistrate
(1) If any party interested objects to an order of the
registrar allowing or disallowing, wholly or in
part, any item in a bill, or allowing some amount
in respect of any item, the Court may, on the
application of that party, review the order of the
registrar.
(2) An application under subrule (1) must be made by
notice.
(3) The application must be made to a magistrate.
(4) The notice must state by a list each item in the bill
in respect of which the party objects to the order
of the registrar, and must also state specifically
and concisely the grounds of objection to that
order and the order sought in its place.
(5) The applicant must file and serve a copy of the
notice on each party interested within 14 days
after the order of the registrar.
(6) On the review, unless the Court otherwise
orders—
(a) further evidence must not be received;
(b) the party giving notice must not raise any
ground of objection not stated in the notice.
(7) On the review, the Court may—
(a) exercise all the powers and discretions of the
registrar with respect to the subject matter of
the review;
(b) set aside or vary the order of the Registrar;
(c) remit any item in the bill to the registrar;
(d) make such other order as the case requires.
r. 26A.30
-- 149 of 324 --
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(8) Except so far as a magistrate or registrar otherwise
orders, a review under this Rule must not operate
as a stay of execution or of proceedings under the
order of the registrar to which the review relates.
26A.31 Necessary or proper costs
All costs must be allowed as are necessary or
proper for the attainment of justice or for
enforcing or defending the rights of any party.
26A.32 Unnecessary etc. work
(1) The Court by order or the registrar on an
assessment may disallow the costs of any work
which is not necessary or is done without due
care.
(2) If a document is of unnecessary length, for the
purpose of subrule (1), work which is not
necessary includes work for that part of the
document which is not necessary.
(3) A party whose costs for work is disallowed under
subrule (1) must, unless the Court or the registrar
otherwise orders, pay costs for any work by
another party occasioned by the work for which
the costs are disallowed.
26A.33 Increased allowance
The registrar may increase the amount of value of
any allowance or expense in Appendix A as he or
she thinks fit.
26A.34 Copy documents
The fees allowed in Appendix A for drawing any
document must include not more than 3 copies of
the document made for the use of the party, the
party's solicitor or the agent of the solicitor, or for
counsel to settle.
r. 26A.31
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26A.35 Service of several documents
Two or more documents in the same proceeding
which can be served together must be so served,
and a fee for the service of one must be allowed.
26A.36 Defendants with same solicitor
If 2 or more defendants are represented by the
same solicitor, and the solicitor does work for one
or some of them separately which could have been
done for some or all of them together, on
assessment of the solicitor's bill of costs the
registrar may disallow costs for unnecessary work.
26A.37 Negotiations
Costs reasonably and properly incurred with
respect to negotiations for compromise must be
allowed whether or not the negotiations were
successful.
26A.38 Retainer of counsel
A retaining fee to counsel must not be allowed on
assessment as between party and party.
26A.39 Advice and other work of counsel
(1) If they are reasonably and properly incurred, costs
with respect to the following matters must be
allowed—
(a) the advice of counsel on the pleadings,
evidence or other matter in a proceeding;
(b) counsel drawing or settling any pleading or
other document in a proceeding which is
proper to be drawn or settled by counsel;
(c) counsel engaging in any preparation, view,
conference or consultation.
r. 26A.35
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(2) If affidavits or interrogatories which are proper to
be drawn or settled by counsel are or could have
been drawn or settled at the same time, only one
fee must be allowed.
26A.40 Premature brief
Costs with respect to the preparation and delivery
of a brief to counsel for a hearing which did not
take place must not be allowed if the costs were
incurred prematurely.
26A.41 Barrister and solicitor
(1) This Rule applies if a barrister and solicitor acts in
both capacities or appears as a barrister, instructed
by a partner or employee.
(2) The person so acting or appearing or that person's
partner must not be allowed a fee for any
instructions for a brief or for drawing or
engrossing a brief, but the registrar may allow one
of them for preparing for hearing.
ORDER 27
ENFORCEMENT OF ORDERS
PART 1—DEFINITIONS
27.01 Definitions
(1) In this Order—
attachment of earnings order means an order
under Part 5 or such order as varied from
time to time;
earnings, in relation to a judgment debtor, means
any amounts payable to the judgment
debtor—
r. 26A.40
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(a) by way of wages or salary, including
any fees, bonus commission, overtime
pay or other emoluments payable in
addition to wages or salary; or
(b) by way of pension, including—
(i) an annuity in respect of past
services whether or not the
services were rendered to the
person paying the annuity; and
(ii) periodical payments in respect of
or by way of compensation for the
loss, abolition or relinquishment,
or any diminution in the
emoluments, of any office or
employment—
but does not include any pension payable to
the judgment debtor under the Social
Security Act 1991 of the Commonwealth or
the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 of the
Commonwealth;
employer, in relation to a judgment debtor, means
a person (including the Crown, a Minister of
the Crown, and any statutory authority
representing the Crown) by whom, as a
principal and not as a servant or agent,
earnings are payable or are likely to become
payable to the judgment debtor;
garnishee means a person from whom a judgment
creditor claims that a debt is due or accruing
to a judgment debtor;
judgment creditor means the person entitled to
enforce an order;
judgment debt means the amount of money
payable under an order and includes the costs
of recovering that amount;
r. 27.01
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judgment debtor means the person liable under an
order;
net earnings, in relation to a payday means the
amount of the earnings becoming payable by
a particular employer on that payday after
making all proper deductions under income
tax legislation of the Commonwealth;
normal deduction, in relation to an attachment of
earnings order and in relation to a payday,
means an amount representing a payment at
the normal deduction rate specified in the
order in respect of the period between that
payday and either the last preceding payday
or, where there is no last preceding payday,
the date on which the employer became, or
last became, the judgment debtor's employer;
officer, in relation to a corporation, has the same
meaning as in section 9 of the Corporations
Law;
order means an order made by the Court—
(a) for the payment of money, with or
without costs; or
(b) for the payment of costs alone; or
(c) under Rule 27.11(1);
payday means an occasion on which earnings to
which the attachment of earnings order
relates become payable;
protected earnings, in relation to an attachment of
earnings order and in relation to a payday,
means the amount representing a payment at
the protected earnings rate specified in the
order in respect of the period between that
payday and either the last preceding payday
or, where there is no last preceding payday,
r. 27.01
-- 154 of 324 --
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the date on which the employer became, or
last became, the judgment debtor's employer.
(2) For the purposes of the definition of garnishee in
paragraph (1), an amount standing to the credit of
a judgment debtor in an account in a bank,
building society, cooperative housing society or
similar society, credit union, credit society or
investment fund or corporation is a debt due or
accruing to the judgment debtor, whether or not a
demand or notice is required before money may
be withdrawn.
PART 2—WARRANTS GENERALLY
27.02 Issue of warrant
(1) A warrant other than a warrant referred to in
Rule 27.02.1, shall not be issued unless the person
requesting it to be issued—
(a) produces to a registrar a form of the warrant;
(b) where the warrant is to enforce an order for
the payment of money, files a request to
issue a warrant which must state—
(i) the date of the order; and
(ii) the amount for which the order was
made; and
(iii) the amount, including any interest
accrued and any costs due and payable
in respect of the order at the date of
request with particulars stating how that
amount is calculated or made up; and
(iv) the daily amount of interest, if any,
which subject to any future payment
under the order, will accrue after the
date of request in respect of the amount
of the order and costs; and
r. 27.02
-- 155 of 324 --
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(v) particulars of any amounts paid on
account or recovered under any
previous warrant or other proceeding.
(2) A warrant referred to in paragraph (1) is issued
when the warrant is sealed by the registrar with
the seal of the Court.
(3) A warrant referred to in paragraph (1) shall bear
the date of its issue.
27.02.1 Issue of warrant consequent to request by electronic
message
(1) A request for the issue of a warrant to enforce an
order for the payment of money may be made by
an authorised user lodging an electronic message
with the Court.
(2) A request by electronic message under
paragraph (1) must state—
(a) the name of the judgment creditor;
(b) the name of the judgment debtor;
(c) the Court number;
(d) the date of the order;
(e) particulars, including dates, of any amounts
paid or recovered under any previous
warrant or other proceeding since the date of
the order;
(f) whether interest is being sought from the
date of the order.
(3) A warrant is issued when a request lodged by
electronic message, which complies with the
requirements of paragraph (2), is received at the
Court.
r. 27.02.1
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(4) A warrant issued under paragraph (3) is valid for
all purposes if it bears—
(a) the name of the Principal Registrar; and
(b) the date of its issue.
27.03 Duration
(1) A warrant shall be valid for the purpose of
execution for one year after the day it is issued.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a registrar may
from time to time extend the period of the validity
of the warrant for the purpose of execution for a
period of not more than one year from the day on
which it would otherwise expire and so on from
time to time.
(3) An extension under paragraph (2) shall not be
made after the day of expiry of the warrant.
(4) The priority of a warrant in respect of which an
extension under paragraph (2) had been made
shall be determined by reference to the date on
which the warrant was originally delivered to the
person to whom it is directed.
27.04 Costs of prior execution
The amount for which a warrant may be issued
shall include the costs, fees and expenses
(including the costs of any unsuccessful
previously attempted execution of the order)
incurred in respect of any prior warrant of
execution on the same order, whether the prior
warrant was or was not productive.
27.05 Interpleader
(1) If a claim is made to or in respect of property
seized under a warrant, or in respect of the
proceeds or value of that property, by any person
other than the judgment debtor, a registrar may,
on the application of the person to whom the
r. 27.03
-- 157 of 324 --
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warrant is directed, issue a summons directed to
the judgment creditor and the person making the
claim seeking relief by way of interpleader.
(2) The person to whom the warrant is directed may
apply under paragraph (1) whether or not
proceedings have been brought against him or her
in the Court or any other court.
(3) A claimant under paragraph (1) must within a
reasonable time after the claimant has become
aware or ought reasonably to have been aware of
the seizure of the property give the person to
whom the warrant is directed a notice in writing
showing—
(a) particulars of the property alleged to be the
property of the claimant; and
(b) the grounds of the claim; and
(c) the claimant's usual address and occupation
and an address for service in Victoria.
(4) A summons under paragraph (1) must be in
Form 27A.
(5) A summons may be served on the judgment
creditor and the claimant by leaving a copy of the
summons at the address for service or by sending
a copy by security post to that address.
27.06 When interpleader decided against the claimant
If the claim to any property the subject of a
warrant to seize property is decided against the
claimant, the costs of the person to whom the
warrant is directed in the interpleader shall be
retained by the person to whom the warrant is
directed out of the proceeds of the execution of
the warrant unless—
r. 27.06
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(a) the party who procured the issue of the
warrant requests the Court to order that those
costs be paid by the claimant and the Court
so orders; or
(b) the Court otherwise orders.
27.07 Order against two or more persons
(1) If in a complaint an order is made against two or
more defendants jointly, the order may be
enforced by warrant or otherwise against any of
the defendants as if the order had been made
against that defendant separately.
(2) If an order against two or more defendants jointly
is satisfied by any of the defendants, no further
steps may be taken by the party in whose favour
the order so satisfied was made against any other
defendant.
27.08 Order against partners
(1) An order made against a firm may be enforced
against any or all of the persons who were
members of the firm at the time the cause of
action arose.
(2) If a person is sued under Rule 6.04 in a name or
style other than the person's own name and an
order is made against the person in that name or
style, the order may be enforced against the
person.
(3) No enforcement proceeding shall be commenced
under an order referred to in paragraph (1) or (2)
against a person whose name is not mentioned in
the order or complaint unless the person in whose
favour the order was made files with the registrar
an affidavit stating—
(a) the name and address of the person against
whom it is proposed to commence the
proceeding; and
r. 27.07
-- 159 of 324 --
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(b) that, at the time the cause of action arose,
that person was a member of the firm or was
carrying on business in the name or style in
which the order was made; and
(c) the proceeding it is desired to take under the
order.
PART 3—WARRANTS TO SEIZE PROPERTY
27.09 Warrant to seize property
(1) If an order is made by the Court, a registrar may,
in the circumstances referred to in paragraph (2),
issue a warrant to seize property for the purpose of
satisfying the judgment debt.
(2) Paragraph (1) applies where the Act under which
the order is made either specifies no method of
enforcement of the order or provides for
enforcement by distress.
(3) A warrant to seize property authorises the person
to whom it is directed to seize and sell any
personal property belonging to the judgment
debtor.
(4) Money or bank notes belonging to a judgment
debtor may be seized under a warrant to seize
property but need not be sold.
(5) Cheques, bills of exchange, promissory notes,
bonds, specialties or securities for money
belonging to a judgment debtor may be seized
under a warrant to seize property and held as
security for the judgment debt or the unsatisfied
part of the judgment debt and when the time of
payment arrives the person to whom the warrant is
directed may demand and receive payment of
them and may sue in any proper court in the name
of the judgment debtor or in the name of any
person in whose name the judgment debtor might
r. 27.09
-- 160 of 324 --
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have sued for the recovery of the money secured
or made payable by them.
(6) Subject to this Order and except where otherwise
expressly provided by these Rules, the rules,
practice and procedure of the Supreme Court
which apply to or are adopted by the sheriff in the
execution of warrants of execution apply, with
such modifications as are necessary, to the
execution of warrants to seize property.
27.10 Form of warrant
A warrant to seize property must be in Form 27B.
27.10.1 Notice to person responsible for safekeeping of
seized property
The prescribed form of notice under
section 111(7A) of the Act is Form 27BA.
PART 4—WARRANTS OF DELIVERY
27.11 Warrant of delivery
(1) If an order is made by the Court—
(a) for delivery of goods; or
(b) for delivery of goods or recovery of their
assessed value—
a registrar may issue a warrant of delivery.
(2) If the order of the Court is for the assessed value
of goods only, the order may be enforced by the
same means as any other order for the payment of
money.
(3) Rule 27.09(6) applies to execution of a warrant of
delivery.
27.12 Form of warrant
A warrant of delivery must be in Form 27C.
r. 27.10
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PART 4A—ORAL EXAMINATION
27.12.1 Examination of judgment debtor
(1) If an order has been made for the recovery or
payment of money (with or without costs) or for
costs alone a registrar may upon application of the
judgment creditor issue a summons requiring the
judgment debtor (or, if the judgment debtor is a
corporation, an officer of the corporation) to
appear before the Court to be orally examined by
the registrar as to—
(a) the amount and source of the income of the
judgment debtor;
(b) the property and assets of the judgment
debtor;
(c) the cash that is readily available to the
judgment debtor or that can be made so
available;
(d) the debts, liabilities and other financial
obligations of the judgment debtor—
and the registrar may examine the person as to any
other matter related to the financial circumstances
generally of the judgment debtor and the judgment
debtor's means and ability to satisfy the order.
(2) A summons under paragraph (1) must be in
Form 27CA.
(2A) The judgment creditor must serve a summons
under paragraph (1) and a copy of Form 27CC, or
Form 27CD if the judgment debtor is a
corporation, not less than 7 days before the day
named for the examination.
(3) The person must be examined on oath.
r. 27.12.1
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(4) The registrar may issue a summons calling on
other persons to give evidence or produce
documents or to give evidence and produce
documents.
(5) A summons under paragraph (4) must be in
Form 27CB.
(6) An examination under this Part must be conducted
by the registrar or counsel for the judgment
creditor (if present) and no persons other than the
judgment debtor being examined and his, her or
its counsel and the judgment creditor and his, her
or its counsel may be present without the consent
of both parties.
(7) If the examination is conducted by the registrar a
copy of the record in Form 27CC or 27CD must
be sent to the judgment creditor.
(8) At an examination the registrar may make an
order as to the costs of the examination in
accordance with the scale of costs in Appendix A,
the fees, if any, for filing and service of the
summons and any other prescribed fees.
(9) A registrar may adjourn an examination under this
Rule as he or she thinks fit.
(10) Where a summons under this Rule has not been
served, the registrar may, on application of the
judgment creditor—
(a) in the case of a summons under subrule (1),
alter, to a later day, the day named in the
summons for the examination of the
judgment debtor; or
(b) in the case of a summons under subrule (4),
alter, to a later day, the day named in the
summons for the person to give evidence or
produce documents, or to give evidence and
produce documents.
r. 27.12.1
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(11) Despite subrule (10), the registrar must not—
(a) alter, to a later day, a day named in a
summons under this Rule more than once
unless the registrar is satisfied that
reasonable efforts have been made to serve
the summons; or
(b) alter a day named in a summons under this
Rule when the summons has ceased to be
valid under Rule 4.05.
27.12.2 Issue of summons for oral examination consequent
to application by electronic message
(1) An application to the registrar under Rule 27.12.1
for the issue of a summons under that Rule may
be made by an authorised user lodging an
electronic message with the Court.
(2) The electronic message must state—
(a) the allocated Court number for the
proceeding in which the order was made;
(b) the name of the judgment debtor (and, if the
judgment debtor is a corporation, the name
of an officer of the corporation who is to
appear before the Court to be orally
examined);
(c) the address of the judgment debtor (and, if
the judgment debtor is a corporation, the
address of the officer of the corporation who
is to appear before the Court to be orally
examined);
(d) the date of the order;
(e) particulars, including dates, of any amounts
recovered since the date of the order;
(f) whether further penalty interest is being
claimed.
r. 27.12.2
-- 164 of 324 --
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(3) The date of issue of a summons issued consequent
to an application by electronic message as
provided for in paragraph (1), and which complies
with the requirements of paragraph (2), is the date
the electronic message is received at Court.
(4) The summons is valid for all purposes if it bears
the—
(a) allocated Court number;
(b) name of the Principal Registrar;
(c) date of its issue;
(d) hearing venue;
(e) date and time for the person named in the
summons to be orally examined.
(5) A copy of the summons must be retained by or on
behalf of the authorised user and such copy must
be provided to the Court at the request of the
registrar.
PART 5—ATTACHMENT OF EARNINGS ORDERS
27.12.3 Definition
In this Part, the Court includes the Court
constituted by a registrar.
27.13 Attachment of earnings order
(1) If the Court is satisfied—
(a) that a judgment debtor is a person to whom
earnings are payable or are likely to become
payable; and
(b) that a judgment debtor has failed to comply
with an order with respect to a judgment
debt—
the Court may order a person who appears to the
Court to be the judgment debtor's employer in
respect of those earnings or part of those earnings
r. 27.12.3
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to make out of those earnings or that part of those
earnings payments in accordance with Rule 27.20.
(1.1) If the Court constituted by a registrar is not
satisfied that an order should be made under this
Part, the registrar may, or if a party requests must,
refer the matter to the Court for decision.
(2) Unless the Court otherwise orders, if an
attachment of earnings order is in force, no
warrant or other process of execution shall issue
and no order shall be made for the enforcement of
the order to which the attachment of earnings
order relates.
27.15 Application for attachment of earnings order
(1) A judgment creditor may apply for an attachment
of earnings order.
(2) An application under paragraph (1) must be by
summons in Form 27D and must be supported by
affidavit which may contain statements of fact
based on information and belief if the grounds are
set out.
(3) The affidavit must be in Form 27E.
(4) The summons, a copy of the affidavit and a notice
in Form 27F as to the property and assets of the
judgment debtor and the debts, liabilities and
other financial obligations of the judgment debtor
shall be served on the judgment debtor not less
than 14 days before the day for hearing named in
the summons.
(5) The Court must not make an attachment of
earnings order to secure the payment of a
judgment debt if a warrant has been issued in that
case committing the judgment debtor to prison
under the Imprisonment of Fraudulent Debtors
Act 1958 and has not been executed, but in that
case the Court may discharge the warrant with a
r. 27.15
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view to making an attachment of earnings order
instead.
27.16 Examination of judgment debtor
(1) On an application for an attachment of earnings
order the Court may—
(a) direct the judgment debtor to attend for an
oral examination at the time and place
specified in the direction; or
(b) direct any person who appears to the Court
to owe money to the judgment debtor or to
be the employer of the judgment debtor to
give the Court a statement signed by or on
behalf of that person containing such
particulars as are specified in the direction of
money owed by that person to the judgment
debtor that became payable during a period
specified in the direction.
(2) On an oral examination the Court must examine a
judgment debtor as to the following matters—
(a) the amount and source of the income of the
judgment debtor;
(b) the property and assets of the judgment
debtor;
(c) the cash that is readily available to the
judgment debtor or can be made so available;
(d) the debts, liabilities and other financial
obligations of the judgment debtor—
and may examine a judgment debtor as to any
other matter related to the financial circumstances
generally of the judgment debtor and the judgment
debtor's means and ability to satisfy the judgment
debt.
r. 27.16
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(3) A document purporting to be a statement referred
to in paragraph (1)(b) is admissible in evidence in
any proceedings for the enforcement of the order.
(4) The provisions of paragraph (1)(a) are without
prejudice to any other mode of enforcing the
attendance of the judgment debtor before the
Court.
(5) An order under paragraph (1) must be in Form 27J
or 27K, whichever is appropriate.
27.17 Making an order in absence of debtor
(1) If an application is made to the Court for an
attachment of earnings order and the Court is
satisfied—
(a) that the judgment debtor has been served
with a copy of the application; and
(b) that the judgment debtor has had a
reasonable opportunity of attending the
hearing; and
(c) that the judgment debtor is employed by a
known employer; and
(d) as to the earnings of the judgment debtor—
the Court may make an attachment of earnings
order in the absence of the judgment debtor.
(2) For the purposes of this Rule the Court may act
on—
(a) evidence given by or on behalf of the
judgment debtor's employer; or
(b) evidence given by the judgment debtor's
spouse; or
(c) any statement or information furnished under
Rule 27.16(1).
r. 27.17
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(3) If the Court in considering an application for an
attachment of earnings order in the absence of the
judgment debtor or his or her spouse—
(a) has before it sufficient evidence in the
opinion of the Court on which to specify a
protected earnings rate and a normal
deduction rate, the Court must specify those
rates;
(b) does not have such evidence before it, the
Court may, without specifying those rates,
make an order requiring the payment by the
judgment debtor's employer to the judgment
creditor of such amount as the Court thinks
reasonable having regard to the
circumstances of the judgment debtor so far
as they are known to the Court.
27.18 Contents of order
(1) An attachment of earnings order (except an order
under Rule 27.17(3)(b)) must specify either
generally or in relation to any particular payday or
paydays the normal deduction rate, that is to say,
the rate at which the Court considers it to be
reasonable that the earnings of the judgment
debtor should be applied in satisfying the order to
which the attachment of earnings order relates but
not exceeding a rate that appears to the Court to
be necessary for the purpose of—
(a) securing payment of the amount due and
unpaid under the order; and
(b) securing payment within a reasonable time
of any costs ordered by the Court to be paid
by the judgment debtor.
(2) An attachment of earnings order may specify a
normal deduction rate to apply for a specified
number of paydays after the order comes into
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force and a lower or higher normal deduction rate
to apply to subsequent paydays.
(3) An attachment of earnings order (except an order
under Rule 27.17(3)(b)) must also specify the
protected earnings rate, that is to say, the rate
below which, having regard to the resources and
needs of the judgment debtor and of any other
person for whom the judgment debtor must or
reasonably may provide, the Court considers it to
be reasonable that the earnings to which the order
relates should not be reduced by a payment under
the order.
(4) An attachment of earnings order must specify an
amount in respect of the clerical and
administrative costs of making payments under
the order which an employer is entitled to deduct
in respect of each payment from the earnings of
the judgment debtor in addition to any other
amount.
(5) Unless the Court—
(a) has received from the judgment debtor a
completed form pursuant to the notice in
Form 27F given under Rule 27.15(4) as to
the property and assets of the judgment
debtor and the debts, liabilities and the
financial obligations of the judgment debtor;
or
(b) has examined the judgment debtor as to
those matters—
the Court must not under paragraph (3) specify as
the protected earnings rate a rate that is less than
80 per cent of the net earnings of the judgment
debtor.
(6) An attachment of earnings order must be in
Form 27L.
r. 27.18
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27.19 Service of order
(1) An attachment of earnings order must be served
on the judgment debtor and on the person to
whom the order is directed.
(2) The order shall not come into force until the
expiration of seven days after the day on which
the order is served on the person to whom the
order is directed.
27.20 Employer to make payments
(1) An employer to whom an attachment of earnings
order is directed must, in respect of each payday
whilst the order is in force, if the net earnings of
the judgment debtor exceed the sum of—
(a) the protected earnings of the judgment
debtor; and
(b) so much of any amount by which the net
earnings that became payable on any
previous payday were less than the protected
earnings in relation to that payday as has not
been made good on any other previous
payday—
pay, so far as that excess permits, to the person
specified in the order the normal deduction in
relation to that payday and so much of the normal
deduction in relation to any previous payday as
was not paid on that payday and has not been paid
on any other previous payday.
(1.1) If an employer fails to comply with a binding
order under paragraph (1) the judgment creditor
may apply to the Court to have the order enforced
against the employer.
(1.2) If at the time of an application under paragraph
(1.1) the judgment debtor is not employed by the
employer against whom an order is sought to be
made, any order against the employer must not
r. 27.19
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exceed the normal deductions that ought to have
been deducted by the employer under a binding
order under paragraph (1) whilst the judgment
debtor was employed by that employer.
(2) A payment made by an employer under
paragraph (1) is a valid discharge to the employer
as against the judgment debtor to the extent of the
amount paid.
27.21 Discharge or variation of order
(1) If an attachment of earnings order is in force the
Court may, on the application of the judgment
creditor or the judgment debtor, discharge,
suspend or vary the order.
(2) The order suspending or varying an attachment of
earnings order must be served on the respondent
to the application and the person to whom the
attachment of earnings order is directed.
(3) An order suspending or varying an attachment of
earnings order does not come into force until the
expiration of 7 days after the day on which the
order is served on the person to whom it is
directed.
27.22 Cessation of attachment of earnings order
(1) An attachment of earnings order ceases to have
effect—
(a) on being discharged under Rule 27.21; or
(b) unless the Court otherwise orders, on the
making of any other order for the recovery of
the money owing under the order in relation
to which the attachment of earnings order
was made.
(2) If an attachment of earnings order ceases to have
effect, the registrar must forthwith give notice
accordingly to the person to whom the order was
directed.
r. 27.21
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(3) If an attachment of earnings order ceases to have
effect, the person to whom the order is directed
does not incur any liability in consequence of
treating the order as still in force at any time
before the expiration of 7 days after the day on
which the notice required by paragraph (2) or a
copy of the order discharging the attachment of
earnings order, as the case requires, is served on
that person.
27.23 Two or more attachment of earnings orders in force
(1) If earnings become payable to a judgment debtor
and there are in force 2 or more attachment of
earnings orders, whether made under this Act or
otherwise, in relation to those earnings, the person
to whom the orders are directed—
(a) must comply with those orders according to
the respective dates on which they took
effect and must disregard any order until the
earlier order has been complied with; and
(b) must comply with any order as if the
earnings to which the order relates were the
residue of the earnings of the judgment
debtor after the making of any payment
under an earlier order.
(2) For the purpose of this Rule, an attachment of
earnings order which has been varied under
Rule 27.21 is to be taken to have been made as so
varied on the day on which the attachment of
earnings order was made.
27.24 Notice to judgment debtor of payments
(1) A person who makes a payment in compliance
with an attachment of earnings order must give to
the judgment debtor a notice specifying the
particulars of the payment.
r. 27.23
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(2) If a person served with an attachment of earnings
order directed to that person is not the employer of
the judgment debtor at the time of service of the
order, that person must, forthwith after service of
the order, give notice in writing accordingly to the
registrar and the judgment creditor.
(3) If a person served with an attachment of earnings
order directed to that person is the employer of the
judgment debtor at the time of service of the order
but ceases to be the judgment debtor's employer at
any time thereafter, that person must, forthwith
after ceasing to be the judgment debtor's
employer, give notice in writing accordingly to
the registrar and the judgment creditor.
27.25 Determination of earnings
(1) The Court must, on the application of the person
to whom an attachment of earnings order is
directed, determine whether payments to the
judgment debtor of a particular class or
description specified in the application are
earnings for the purpose of that order.
(2) A person to whom an attachment of earnings
order is directed who makes an application under
paragraph (1) does not incur any liability for
failing to comply with the order with respect to
any payments of the class or description specified
in the application that are made by that person to
the judgment debtor while the application, or any
appeal from an order made on the application, is
pending.
(3) Paragraph (2) does not apply in respect of any
payment made after an application is withdrawn
or an appeal from an order made on the
application is abandoned.
r. 27.25
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27.26 Service
An order or document that is required or permitted
to be served on a person under this Part must be
served on that person—
(a) personally; or
(b) by registered post.
PART 6—ATTACHMENT OF DEBTS
27.27 Attachable debts
A debt may be attached under this Part if the debt
is due or accruing to the judgment debtor from the
garnishee on the day an application is made for a
garnishee order.
27.30 Order for attachment of debt
(1) The Court constituted by a registrar may, on the
application of the judgment creditor, order that all
debts (other than earnings within the meaning of
this Order) due or accruing from a garnishee to a
judgment debtor be attached to answer the
judgment debt.
(2) An application for an order under paragraph (1)—
(a) must be made by affidavit accompanied by a
draft form of the order sought;
(b) may be made without notice to any person;
and
(c) may be made either before or after the
examination of the judgment debtor under
Rule 27.12.1
(3) An order must not be made under paragraph (1)
unless it is shown by affidavit—
(a) that the judgment debt is unsatisfied, either
wholly or to a stated extent; and
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(b) that—
(i) a debt is due or accruing to the
judgment debtor from the garnishee;
and
(ii) the garnishee is within Victoria.
(4) The registrar may refuse to make an order under
paragraph (1) if the registrar is of the opinion that
the remedy being sought is worthless or vexatious
on account of the smallness of the amount to be
recovered or of the debt sought to be attached or
otherwise.
(5) The judgment creditor may appeal to a magistrate
against the refusal of the registrar to make an
order under paragraph (1).
(6) Any order made under paragraph (1) must be
served on the garnishee personally within 7 days
of the making of the order and such order binds
the debts to which it applies upon service of the
order.
(7) An order under paragraph (1) must be in
Form 27P or 27Q whichever is appropriate.
27.31 Dispute of liability by garnishee
A garnishee who disputes liability to pay the debt
attached may make application to the Court,
within 14 days of service of the order for
attachment of debt, to determine liability or to
give directions for its determination.
27.33 Claim by another person
Any person other than the judgment debtor who
claims to be entitled to the attached debt or to a
charge or lien on it may make application to the
Court to determine the claim of entitlement or to
give directions for its determination.
r. 27.31
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27.34 Discharge of garnishee
Any payment made by a garnishee in compliance
with, and any execution levied against a garnishee
under, an attachment of debts order is a valid
discharge of the garnishee's liability to the
judgment debtor to the extent of the amount paid
or levied even if subsequently the garnishee
proceedings are set aside or the order from which
they arose is reversed or varied.
PART 7—IMPRISONMENT OF FRAUDULENT DEBTORS
27.35 Application for summons
(1) An application for the issue of a summons under
Part III of the Imprisonment of Fraudulent
Debtors Act 1958 must be made by affidavit in
Form 27R.
(2) An affidavit under paragraph (1) may contain
statements of fact based on information and belief
if the grounds are set out.
ORDER 27A
SERVICE AND EXECUTION OF PROCESS RULES
27A.01 Definitions
In this Order—
Act means the Service and Execution of Process
Act 1992 of the Commonwealth and—
appropriate court
court of rendition
place of rendition
have the same meanings as in Part 6 of the Act.
r. 27.34
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27A.02 How application made
(1) An application to the Court under the Act must be
made in accordance with Order 20.
(2) Where an application under subrule (1) is filed by
facsimile transmission, the address for service of
the applicant must include a facsimile telephone
number.
(3) When an application is filed the registrar must
forthwith fix a hearing date and as soon as
practicable notify the applicant.
27A.03 Sealed copy of order
For the purpose of registration of an order of the
Court in the appropriate court of another State or
Territory the registrar may provide a sealed copy
of the judgment in Form 27AA or Form 27AB, as
the case requires.
27A.04 Enforcement of order
A person who seeks to enforce an order registered
under the Act must before taking any step under
the Act or these Rules for such enforcement file
an affidavit in Form 27AC stating that the order is
capable of being enforced in or by the court of
rendition or a court in the place of rendition and
the extent to which it is so capable.
27A.05 Fees
(1) The fees to be allowed in relation to the service
under the Act of the process of the Court must be
calculated on the same basis as fees allowable in
the appropriate court for service of process at the
place where the process was served.
(2) The same fees must be paid in relation to the
enforcement under the Act by the Court of the
process or order of a court of another part of
Australia as are charged for the like enforcement
of the process or judgment of the Court, together
r. 27A.02
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with the fees set out in the Schedule to Order 10
of Chapter II of the Rules of the Supreme Court.
27A.06 Costs
The same costs must be allowed in relation to the
enforcement of an order registered under the Act
as are allowed upon the enforcement of an order
of the Court.
27A.07 Interest
(1) A person who seeks to recover interest payable
under section 108 of the Act must specify by
affidavit the interest rate or rates applying to the
order in the court of rendition and must include a
calculation showing the amount of interest
recoverable under the order.
(2) The interest rate or rates applying in the court of
rendition specified in an affidavit pursuant to
subrule (1) must be endorsed on a warrant to seize
property which is filed to enforce an order
registered under the Act.
(3) The person to whom a warrant to seize property is
directed must calculate and recover interest on an
order registered under the Act at the rate or rates
specified in the warrant.
(4) The person to whom a warrant to seize property is
directed must not calculate or recover interest on
an order registered under the Act where the
warrant does not contain a statement of the
interest rate or rates applying to the order in the
court of rendition and does not contain a
calculation of the interest recoverable under the
order.
r. 27A.06
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ORDER 28
JUDGMENT DEBT RECOVERY RULES
28.01 Definition
In this Order—
Act means the Judgment Debt Recovery Act
1984.
28.02 Application under section 5
An application in writing under section 5 of the
Act for an instalment order must—
(a) be in Form 28A;
(b) if made by a judgment debtor, be
accompanied by a Statement of Affairs in
Form 28B or in Form 28BA if the judgment
debtor is a corporation;
(c) be filed.
28.03 Application under section 6 or 8
(1) An application under section 6 or 8 of the Act
must—
(a) be in Form 28A;
(b) if made by a judgment debtor, be
accompanied by a Statement of Affairs in
Form 28B or in Form 28BA if the judgment
debtor is a corporation;
(c) be filed.
(2) An affidavit or declaration of service of an
application under section 6 or 8 must be filed
within a reasonable time after service of the
application.
r. 28.01
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(3) If an applicant under section 8 of the Act fails to
comply with paragraph (2)—
(a) the applicant shall be taken to have
abandoned the application; and
(b) the proper officer shall give notice in writing
to the applicant of that abandonment.
28.04 Notice of objection
(1) The period for filing a notice of objection under
section 6(5) of the Act is fourteen days.
(2) A notice of objection must be in Form 28C.
28.05 Agreement under section 7
An instalment agreement under section 7 of the
Act must—
(a) be in Form 28D;
(b) be accompanied by a Statement of Affairs in
Form 28B or in Form 28BA if the judgment
debtor is a corporation;
(c) be filed.
28.06 Order in absence of parties
An order made by a proper officer under
section 7(3) of the Act may be made in the
absence of the parties.
28.07 Summons for examination
(1) A summons under section 14 or 17 of the Act
must be in Form 28E.
(2) An application for issue of a summons under
section 17 of the Act must be made by affidavit in
Form 28F.
(3) An affidavit under paragraph (2) may contain
statements of fact based on information and belief
if the grounds are set out.
r. 28.04
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28.08 Warrant of apprehension
A warrant of apprehension under section 14 or 17
of the Act must be in Form 28G.
28.09 Forms of notice
A notice—
(a) under section 6(4), 6(7), 7(4) or 18(2) of the
Act must be in Form 28H;
(b) under section 14(6) or 17(5) of the Act must
be in Form 28J;
(c) under section 6(6) or 8 of the Act must be in
Form 28K.
28.10 Warrant of commitment
A warrant of commitment under section 19 of the
Act must be in Form 28L.
28.11 Payments to be made to registrar
Payments under section 19(3) of the Act must be
made to the proper officer.
28.12 Certificate of discharge
A certificate under section 19(3) of the Act must
be in Form 28M.
28.13 Service and notification
(1) A summons required to be served under the Act or
this Order must be served personally.
(2) If any notice is required to be given or any
document required to be served under this Order,
it shall be sufficient to serve the notice or
document by post.
28.14 Adjournment
The proper officer may at any time adjourn an
application or proceeding as he or she thinks fit.
r. 28.08
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ORDER 28A
PARTICULAR PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE BUILDING AND
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY SECURITY OF PAYMENT
ACT 2002
28A.01 Definitions
In this Order—
adjudication certificate has the same meaning as
in section 4 of the Act;
authorised nominating authority has the same
meaning as in section 4 of the Act;
claimant has the same meaning as in section 4 of
the Act;
principal has the same meaning as in section 4 of
the Act;
the Act means the Building and Construction
Industry Security of Payment Act 2002.
28A.02 Commencement of proceeding under section 28R of
the Act
A proceeding under section 28R of the Act may
be commenced by a person, who has been
provided with an adjudication certificate by an
authorised nominating authority, applying to the
Court by filing in the Court the certificate and
affidavit that are required to be filed under
section 28R of the Act.
28A.03 Power of registrar to make order in proceedings
under section 28R of the Act
In any proceeding commenced under
Rule 28A.02, the registrar may make an order that
the respondent pay the person applying under that
Rule the unpaid amount if the registrar is satisfied
that—
r. 28A.01
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(a) the adjudication certificate has been provided
by the authorised nominating authority; and
(b) an amount payable under section 28M
or 28N of the Act has not been paid.
28A.04 Setting aside an order
Order 30, with any necessary modifications,
applies to making an application to set aside an
order in any proceeding under section 28R of the
Act.
28A.05 Certification of debt by Court
(1) For the purposes of section 33 of the Act the court
may be constituted by a registrar.
(2) An application for an order under section 33(1) of
the Act may be made in writing and Order 20 does
not apply to any such application.
28A.06 Application for stay of payments
(1) For the purposes of section 37(1) of the Act, an
application by a principal for a stay of payments
under that section must be made in the proceeding
in which the claimant has obtained an order for
the adjudicated amount or part of the adjudicated
amount as referred to in section 30(c) of the Act.
(2) Order 20, with any necessary modification,
applies to an application under section 37(1) of
the Act.
ORDER 29
VENUE AND TRANSFER OF PROCEEDINGS
29.01 Venue of Court
(1) A civil proceeding must be issued from the proper
venue of the Court.
r. 28A.04
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(2) Subject to paragraph (3), if—
(a) the defendant objects that the venue from
which process is issued is not the proper
venue of the Court; and
(b) the Court is satisfied, having regard to the
convenience of the parties, that the
proceeding should be transferred—
the Court may adjourn the proceeding to another
venue of the Court.
(3) If the defendant objects that the venue from which
process is issued is not the proper venue of the
Court the defendant must give notice of the
objection to the plaintiff not more than 3 days
after giving notice of defence.
(4) Notwithstanding that a proceeding is issued from
a venue of the Court which is not the proper venue
within paragraph (1), the Court may proceed to
hear and determine the proceeding at the venue
from which the proceeding was issued or at any
other venue as the Court thinks fit.
(5) A proceeding is not void or in any other way
affected by reason only that the proceeding was
filed at or was heard and determined at a venue of
the Court other than the proper venue within
paragraph (1).
(6) Notwithstanding anything in these Rules, the
Court may on its own motion order the transfer of
a proceeding from venue to venue of the Court.
29.02 Transfer of proceeding to the Court
(1) Where the Supreme Court or the County Court
orders that a proceeding be heard in the
Magistrates' Court, the party who applied for the
order shall file with the registrar at the appropriate
venue of the Court within 14 days of
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authentication of the order by the transferring
court—
(a) a copy of the order; and
(b) a statement of the names and addresses of all
the parties to the proceeding and their legal
practitioners.
(1.1) For the purposes of paragraph (1), appropriate
venue means the venue of the Court which would
have been the proper venue if the proceeding had
been commenced in the Magistrates' Court.
(2) If no statement of claim or particulars of claim
have been filed in the other court, the plaintiff
must file a concise statement of the particulars of
the plaintiff's claim and must serve a copy on all
parties within seven days after filing the
statement.
(3) If in these Rules a time is prescribed for the doing
of any act by reference to the date of filing notice
of defence, the time for the doing of that act shall
be determined by reference to the date on which
the order for transfer was made.
ORDER 30
RE-HEARING
30.01 Application for re-hearing
(1) An application under section 110 of the Act must
be filed.
(2) At least 14 days before the day specified in the
application, a copy of the application and of any
affidavit in support upon which the applicant
intends to rely must be served on the other party
or parties at the address for service in the
complaint or notice of defence (as the case may
be) unless the Court otherwise orders.
r. 30.01
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(3) If an application is struck out because the
applicant failed to appear at the time fixed for
hearing of the application, a further application for
re-hearing is taken to be an application for leave
to re-apply under section 110(5) of the Act.
30.02 Form of application
(1) An application under Rule 30.01 must state—
(a) why the applicant did not appear on the
hearing of the complaint; and
(b) if applicable, why notice of defence was not
given.
(2) An application under Rule 30.01 must be in
Form 30A.
30.03 Re-hearing date
If the Court sets aside an order the complaint must
be re-heard on a date fixed by the registrar.
ORDER 31
SECURITY FOR COSTS
31.01 Definitions
In this Order, unless the context or subject-matter
otherwise requires—
defence includes defence to counterclaim and
defence to statement of third party claim;
defendant includes any person against whom a
claim is made in a proceeding;
plaintiff includes any person who makes a claim
in a proceeding.
r. 30.02
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31.02 When security for costs may be ordered
Where—
(a) the plaintiff is ordinarily resident out of
Victoria;
(b) the plaintiff is a corporation or (not being a
plaintiff who sues in a representative
capacity) sues, not for the plaintiff's own
benefit, but for the benefit of some other
person, and there is reason to believe that the
plaintiff has insufficient assets in Victoria to
pay the costs of the defendant if ordered to
do so;
(c) a proceeding by the plaintiff in another court
for the same claim against the same
defendant is pending;
(d) the plaintiff has changed address after the
commencement of the proceeding in order to
avoid the consequences of the proceeding;
(e) under any Act or the Companies Code the
Court may require security for costs—
the Court may, on the application of a defendant,
order that the plaintiff give security for the costs
of the defendant of the proceeding and that the
proceeding as against the defendant be stayed
until the security is given.
31.03 Manner of giving security
Where an order is made requiring the plaintiff to
give security for costs, security shall be given in
the manner and at the time the Court directs.
31.04 Failure to give security
Where a plaintiff fails to give the security required
by an order, the Court may dismiss the plaintiff's
claim.
r. 31.02
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31.05 Variation or setting aside
The Court may set aside or vary any order
requiring a plaintiff to give security for costs.
31.06 Payment by way of irrevocable guarantee
If the Court makes an order requiring a plaintiff to
pay money into Court as security for costs, it is
sufficient compliance, subject to Rule 31.03, if the
plaintiff files an irrevocable guarantee given by a
bank to pay that sum.
31.07 Requirements of guarantee
An irrevocable guarantee given by a bank must
be—
(a) given by a bank approved by the Principal
Registrar; and
(b) sealed by the bank or signed by an officer of
the bank who has written authority from the
bank to sign such a guarantee on behalf of
the bank; and
(c) in Form 31A.
31.08 Liability of bank
(1) A bank guarantee which is filed pursuant to an
order under Rule 31.06 may not be amended or
revoked without the leave of the Court.
(2) Unless the Court otherwise orders, a bank which
has given a guarantee may discharge its liability
under the guarantee only—
(a) by payment into Court of the total sum
guaranteed; and
(b) by filing a Notice of Discharge and Payment
into Court in Form 31B.
r. 31.05
-- 189 of 324 --
Order 32
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ORDER 32
PERSON UNDER DISABILITY
32.01 Litigation guardian of minor
(1) Except where otherwise provided by or under any
Act, a minor shall file a complaint by his or her
litigation guardian.
(2) A litigation guardian shall file a consent so to act
in the Court at the same time as the complaint.
(3) A litigation guardian under this Rule shall be
liable for costs in the same manner and to the
same extent as if the litigation guardian were the
plaintiff.
(4) A complaint filed by a litigation guardian must
state that the proceeding is taken by the litigation
guardian on behalf of the minor.
(5) A consent to act as a litigation guardian under this
Rule must be in Form 32A.
32.02 Person with a disability
(1) In this Order—
person with a disability means a person with a
disability within the meaning of the
Guardianship and Administration Act
1986.
(2) If a person is authorised by or under any Act to
conduct legal proceedings in the name of or on
behalf of a person with a disability, that person
shall, unless the Court otherwise orders, be
entitled to be litigation guardian of the person
with a disability in any proceeding to which that
person's authority extends.
(3) Subject to any Act, if there is no person authorised
to conduct legal proceedings in the name of or on
behalf of a person with a disability—
r. 32.01
-- 190 of 324 --
Order 32
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(a) a person may file a consent to act as a
litigation guardian on behalf of the person
with a disability and thereafter he or she
shall be the appointed litigation guardian of
that person; or
(b) the Court may appoint a litigation
guardian—
and Rules 32.01(2) to (5) shall apply to such
appointment.
32.03 Litigation guardian of defendant
(1) In this Rule—
defendant includes any party against whom relief
is claimed in a proceeding.
(2) If a minor or person with a disability is a
defendant, Rules 32.01 and 32.02 apply with any
necessary modification except that a litigation
guardian for a defendant shall not, unless the
Court otherwise orders, be responsible for costs.
32.04 Power of litigation guardian
A litigation guardian under this Order may take
any step or do any act in a proceeding that is
required or permitted to be done by a party.
32.05 Compromise of claim by minor or a person with a
disability
(1) If in a proceeding a claim is made by or on behalf
of or against a minor or a person with a disability,
no compromise, payment of money or acceptance
of an offer of compromise under Order 15,
whenever entered into or made, shall so far as it
relates to that claim be valid without the approval
of the Court.
r. 32.03
-- 191 of 324 --
Order 32
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(2) Application for approval must be made by
application under Order 20 filed not later than
30 days after the compromise, payment or
acceptance.
(2.1) A copy of an affidavit in support of the
application need not be served.
(3) If application for approval is made at the hearing
of a proceeding, the Court may dispense with the
requirement of paragraph (2).
(4) On the application, evidence must be given of the
date of the compromise, payment or acceptance
and the date of birth of the minor or person with a
disability, and those dates must be stated in any
order approving the compromise, payment or
acceptance.
(5) Where the acceptance of an offer of compromise
is approved, the minor or person with a disability
shall be taken to have made or accepted the offer
at the time of the approval.
32.06 Money to be paid into court
(1) All money or damages received by or awarded to
a minor or person with a disability by settlement
or compromise must, unless the Court otherwise
orders, be paid into court without delay after
approval by the Court of the compromise,
payment or acceptance.
(2) Money held in court on behalf of a minor or a
person with a disability may be paid out of court
from time to time to any person by order of the
Court.
(3) Nothing in this Order affects the lien of a solicitor
for costs.
r. 32.06
-- 192 of 324 --
Order 33
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32.07 Investment of money
Money held in court on behalf of a minor or a
person with a disability must be invested—
(a) on deposit with a bank approved by the
Principal Registrar; or
(b) in any manner in which trust money may be
invested by a trustee under the Trustee Act
1958.
ORDER 33
REGISTRARS
33.01 Reference to a magistrate
If on an application to a registrar under the Act or
these Rules, the registrar considers that it is proper
that the application be determined by a magistrate,
the registrar may refer the application to a
magistrate.
33.02 Appeal from registrar
(1) Any person affected by any order made by a
registrar may appeal to a magistrate.
(1.1) An appeal must be commenced within 14 days
after the day the registrar made the order.
(2) An appeal may be made by application in
accordance with Order 20.
(3) An appeal is a re-hearing of the application to the
registrar.
(4) Unless a magistrate otherwise orders, an appeal
does not operate as a stay on the order of the
registrar.
(5) This Rule does not apply to an order in default of
defence made by a registrar under Order 10.
r. 32.07
-- 193 of 324 --
Order 34
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ORDER 34
APPEALS
34.01 Application of order
Where by or under any Act a person (in this Order
called the appellant) may appeal to a Magistrate
or to the Magistrates' Court, this Order applies.
34.02 Notice of appeal
(1) Except as provided by any Act, an appeal must be
commenced by filing a notice of appeal at the
proper venue of the Court.
(2) The notice of appeal must—
(a) be in Form 34A; and
(b) must set out—
(i) the order or decision of the person from
whom or the body from which the
appeal is brought (in this order called
the respondent); and
(ii) concisely the grounds of appeal.
(3) As soon as practicable after filing the notice of
appeal the appellant must serve a copy on the
respondent.
34.03 Amendment of grounds
The Magistrates' Court or a Magistrate may give
leave to amend the grounds of appeal.
34.04 Affidavit
Within 14 days after filing the notice of appeal the
appellant must file in the Court and serve on the
respondent an affidavit setting out the facts,
matters and circumstances relating to—
r. 34.01
-- 194 of 324 --
Order 35
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(a) the order or decision appealed against; and
(b) the grounds of appeal.
34.05 Date for hearing
At the time of filing the notice of appeal the
registrar must fix a date for the hearing of the
appeal.
ORDER 35
MISCELLANEOUS RULES
35.01 Civil registry courts
The civil registry courts are those venues of the
Court listed in Appendix B to these Rules.
35.01.1 Jurisdiction of Neighbourhood Justice Division
For the purposes of section 4O(3)(d) of the Act,
with respect to the civil jurisdiction of the Court,
the following are specified—
(a) a proceeding under the Fences Act 1968;
and
(b) a proceeding under the Family Law Act 1975
of the Commonwealth in which the Court
has federal jurisdiction under section 39(6)
or 69J of that Act.
35.02 General power of amendment
For the purpose of determining the real question
in issue between the parties to any proceeding, or
of correcting any defect or error in any
proceeding, or of avoiding multiplicity of
proceedings, the Court may at any stage order that
any document (including a complaint) in a
proceeding be amended or that any party have
leave to amend any document in the proceeding.
r. 34.05
-- 195 of 324 --
Order 35
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35.02.1 Registrar's power of amendment
(1) At the request of a party made before service of a
complaint, the registrar may amend the complaint.
(2) The registrar must record on the complaint the
date of any amendment.
35.03 Directions
At any stage of a proceeding the Court may give
any direction for the conduct of the proceeding
which it thinks conducive to its effective,
complete, prompt and economical determination.
35.04 Injunctions
The Court may grant an injunction at any stage of
a proceeding or, in the circumstances referred to
in Rule 4.08, before the commencement of a
proceeding.
35.05 Preservation of property
(1) In any proceeding, the Court may make an order
for the inspection, detention or preservation of any
property whether or not in the possession, custody
or power of a party.
(2) An order under paragraph (1) may authorise any
person to—
(a) enter any land or do any other thing for the
purpose of obtaining access to the property;
(b) take samples of the property;
(c) make observations (including the
photographing) of the property;
(d) conduct any experiment on or with the
property;
(e) observe any process.
r. 35.02.1
-- 196 of 324 --
Order 35
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(3) If the Court makes an order under paragraph (1)
the Court may make an order for the costs and
expenses of any person who is not a party to the
proceeding.
(4) The Court may make an order under this Rule on
condition that the person applying for the order
gives security for the costs and expenses of any
person, whether or not a party, who will be
affected by the order.
35.06 Practice notes
The Chief Magistrate may from time to time issue
practice directions or notes not inconsistent with
the Act or these Rules.
__________________
r. 35.06
-- 197 of 324 --
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FORMS
RULE 1.18 FORM 1A
ELECTRONIC LODGMENT AUTHORISATION
This is to certify that
[name of authorised user]
is authorised to file documents in the Magistrates' Court of Victoria by
lodging electronic messages with the Court.
Dated:
Chief Magistrate
_______________
Form 1A
-- 198 of 324 --
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RULE 4.02.3(1) FORM 4A
COMPLAINT
IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURT Court Number
OF VICTORIA
AT
BETWEEN A.B. Plaintiff
(full name)
OF
(address)
and
C.D. Defendant
(full name)
OF
(address of defendant)
1. The address for service of the plaintiff is—(address must be within
Victoria if the plaintiff sues in person)
*2. Name and address of solicitor for the plaintiff—
*3. The plaintiff sues (or the defendant is sued) in the following
representative capacity (e.g. as administrator of the estate of ).
STATEMENT OF CLAIM
1. (Here set out in numbered consecutive paragraphs all the material facts
relied on for the claim against the defendant including particulars of
every fact or matter.
If the claim arises by or under any Act, identify the specific provision
relied on. State specifically the amount or other relief or remedy
sought. State the place where and the date when the claim arose.
If the claim arises out of a motor vehicle collision and the claim
includes a claim for the cost of repairs to the vehicle or total loss of the
vehicle, an itemised quotation of the cost of the repairs or an
assessment of the loss (whichever is relevant) must be attached to this
complaint).
2. (etc.)
Form 4A
-- 199 of 324 --
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TO THE DEFENDANT
TAKE NOTICE that this complaint has been brought against you by the
plaintiff as set out in the statement of claim.
IF YOU INTEND TO DEFEND this complaint, YOU MUST GIVE
NOTICE OF DEFENCE, within 21 days of service upon you of this
complaint, to—
(a) the plaintiff ; and
(b) the registrar of the Magistrates' Court of Victoria at (insert proper
venue)
IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF DEFENCE, the Court will write to you and tell
you of the hearing date.
IF YOU DO NOT GIVE NOTICE OF DEFENCE WITHIN 21 DAYS OF
SERVICE, the plaintiff may OBTAIN AN ORDER AGAINST YOU for the
amount of the claim and costs without further notice.
IF YOU PAY the amount of $ and costs of $ to the plaintiff
or the plaintiff's solicitor without giving notice of defence you may avoid
further costs.
DATE OF FILING:
THIS COMPLAINT IS VALID IF IT BEARS THE ALLOCATED COURT
NUMBER AND THE DATE OF FILING
Dated: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
[To be signed by the Plaintiff
or the Plaintiff's Solicitor]
* Delete if not applicable.
_______________
Form 4A
-- 200 of 324 --
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RULE 5.11 FORM 5A
AFFIDAVIT/DECLARATION OF SERVICE
[heading as in Form 4A]
I, [full name], [occupation] of [address], *make oath and say/declare that I
served a copy of the [document] *together with two notices of defence on
[name of person served] by:
*leaving it with *him/her personally at [address]
*delivering it to *his/her place of residence to [name] a person apparently
above the age of 16 years and residing there at [address]
*delivering it to *his/her place of business at [address] to [name] a person
apparently above the age of 16 years and apparently in charge of that
business or employed in the office of that business
*posting it by prepaid ordinary post at [address] in an envelope addressed to
*him/her at *his/her address for service at [address] *leaving it at *sending it
by post to the registered office of the corporation at [address]
on [day of week], the day of
20 at
*a.m./p.m.
*I acknowledge that this declaration is true and correct and I make it in the
belief that a person making a false declaration is liable to the penalties of
perjury.
*Sworn/Declared at
[place]
in the State of Victoria
on [date]
Before
⎫
⎪
⎬
⎪
⎭
[Signed by person]
*authorised under section 107A(1) of the Evidence Act 1958 to witness the
signing of a statutory declaration.
*authorised under section 123C(1) of the Evidence Act 1958 to take an
affidavit.
[Name and address in legible writing, typing or stamp]
* Delete if not applicable.
_______________
Form 5A
-- 201 of 324 --
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RULE 5A.02(2) FORM 5AB
COMPLAINT
(for service out of Australia)
IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURT Court Number
OF VICTORIA
AT
BETWEEN A.B. Plaintiff
and
C.D. Defendant
OF (ADDRESS)
NATURE OF COMPLAINT (STATE SHORTLY)
STATE THE FACTS AND PARTICULAR PARAGRAPH OF
RULE 5A.01(1) BEING RELIED ON TO SUPPORT SERVICE OUT OF
AUSTRALIA—
AMOUNT OF CLAIM
TO THE DEFENDANT
TAKE NOTICE that this complaint has been brought against you by the
plaintiff for the claim set out in the pages attached.
IF YOU INTEND TO DEFEND this complaint, YOU MUST GIVE
NOTICE OF DEFENCE, within 42 days of service upon you of this
complaint, to—
(a) the plaintiff whose address for service is
and
(b) the registrar of the Magistrates' Court of Victoria at
IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF DEFENCE THE ADDRESS FOR SERVICE
OF THE DEFENDANT MUST BE IN VICTORIA; and
THE COURT will write to you and tell you of the hearing date.
IF YOU DO NOT GIVE NOTICE OF DEFENCE WITHIN 42 DAYS OF
SERVICE, the plaintiff may OBTAIN AN ORDER AGAINST YOU for the
amount of the claim and costs without further notice.
IF YOU PAY the amount of $ and costs of $ to the plaintiff
or the plaintiff's solicitor without giving notice of defence you may avoid
further costs.
Form 5AB
-- 202 of 324 --
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DATE OF FILING:
THIS COMPLAINT IS VALID IF IT BEARS THE ALLOCATED COURT
NUMBER AND THE DATE OF FILING
[next page]
Form 5AB
-- 203 of 324 --
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TO THE PLAINTIFF If your claim arises from a motor vehicle collision,
complete Part A.
If your claim does not arise from a motor vehicle collision complete Part B.
If your claim combines Part A and Part B, complete the appropriate parts.
PART A
(CLAIM ARISING FROM A MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION
INCLUDING PERSONAL INJURY)
WHAT IS THE NATURE OF YOUR CLAIM? (e.g. cost of repairs to motor
vehicle; cost of repairs to damaged fence.)
WHERE DID YOUR CLAIM ARISE? [Give the location of any collision,
including a Melway reference if possible, and in the space below draw a
sketch plan of the collision with names of roads, etc. Identify your vehicle as
"1", the vehicle driven by the defendant as "2" and any other vehicles
involved as "3", "4", "5", etc.]
WHEN DID YOUR CLAIM ARISE?
HOW DID THE COLLISION HAPPEN? [You must set out here in as much
detail as you can how the collision happened and why you believe the
defendant is at fault. If the space is insufficient you may attach other sheets.]
HOW MUCH ARE YOU CLAIMING?
Dated: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
[To be signed by the Plaintiff
or the Plaintiff's Solicitor]
[next page]
Form 5AB
-- 204 of 324 --
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PART B
(ANY CLAIM NOT ARISING FROM A MOTOR VEHICLE
COLLISION)
WHAT IS THE NATURE OF YOUR CLAIM? (e.g. work done; money
owed; goods or services supplied; personal injury other than that arising from
a motor vehicle collision; application to fence; injunction.)
WHERE DID YOUR CLAIM ARISE?
WHEN DID YOUR CLAIM ARISE?
PARTICULARS OF THE CLAIM:
[You must set out here in as much detail as you can the substance of your
claim. If the space is insufficient you may add other sheets.]
HOW MUCH MONEY (IF ANY) ARE YOU CLAIMING?
WHAT OTHER RELIEF OR REMEDY (IF ANY) ARE YOU CLAIMING?
Dated: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
[To be signed by the Plaintiff
or the Plaintiff's Solicitor]
_______________
Form 5AB
-- 205 of 324 --
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RULE 7.02(1) FORM 7A
COUNTERCLAIM
NAME AND ADDRESS of solicitor for the defendant—
[If no solicitor] Address for service of the defendant—
STATEMENT OF COUNTERCLAIM
1. (Here set out in numbered consecutive paragraphs all the material facts
relied on for the counterclaim against the plaintiff including particulars
of every fact or matter.
If the counterclaim arises by or under any Act, identify the specific
provision relied on. State specifically the amount or other relief or
remedy sought. State the place where and the date when the claim
arose.
If the counterclaim arises out of a motor vehicle collision and includes a
claim for the cost of repairs to the vehicle or total loss of the vehicle, an
itemised quotation of the cost or the repairs or an assessment of the loss
(whichever is relevant) must be attached to this counterclaim).
2. (etc.)
TO THE PLAINTIFF
TAKE NOTICE that this counterclaim has been brought against you by the
defendant as set out in the statement of counterclaim.
IF YOU INTEND TO DEFEND this counterclaim, YOU MUST GIVE
NOTICE OF DEFENCE, within 21 days of service upon you of this
counterclaim, to—
(a) the defendant; and
(b) the registrar of the Magistrates' Court of Victoria at (insert proper
venue).
IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF DEFENCE, the Court will write to you and tell
you of the hearing date.
IF YOU DO NOT GIVE NOTICE OF DEFENCE WITHIN 21 DAYS OF
SERVICE, the defendant may OBTAIN AN ORDER AGAINST YOU for
the amount of the counterclaim and costs without further notice.
Form 7A
-- 206 of 324 --
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DATE OF FILING:
THIS COUNTERCLAIM IS VALID IF IT BEARS THE ALLOCATED
COURT NUMBER AND THE DATE OF FILING
Dated: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
[To be signed by the defendant
or the defendant's solicitor]
* Delete if not applicable.
__________________
Form 7A
-- 207 of 324 --
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RULE 7.02(1) FORM 7AB
COUNTERCLAIM
NAME AND ADDRESS of solicitor for the defendant—
[If no solicitor] Address for service of the defendant—
STATEMENT OF COUNTERCLAIM
1. (Here set out in numbered consecutive paragraphs all the material facts
relied on for the counterclaim against the plaintiff including particulars
of every fact or matter.
If the counterclaim arises by or under any Act, identify the specific
provision relied on. State specifically the amount or other relief or
remedy sought. State the place where and the date when the claim
arose.
If the counterclaim arises out of a motor vehicle collision and includes a
claim for the cost of repairs to the vehicle or total loss of the vehicle, an
itemised quotation of the cost or the repairs or an assessment of the loss
(whichever is relevant) must be attached to this counterclaim).
2. (etc.)
TO THE PLAINTIFF
TAKE NOTICE that this counterclaim has been brought against you by the
defendant as set out in the statement of counterclaim.
IF YOU INTEND TO DEFEND this counterclaim, YOU MUST GIVE
NOTICE OF DEFENCE, within 42 days of service upon you of this
counterclaim, to—
(a) the defendant ; and
(b) the registrar of the Magistrates' Court of Victoria at (insert proper
venue).
IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF DEFENCE THE ADDRESS FOR
SERVICE OF THE DEFENDANT MUST BE IN VICTORIA; and
THE COURT will write to you and tell you of the hearing date.
IF YOU DO NOT GIVE NOTICE OF DEFENCE WITHIN 42 DAYS OF
SERVICE, the defendant may OBTAIN AN ORDER AGAINST YOU for
the amount of the counterclaim and costs without further notice.
Form 7AB
-- 208 of 324 --
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DATE OF FILING:
THIS COUNTERCLAIM IS VALID IF IT BEARS THE ALLOCATED
COURT NUMBER AND THE DATE OF FILING
Dated: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
[To be signed by the defendant
or the defendant's solicitor]
* Delete if not applicable.
_______________
Form 7AB
-- 209 of 324 --
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RULE 8.01 FORM 8A
THIRD PARTY NOTICE
IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURT 20 No.
OF VICTORIA
AT
BETWEEN A.B. Plaintiff
and
C.D. Defendant
and
E.F. Third Party
To E.F.
of [address]
TAKE NOTICE that the plaintiff has brought this proceeding against the
defendant for the claim set out in the complaint served herewith.
AND TAKE NOTICE that the defendant disputes the plaintiff's claim on the
grounds set out in the Notice of Defence served herewith, and claims to be
entitled to relief against you on the grounds set out in the particulars of claim
indorsed on this notice.
FILED: [e.g. 5 September, 20 ].
Registrar
1. This notice was filed—
* by the defendant in person
* for the defendant by [name or firm of solicitor], solicitor(s), of
[business address of solicitor].
2. The address of the defendant is—
3. The address for service of the defendant is—[If the defendant sues by
a solicitor, the business address of the solicitor. If the defendant
sues in person, the address in 2.]
4. The claim between the plaintiff and the defendant has been set down
for hearing on [insert date of hearing, if known].
* Delete if inapplicable.
Form 8A
-- 210 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
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[next page]
Particulars of Claim
[set out particulars of claim]
_______________
Form 8A
-- 211 of 324 --
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RULE 8.09 FORM 8B
NOTICE CLAIMING CONTRIBUTION
[heading as in Form 4A]
TO THE DEFENDANT
TAKE NOTICE that the plaintiff has brought this proceeding against the
defendants to recover damages for loss sustained [give brief statement of
plaintiff's claim].
AND TAKE NOTICE that the [identify party] claims to be entitled to
contribution from you in respect of any sum which the plaintiff may recover
against that party in the proceeding [where appropriate to the extent of such
amount as may be found by the Court to be just and equitable, having regard
to your responsibility for such damages on the ground that [insert
ground(s)]].
FILED: [e.g. 5 September, 20 ].
Registrar
_______________
Form 8B
-- 212 of 324 --
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RULE 9.01(2) FORM 9A
NOTICE OF DEFENCE
TO THE PLAINTIFF
AND TO THE REGISTRAR OF THE MAGISTRATES' COURT AT
TAKE NOTICE that the defendant intends to defend this complaint.
AND TAKE NOTICE that the defendant's defence is as follows [set out the
defence of the defendant in paragraphs numbered consecutively with each
fact or matter stated so far as practicable in a separate paragraph].
1.
2. etc.
Notes
1. A defence must state which of the facts in the statement of claim are
admitted, denied or not admitted—see Rule 9.02(1).
2. A defendant who in the defence does not state whether a fact stated in
the statement of claim is admitted, denied, or not admitted, will be taken
to admit the fact—see Rule 9.02(2).
3. A defendant who states that a fact stated in the statement of claim is
denied must—
(a) give the reason for denying the fact; and
(b) if the defendant intends to prove a fact different from that stated in
the statement of claim, state with necessary particulars the fact that
the defendant intends to prove—see Rule 9.02(3).
4. Save with the leave of the Court, a defendant who states that a fact
stated in the statement of claim is not admitted must not except in
cross-examination adduce any evidence with respect to that fact at the
hearing of the proceeding—see Rule 9.02(4).
5. The defendant must state specifically with particulars any fact or matter
which—
(a) makes the claim of the plaintiff not maintainable; or
(b) if not stated specifically, might take the plaintiff by surprise; or
(c) raise questions of fact not arising out of the statement of claim—
see Rule 9.02(5).
Form 9A
-- 213 of 324 --
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6. If the defence arises by or under any Act, the defence must identify the
specific provision relied on—see Rule 9.02(6).
FILED: [e.g. 5 September, 20 ].
* Defendant
[signed]
* Defendant's solicitor
[signed]
1. This notice was signed—
* by the defendant in person;
* for the defendant corporation by [name of person] of [address]
who holds the position of [director, secretary or other person
authorised in writing by the defendant corporation];
* for the defendant by [name or firm of solicitor], solicitor(s), of
[business address of solicitor].
2. The address of the defendant is—
3. The address for service of the defendant is—[If the defendant defends
by a solicitor, the business address of the solicitor. If the defendant
defends in person, the address in 2].
* Delete if inapplicable.
_______________
Form 9A
-- 214 of 324 --
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RULE 9.09 FORM 9B
NOTICE OF REQUEST PURSUANT TO SECTION 45(1)(b) OF THE
ACCIDENT COMPENSATION ACT 1985
[heading as in Form 4A]
In the matter of the Accident Compensation Act 1985
Take notice that will request the Magistrates'
Court at on 20 at a.m./p.m. to
refer the following medical questions to a medical panel for an opinion—
(a)
(b)
(c)
Signed:
Dated:
_______________
Form 9B
-- 215 of 324 --
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RULE 10.01(2) FORM 10A
APPLICATION FOR ORDER
[heading as in Form 4A]
Nature of complaint [state shortly]
1. The plaintiff applies for an order for the claim with interest to the
date of the order and costs shown below.
2. The defendant has not given notice of defence to the plaintiff.
3. An affidavit/declaration of service of the complaint has been filed.
4. Details of the order sought are:
CLAIM
Claim $
Less amounts paid since claim $
$
INTEREST
Date of issue of complaint:
to , days @ % $
to , days @ % $
$
[Attach schedule where necessary]
COSTS
Professional costs $
Fee on complaint $
Fee on this application $
Service fee $
Attempted service fee(s)—total $
Distance fee $
Search fee $
Necessary affidavit(s) [specify] $
Other(s) [specify] $
Sub-total $
Less any costs paid $
$
Dated: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
[plaintiff or plaintiff's solicitor]
_______________
Form 10A
-- 216 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
199
RULE 10.04 FORM 10B
APPLICATION FOR AN ORDER FOR COSTS
[heading as in Form 4A]
Nature of complaint [state shortly]
1. The defendant applies for an order for costs against the plaintiff.
2. The complaint was dismissed on [insert date or date of non-
compliance].
3. Details of the order sought are:
COSTS
Instructions to defend $
Fee on this application $
Necessary affidavit(s) [specify] $
Other(s) [specify] $
Dated: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
[Defendant or defendant's solicitor]
_______________
Form 10B
-- 217 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
200
RULE 10.08(2) FORM 10C
APPLICATION FOR SUMMARY ORDER
[heading as in Form 4A]
NATURE OF COMPLAINT—[state shortly]
TO: The defendant.
1. The plaintiff applies for an order on the claim with interest to the date of
the order and costs on the grounds set out in the accompanying
affidavit(s).
2. UNLESS you satisfy the Court, by affidavit or otherwise, that you have
a good defence to the claim, or disclose facts deemed by the Court
sufficient to entitle you to defend the claim, the Court may make an
order in favour of the plaintiff for the amount of the claim, or part of the
claim.
3. The application will be heard by the Court at [venue] on [date].
FILED: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
Registrar
This application was filed by , solicitor for the
[identify party].
_______________
Form 10C
-- 218 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
201
RULE 10.19(2) FORM 10D
APPLICATION FOR *SETTING ASIDE/*VARIATION OF
SUMMARY ORDER
[heading as in Form 4A]
NATURE OF COMPLAINT—[state shortly]
To: [identify party/parties]
1. The [identify party] applies for an order *setting aside/*varying the
order of the Court dated [date of order].
2. Details of the order referred to in paragraph 1 are—[set out details of
order].
3. The grounds for this application are set out in the accompanying
affidavit(s).
4. The application will be heard by the Court at [venue] on [date].
FILED: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
Registrar
This application was filed by , solicitor for the
[identify party].
* Delete if not applicable.
_______________
RULE 11.02 FORM 11A
NOTICE FOR DISCOVERY
[heading as in Form 4A]
To the [identify party].
YOU are required to make discovery of documents within 28 days after
service of this notice on you.
Dated: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
[Signed]
_______________
Form 10D
-- 219 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
202
RULE 11.04 FORM 11B
AFFIDAVIT OF DOCUMENTS
[heading as in Form 4A]
I, the abovenamed [party], make oath and say as follows—
1. I have in my possession, custody or power, the documents relating to
the questions in this proceeding enumerated in Schedule 1.
2. The documents enumerated in Part 2 of Schedule 1 are privileged, and
I object to producing them. The documents are privileged on the
ground—
[e.g. (a) as to documents numbered 4–6, that (grounds of privilege);
(b) as to documents numbered 7–9, that (grounds of privilege).]
3. I have had, but no longer have, in my possession, custody or power, the
documents relating to the questions in the proceeding enumerated in
Schedule 2.
4. (a) Document numbered [e.g. 10], referred to in Schedule 2, was last
in my possession, custody or power on [state when] and I believe
that [state belief as to what has become of it].
5. To the best of my knowledge, information and belief neither I nor my
solicitor nor any other person on my behalf has now, or ever had, in
my or his, her or its possession, custody or power, any document
relating to any question in the proceeding, other than the documents
enumerated in Schedules 1 and 2.
[Describe each document in the Schedules as original or copy]
SCHEDULE 1
PART 1
1.
2.
3.
PART 2
4.
5.
6.
Form 11B
-- 220 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
203
SCHEDULE 2
7.
Sworn, [etc.]
_______________
Form 11B
-- 221 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
204
RULE 11.06 FORM 11C
NOTICE TO PRODUCE
[heading as in Form 4A]
To the [identify party].
TAKE NOTICE that the [party] requires you to produce for the inspection of
the [party] the following documents referred to in your [complaint, defence,
affidavit, etc.].
[describe documents required].
Dated: [e.g. 5 September, 20 ].
[Signed]
NOTE: Within 7 days of service of this notice you must serve on the [party]
a notice appointing a time within a further 7 days and a place where the
documents may be inspected.
_______________
Form 11C
-- 222 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
205
RULE 14.03
14.04
FORM 14A
NOTICE TO ADMIT
[heading as in Form 4A]
To the [identify party]
TAKE NOTICE that if you do not, within [specify a number not less than 14]
days after service of this notice on you, serve a notice on the [party]
disputing any fact specified [or the authenticity of any document mentioned]
below, that fact [or the authenticity of that document] shall, for the purpose
of this proceeding only, be taken to be admitted by you in favour of the
[party]. If you do serve a notice disputing that fact [or the authenticity of the
document], and afterwards that fact [or the authenticity of the document] is
proved, you must pay the costs of proof, unless the Court otherwise orders.
1. [specify each fact]
or
2. [mention each document]
Dated: [e.g. 5 September, 20 ].
[Signed]
_______________
Form 14A
-- 223 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
206
RULE 14.03
14.04
FORM 14B
NOTICE OF DISPUTE
[heading as in Form 4A]
To the [identify party]
The [party] disputes the following facts specified in the [party]'s notice dated
[e.g. 5 September 20 ].
1.
[identify each document]
2.
or
The [party] disputes the authenticity of the following documents mentioned
in the [party]'s notice dated [e.g. 5 September, 20 ].
1.
[identify document]
2.
Dated: [e.g. 5 September, 20 ].
[Signed]
_______________
Form 14B
-- 224 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
207
RULE 16A.02 FORM 16AA
NOTICE OF APPLICATION UNDER SECTION 42E(1) OF THE
EVIDENCE ACT 1958
[heading as in Form 4A]
PART 1—PARTICULARS OF APPLICATION
I, [name of applicant]
of [address of applicant or firm of solicitor for applicant]
hereby request an *audio visual/*audio link in accordance with the following
details—
1. *Audio visual/*Audio link—
From [originating city/town]
To [receiving city/town]
2. Type of hearing—[e.g. *Hearing/*Contest Mention/*Other]
3. Number of persons to appear before, or give evidence by *audio
visual/*audio link—
4. Suggested time (if any) for link—
5. Estimate of duration of link—
6. Is this application being made with the consent of the parties to the
proceeding?—
7. If the answer to question 6 is No, what parties have not given
consent?—
8. If a hearing date has been fixed, what is the date of the hearing?—
I hereby undertake to pay, in the first instance, the appropriate amount
prescribed by the regulations under section 42H(1) of the Act.
Date—
[Signature]
Form 16AA
-- 225 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
208
PART 2—PARTICULARS OF HEARING
(to be completed by the Registrar)
The applicant will be heard before the Magistrates' Court at
on [e.g. 20 June, 20 ] at a.m. [or p.m.] or so soon afterwards as the
business of the Court allows.
FILED [e.g. 15 June, 20 ].
* delete as appropriate
_______________
Form 16AA
-- 226 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
209
RULE 17.01 FORM 17A
WITNESS SUMMONS TO GIVE EVIDENCE
[heading as in Form 4A]
To [name]:
of [address]:
THE COURT ORDERS that you attend for the purpose of giving evidence—
(a) before the Court;
(b) at [address of Court];
(c) at 10.00 a.m. [or as the case requires] on [date] and until
you are excused from further attending.
FILED [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
Registrar
Filed by the [identify party]
NOTE that—
(1) if you do not comply with this summons you may be
arrested;
(2) any question concerning this summons should be addressed
not to the Court but to the solicitor for the party who filed
the summons.
_______________
Form 17A
-- 227 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
210
RULE 17.01 FORM 17B
WITNESS SUMMONS FOR PRODUCTION
(Note: Summons to a natural person)
[heading as in Form 4A]
To [name]:
of [address]:
THE COURT ORDERS that you attend and produce this summons and the
documents and things described in the Schedule—
(a) before the Court;
(b) at [address of Court];
(c) at 10.00 a.m. [or as the case requires] on [date] and until
you are excused from further attending.
Instead of so attending, you may produce this summons and the documents
and things described in the Schedule to the registrar of the Magistrates' Court
of Victoria at [venue] by hand or by post, in either case so that the registrar
receives them not later than 2 days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays or other
holidays) before the date on which you are required to attend.
SCHEDULE
[description of documents and things]
FILED: [e.g. 5 September, 20 ].
Registrar
Filed by the [identify party]
NOTE that—
(1) if you do not comply with this summons you may be
arrested;
(2) documents and things produced by you in accordance with
this summons may be returned by post to you at your
address shown on this summons but you may in writing on
or attached to this summons request that they be posted to
you at another address given by you or that you be informed
when they are available to be collected by you;
Form 17B
-- 228 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
211
(3) any question concerning this summons should be directed
not to the Court but to the solicitor for the party who filed
the summons.
_______________
Form 17B
-- 229 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
212
RULE 17.01 FORM 17C
WITNESS SUMMONS FOR PRODUCTION AND TO GIVE
EVIDENCE
[heading as in Form 4A]
To [name]:
of [address]:
THE COURT ORDERS that you attend and produce this summons and the
documents and things described in the Schedule and attend for the purpose of
giving evidence—
(a) before the Court;
(b) at [address of Court];
(c) at 10.00 a.m. [or as the case requires] on [date] and until
you are excused from further attending.
Instead of attending to produce the documents and things described in the
Schedule, you may produce them and this summons to the registrar of the
Magistrates' Court of Victoria at [venue] by hand or by post, in either case so
that the registrar receives them not later than 2 days (excluding Saturdays,
Sundays or other holidays) before the first date on which you are required to
attend. Note, however, that if you produce the documents and things to the
registrar you will still be required to give evidence as directed above.
SCHEDULE
[description of documents and things]
FILED: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
Registrar
Filed by the [identify party]
NOTE that—
(1) if you do not comply with this summons you may be
arrested;
(2) documents and things produced by you in accordance with
this summons may be returned by post to you at your
address shown on this summons but you may in writing on
or attached to this summons request that they be posted to
you at another address given by you or that you be informed
when they are available to be collected by you;
Form 17C
-- 230 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
213
(3) any question concerning this summons should be directed
not to the Court but to the solicitor for the party who filed
the summons.
_______________
Form 17C
-- 231 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
214
RULE 17.01 FORM 17D
WITNESS SUMMONS FOR PRODUCTION
(Summons to a corporation for production and for its proper officer to
answer questions concerning possession, etc. of documents and things)
[heading as in Form 4A]
To [name of corporation]:
of [address]:
THE COURT ORDERS that—
1. [name of corporation], called "the corporation", shall produce this
summons and the documents and things described in the Schedule by
causing its proper officer to attend and produce them—
(a) before the Court;
(b) at [address of Court];
(c) at 10.00 a.m. [or as the case requires] on [date] and until you are
excused from further attending.
Instead of so attending, the corporation may produce this summons
and the documents and things described in the Schedule to the
registrar of the Magistrates' Court of Victoria at [venue] by hand or by
post, in either case so that the registrar receives them not later than
2 days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays or other holidays) before the first
date on which the officer is required to attend.
2. The officer who is to attend must make enquiries for the purpose of
answering, and, on attending, must answer, such questions as the
Court requires the officer to answer concerning the possession or
custody of those documents and things.
SCHEDULE
[description of documents and things]
Registrar
Filed by the [identify party].
NOTE that—
(1) if the corporation fails to comply with this summons, the summons
may be enforced by arrest of an officer of the corporation;
Form 17D
-- 232 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
215
(2) documents and things produced by the corporation in accordance
with this summons may be returned by post to it at its address
shown on this summons but it may in writing on or attached to this
summons request that they be posted to it at another address given
by it or that it be informed when they are available to be collected
by it;
(3) any question concerning this summons should be directed not to the
Court but to the solicitor for the party who filed the summons.
_______________
Form 17D
-- 233 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
216
RULE 20.03 FORM 20A
APPLICATION
[heading as in Form 4A]
TO: [identify each party to whom application is addressed]
YOU are summoned to attend before the Court on the hearing of an
application by the [party] for [describe the order sought].
The application will be heard by the Court at [venue] at [time] on [date].
Registrar
FILED: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
This application was filed by , solicitor for [identify party].
_______________
RULE 20.08(1) FORM 20B
APPLICATION FOR APPOINTMENT OF NOMINAL DEFENDANT
[heading as in Form 4A]
TO: [Identify each party (if any) to whom application is addressed]
YOU are summoned to attend before the Court on the hearing of an
application by the [identify party]. The [identify party] applies to the Court
for an order to appoint a nominal defendant for the purposes of a claim for
compensation. The circumstances and grounds of the application are set out
in the accompanying affidavit.
FILED: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
This application was filed by , solicitor for the [identify party].
_______________
Form 20A
-- 234 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
217
RULE 20.08(3) FORM 20C
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF NOMINAL DEFENDANT
[heading as in Form 4A]
In the matter of the Workers Compensation Act 1958
TAKE NOTICE THAT:
At the request of [identify party] the Court has this day appointed [name of
nominal defendant] of [address] as a nominal defendant for the purposes of
these proceedings, *in place of an alleged employer—[name of alleged
employer]
*in the place of an employer who cannot be identified [or as the case
may be].
A copy of the application for appointment and the accompanying affidavit,
together with a copy of the originating process in these proceedings is
attached to this Notice.
The complaint is listed for [nature of hearing] by the Court at [venue] at
[time] on [date].
Dated 20 .
[Signature of party or
solicitor for party
who obtained order]
* Delete if inapplicable.
_______________
Form 20C
-- 235 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
218
RULE 22A.07 FORM 22AA
MEDIATION REPORT
DATE OF MEDIATION:
OUTCOME OF MEDIATION:
*NOT HELD
*Withdrawn prior to mediation; or
*No appearance of—
*Plaintiff
*Defendant
*Other (set out details)
or
*HELD
*1. Resolved—no orders required
*2. Resolved—orders will be sought
*3. Not resolved
APPEARANCES:
*Mr/Ms of Counsel/*Solicitor for Plaintiff.
*Instructed by *Mr/Ms Instructing Solicitor for Plaintiff.
*Mr/Ms of *Counsel/Solicitor for Defendant.
*Instructed by *Mr/Ms Instructing Solicitor for Defendant.
*Mr/Ms of Counsel/Solicitor for other party.
*Instructed by *Mr/Ms Instructing Solicitor for other party.
Form 22AA
-- 236 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
219
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY PARTIES
NUMBER OF WITNESSES:
Plaintiff:
Defendant:
*Other:
ESTIMATE OF DURATION OF FINAL HEARING:
Dated:
(Signed)
MEDIATOR
Note: The mediator must complete this report and give a copy to the Court
and to each of the parties within seven days of the date of conclusion
of a mediation.
* Delete if not applicable.
_______________
Form 22AA
-- 237 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
220
RULE 24.03 FORM 24A
COMPLAINT
(Instruments Act 1958)
[heading as in Form 4A]
TO THE DEFENDANT
TAKE NOTICE that this proceeding has been brought against you by the
plaintiff for the claim set out in this complaint.
IF YOU INTEND TO DEFEND the proceeding YOU MUST GIVE
NOTICE of your intention by first obtaining the leave of the Court to defend
the claim and then giving notice of defence.
IF YOU DO NOT OBTAIN THE LEAVE OF THE COURT TO DEFEND,
the plaintiff may OBTAIN AN ORDER AGAINST YOU on the claim
without further notice.
THE PROPER TIME FOR OBTAINING LEAVE TO DEFEND is as
follows—
(a) where you reside within 80 kilometres of the post office at the
corner of Bourke and Elizabeth Streets, Melbourne, within 16 days
of service;
(b) where you reside beyond that distance, within 21 days after service.
IF YOU PAY the amount of the claim, namely $ and $ for
legal costs to the plaintiff or to the plaintiff's solicitor within the proper time
stated above, this proceeding will come to an end. Notwithstanding the
payment you may have the costs fixed by the Court.
APPLICATION FOR LEAVE TO DEFEND must be made within the proper
time stated above to the Court at the venue of the Court at which this
complaint was filed.
THE COURT MAY GIVE LEAVE TO DEFEND if you—
(a) pay into Court the amount claimed, namely, $ ; or
(b) file affidavits satisfactory to the Court which disclose—
(i) a defence; or
(ii) such facts as would make it incumbent on the holder
to prove consideration; or
Form 24A
-- 238 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
221
(iii) such other facts as the Court considers sufficient to
support the application.
DATE OF FILING:
THIS COMPLAINT IS VALID IF IT BEARS THE ALLOCATED
COURT NUMBER AND THE DATE OF FILING
Particulars of Claim
The Plaintiff claims $ principal and interest [or $ balance of
principal and interest] due to the payee [indorsee or bearer] of a bill of
exchange [promissory note or order for the payment of money] of which the
following is a copy.
[Here copy bill and all indorsements on it]
1. This Complaint was filed—
* by the plaintiff in person;
* for the plaintiff by [name of firm of solicitor], solicitor(s), of
[business address of solicitor].
2. The address of the plaintiff is—
3. The address for service of the plaintiff is—[If the plaintiff sues by a
solicitor, the business address of the solicitor. If the plaintiff sues in
person, the address in 2.]
4. The address of the defendant is—
* Delete if inapplicable.
_______________
Form 24A
-- 239 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
222
RULE 24.04 FORM 24B
APPLICATION FOR LEAVE TO DEFEND
(Instruments Act 1958)
[heading as in Form 4A]
THE DEFENDANT APPLIES for leave to defend this claim.
* On [date] the sum of $ (being the sum claimed in the complaint)
was paid into Court by the defendant.
* The affidavit(s) of [names of deponents] setting out the facts upon
which the defendant relies in the application are filed herewith.
* Defendant
* Defendant's solicitor
FILED: [e.g. 5 September, 20 ].
1. This application was filed by—
* the defendant in person;
* for the defendant by [name or firm of solicitor], solicitor(s), of
[business address of solicitor].
2. The address of the defendant is—
3. The address for service of the defendant is—[If the defendant defends
by a solicitor, the business address of the solicitor. If the defendant
sues in person, the address in 2.]
4. The date of service of the complaint was [date].
* Delete if inapplicable.
_______________
Form 24B
-- 240 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
223
RULE 24.05 FORM 24C
APPLICATION FOR ORDER
(Instruments Act 1958)
[heading as in Form 4A]
1. The plaintiff requests that an order be made for $ plus interest at
the rate of % to the date of the order.
2. The defendant has not been given leave to defend this complaint
within the time provided for in section 5 of the Instruments Act 1958.
3. An affidavit stating the matter in which the complaint was served has
been previously filed with the Court.
4. The plaintiff's costs are—
FILED: [e.g. 5 September, 20 ].
* Plaintiff
* Plaintiff's solicitor
* Delete if inapplicable.
_______________
Form 24C
-- 241 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
224
RULE 24.06 FORM 24D
NOTIFICATION OF DECISION
(Instruments Act 1958)
[heading as in Form 4A]
TO THE PLAINTIFF AND TO THE DEFENDANT
APPLICATION FOR LEAVE TO DEFEND was filed on [date] and has
been considered by the Court.
The Court orders as follows—
* Application for leave to defend refused.
* Application for leave to defend granted upon condition—[set out
conditions, if any].
Dated: [e.g. 5 September, 20 ].
Registrar
* Delete if inapplicable.
_______________
Form 24D
-- 242 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
225
RULE 24.07 FORM 24E
APPLICATION FOR LEAVE TO DEFEND AFTER ORDER MADE
(Instruments Act 1958)
[heading as in Form 4A]
TO THE PLAINTIFF
THE DEFENDANT did not obtain leave to defend the above complaint and
on [date] an order was made against the defendant for $ with
$ costs.
TAKE NOTICE that the defendant will apply to the Court at [time] on [date]
for an order that the order made be set aside and that leave to defend the
complaint be granted.
The special circumstances upon which the defendant relies in support of this
application are—[set out special circumstances].
FILED: [e.g. 5 September, 20 ].
* Defendant
* Defendant's solicitor
Registrar
1. This application was filed—
*by the defendant in person;
*for the defendant by [name or firm or solicitor], solicitor(s), of
[business address of solicitor].
2. The address of the defendant is—
3. The address for service of the defendant is—[If the defendant defends
by a solicitor, the business address of the solicitor. If the defendant
sues in person, the address in 2].
* Delete if inapplicable.
_______________
Form 24E
-- 243 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
226
RULE 27.05 FORM 27A
INTERPLEADER SUMMONS
(Instruments Act 1958)
[heading as in Form 4A]
To [judgment creditor]
of [address]
and
To the [claimant]
of [address]
The claimant, [name of claimant] has claimed the goods [or certain goods]
[if only certain goods are claimed, list them] [or the proceeds of sale of
[goods]] taken in execution by [person to whom warrant was directed] under
the warrant to seize property in this proceeding.
TAKE NOTICE that the Court will hear the claim at [time] on [date].
Dated: [e.g. 5 September, 20 ].
Registrar
_______________
Form 27A
-- 244 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
227
RULE 27.10 FORM 27B
WARRANT TO SEIZE PROPERTY
[heading as in Form 4A]
ORIGINAL/EXECUTION COPY
REQUEST FOR WARRANT
To the Registrar
[name] is owed money.
[name] of [address] was ordered to pay money in the above matter on [date]
by the Magistrates' Court at [venue].
Please issue a warrant to seize property to recover [amount] which is the
amount now owing.
This amount is calculated—
Amount ordered $
Costs ordered $
Interest ordered $
Subtotal $
Amount paid since order $
Subtotal $
Interest from order to this date
to , days @ % $
to , days @ % $
Subtotal $
Prior costs of recovering amount ordered $
Fees on warrant $
Professional costs $
Subtotal $
Amount owing $
This request is made by [name of solicitor or person making request, address
and telephone number].
It is believed that the personal property of the person ordered to pay can be
found at [address].
Dated: [e.g. 5 September 20 ]
Form 27B
-- 245 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
228
WARRANT TO SEIZE PROPERTY
To the Sheriff:
You are authorised to seize the personal property of the person ordered to
pay. If the amount and your costs of execution set out in the request for this
warrant are not paid you are to sell the property and pay the amount due to
[judgment creditor]. You or your officer must indorse details of execution on
this warrant.
Issued at:
Dated: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
Registrar
_______________
Form 27B
-- 246 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
229
RULE 27.10.1 FORM 27BA
NOTICE TO PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR SAFEKEEPING OF
PROPERTY SEIZED UNDER A WARRANT TO SEIZE PROPERTY
(Magistrates' Court Act 1989, section 111(7A))
To: [insert name]
The personal property listed below belonging to [insert name] has been
seized under a warrant to seize property dated [insert date].
You are now responsible for the safekeeping of this property.
LIST OF PROPERTY: [description of property seized—add extra pages if
space insufficient]
Section 111(7B) of the Magistrates' Court Act 1989 provides—
"(7B) A person who knows that the property has been seized under
a warrant to seize property or is the subject of a notice
served under subsection (7A) must not, except with the
written consent of the person executing the warrant to seize
property—
(a) interfere with or dispose of that property; or
(b) deface or remove any mark attached to that property
indicating that it had been so seized; or
(c) remove that property from the place at which it was
situated when the notice was served.
Penalty applying to this subsection: 25 penalty units or
6 months imprisonment or both."
Signature of person executing warrant:
Date: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
_______________
Form 27BA
-- 247 of 324 --
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230
RULE 27.12 FORM 27C
WARRANT OF DELIVERY
[To be used for delivery of goods or, where the Court order was for the
delivery of goods or for payment of their assessed value. If the Court order
was for the payment of assessed value of goods only a warrant to seize
property may be used.]
[heading as in Form 4A]
REQUEST FOR WARRANT
To the Registrar:
1. Please issue a warrant for delivery of [specify goods] ordered to be
delivered by the Court at [venue of Court] on [date] plus costs of
[amount]. [Either paragraph 1 or 2 must be deleted.]
2. Please issue a warrant for delivery of [specify goods] or the payment of
their assessed value [specify assessed value] ordered to be delivered or
paid by the Court at [venue of Court] on [date], plus costs of [amount].
3. The goods were ordered to be returned to [name and address] by [name
and address] who has possession of the goods. It is believed that the
goods are located at [address]. [Either paragraph 3 or 4 must be
deleted].
4. The goods were ordered to be returned to, or payment of their assessed
value paid to [name and address] by [name and address] who has
possession of the goods. It is believed the goods are located at
[address.]
5. This request is made by [name of solicitor or person making request,
address and telephone number].
Dated: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
WARRANT OF DELIVERY
To the Sheriff:
1. [name] is entitled to recovery of goods. [Either paragraph 1 or 2 must
be deleted.]
2. [name] is entitled to recovery of goods or to payment of their assessed
value.
3. [name] was ordered to deliver those goods. [Either paragraph 3 or 4
must be deleted.]
4. [name] was ordered to deliver those goods or pay their assessed value.
Form 27C
-- 248 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
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5. You are authorised to seize the goods described above and demand
costs as set out above together with your costs of execution. If those
costs are not paid you are to seize and sell property belonging to that
person sufficient to cover those costs. [Either paragraph 5 or 6 must be
deleted.]
6. You are authorised to seize the goods described above and demand
costs as set out above together with your costs of execution. If you
cannot cause the goods described above to be so delivered, you are to
seize and sell property belonging to that person sufficient to cover the
assessed value of those goods, plus the costs as set out above together
with your costs of execution.
7. You or your officer must indorse details of execution on this warrant.
Issued at:
Dated: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
_______________
Form 27C
-- 249 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
232
RULE 27.12.1 FORM 27CA
SUMMONS TO ATTEND FOR ORAL EXAMINATION
[heading as in Form 4A]
To [judgment debtor, or if a corporation, an officer of the judgment debtor]
of [address]
On [date] the Court ordered you [or the corporation] to pay money.
You are summoned to attend before the Court to be orally examined on the
application of [judgment creditor] as to your [or the corporation's] income,
property, assets, debts and other liabilities and your [or the corporation's]
means and ability to pay the amount ordered to be paid.
The examination will be heard by the Court at [venue] on [date]
at a.m./p.m.
You are required to produce to the Court on the examination all books of
account, papers, documents, passbooks and current statements for all
bank/building society/credit union accounts, and all relevant files dealing
with your income, purchases and expenditure.
IF YOU DO NOT ATTEND IN ANSWER TO THIS SUMMONS A
WARRANT MAY BE ISSUED BY THE COURT FOR YOUR ARREST
Dated: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
Registrar
The amount due and unpaid on the court order is—
Amount awarded on the claim $
Costs ordered $
Interest awarded $
Subtotal $
Less amount paid since order $
Total $
Additional amounts that have been accrued against you since the court order
are—
Interest from order to this date—
to , days @ % $
to , days @ % $
Form 27CA
-- 250 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
233
Costs of this summons $
Filing fee $
Service fee $
Total $
_______________
Form 27CA
-- 251 of 324 --
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234
RULE 27.12.1 FORM 27CB
SUMMONS TO ATTEND TO GIVE EVIDENCE OR PRODUCE
DOCUMENTS
[heading as in Form 4A]
To [name]
of [address]
You are summoned to attend before the Court at [address of Court] at
10.00 a.m. [or as the case requires] on [date] to give evidence or produce the
documents described in the Schedule or both to give evidence and produce
those documents.
SCHEDULE
[description of documents]
IF YOU DO NOT ATTEND IN ANSWER TO THIS SUMMONS A
WARRANT MAY BE ISSUED BY THE COURT FOR YOUR ARREST
Dated: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
Registrar
_______________
Form 27CB
-- 252 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
235
RULE 27.12.1 FORM 27CC
EXAMINATION OF A JUDGMENT DEBTOR
[heading as in Form 4A]
[name of person being examined], having been sworn, has answered the
questions set out in Column 1 below in the manner set out in Column 2
below.
Column 1
Questions
Column 2
Answers
1. What is your full name?
2. What is your date of birth?
3. What is your home address and phone number?
Do you own, rent or board at this address?
Give name, address and phone number of the
estate agent or landlord.
4. Do you propose to change your address in the near
future? If so, state the new address.
5. Are you single, married or living in a defacto
relationship?
6. How many dependants do you have in your care?
What is their relationship to you and what are
their ages?
7. Do you own or are you buying any land or
building?
If yes, give details, including—
(a) address(es);
(b) value;
(c) mortgage (naming financier and balance
due);
(d) 2nd mortgage (naming financier and balance
due);
(e) caveat(s);
Form 27CC
-- 253 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
236
Column 1
Questions
Column 2
Answers
(f) when did you buy the property?
(g) what was the price paid?
(h) are you buying the land or building with any
other person?
(i) if yes, give the name and address of that other
person;
(j) are you intending to sell the land or building?
8. Do you own or are you buying a motor vehicle?
If yes, give details, including—
(a) the make;
(b) the model;
(c) the condition of the motor vehicle;
(d) is the motor vehicle registered? If yes, what
is the registration number?
(e) is the vehicle subject to finance? If yes,
state—
—the name of the financier;
—account reference number;
—how much is owing?
—when will payments be finalised?
(f) value.
Repeat the above information for all extra vehicles.
9. Are you owed any money? If yes, give details,
including—
(a) who owes you the money;
(b) the address, telephone number and reference
of the person or company;
(c) how much is owed?
(d) what circumstances give rise to that
indebtedness?
(e) when is the debt due and payable to you?
10. Are you employed? If yes, give details—
(a) the position you hold?
Form 27CC
-- 254 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
237
Column 1
Questions
Column 2
Answers
(b) the name of your employer?
(c) the address and telephone number of your
employer?
11. What income do you receive after tax and
compulsory superannuation is deducted?
What is the nature of this income(e.g. wages,
salary, commission, benefit, etc.)?
Is this income received weekly, fortnightly,
monthly, or otherwise?
Do you receive overtime or other allowances?
If you are unemployed, what is your source of
income? (e.g. sole parent benefit, disability
pension, WorkCover)?
12. (a) If unemployed, how long have you been
unemployed?
(b) What is the name of your previous employer?
(c) Will you be starting employment in the near
future? If so, give details.
13. What other source of income do you have?
Give details of all sources and amounts (e.g. part-
time work, casual work, dividends, rent, etc.).
14. Have you any accounts at any bank/building
society/credit union, etc.? If yes, give details of
each account—
(a) name and address of financial institution;
(b) name of account;
(c) type of account;
(d) account number;
(e) present balance of account.
If account is not held solely by you, state
name/address/phone number of each other person
with whom the account is jointly held.
15. How much cash money do you have readily
available?
Form 27CC
-- 255 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
238
Column 1
Questions
Column 2
Answers
16. Have you any personal property or assets not
previously mentioned? If so, give details,
including—
(a) investments, shares, debentures;
(b) superannuation, life insurance policy;
(c) motor boats, caravans, trailers (give
descriptions of the boat, caravan, trailer
including the registration number and value).
If any of this personal property or asset is held
with another person, give the name and address of
the other person.
17. Give details of your expenses calculated on a
weekly basis, including—
(a) rent/mortgage/board;
(b) food;
(c) gas/electricity;
(d) clothing;
(e) loan repayments etc. (give details of each
loan and the balance owing) Balance $
(f) credit card repayments; (give details of each
card and the balance owing) Balance $
(g) house and contents insurance;
(h) municipal and water rates;
(i) telephone;
(j) car expenses; (including registration,
insurance and maintenance)
(k) fuel expenses of running your motor vehicle;
(l) education expenses;
(m) medical/dental/pharmaceutical;
(n) entertainment expenses;
(o) other (and what) expenses.
Total: $____________
Are there any persons who contribute to the
expenses detailed above? If so, who are they and
how much do they contribute? $____________
Form 27CC
-- 256 of 324 --
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239
Column 1
Questions
Column 2
Answers
18. Are there any other unpaid court orders/fines
against you? If so, give details including—
(a) name/address/phone number of party to
whom money is owed;
(b) date of court order;
(c) amount outstanding;
(d) court and reference number (if any).
19. What other moneys do you owe, not previously
mentioned?
20. Are you an owner or do you have an interest in
any business? If yes, give details, including—
(a) What is the name of the business?
Is it a registered business name?
Is there an ACN and if so what is the ACN?
(b) If you have partners give the full name and
address of each partner and state each
partner's percentage share (including your
own) of the business;
(c) If a private company, state the number of
shares you hold and give the name and
address and number of shares of each other
shareholder;
(d) What is the value of the goodwill of the
business?
When was the goodwill last valued?
(e) What assets does the business have?
Give details of all—
(i) real estate, listing—
(a) locations (addresses)
(b) values
(c) mortgages;
(ii) plant and equipment (not included
elsewhere) listing—
(a) a description
Form 27CC
-- 257 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
240
Column 1
Questions
Column 2
Answers
(b) locations
(c) values
(d) are there any claims against these
items (e.g. finance, etc.);
(iii) motor vehicles, listing for each—
(a) make/model/condition
(b) registration number
(c) lease or other finance details
(d) value;
(iv) stock (not included elsewhere), listing—
(a) a description
(b) locations (address)
(c) values
(d) are there any claims against these
items (e.g. finance, etc.);
(v) other deposits, investments, shares and
debentures giving for each details of
value and in what business/corporation/
firm;
(vi) forward orders and/or pending contracts;
(vii) trademarks, labels, intellectuals property.
21. Do you have an offer to pay this debt?
22. Have you paid any of the amount ordered? If so,
how much and when?
[Signature]
Recorded at
this / /
before me:
[Signature of Registrar]
Form 27CC
-- 258 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
241
I order the judgment debtor to pay the sum of $ being the costs of
this examination.
Filing fee $
Hearing fee $
Conduct money $
Service fee (including attempt(s) and travelling) $
Professional costs $
TOTAL $
[Signature of Registrar]
IMPORTANT
PRE-EXAMINATION INFORMATION
To the judgment debtor
You have been served with a Summons to Attend for Oral Examination
(Form 27CA) and an Examination Sheet (Form 27CC).
The Examination Sheet sets out the questions you will be asked. It may
assist you to complete the answers to the questions before the examination is
conducted. You will not have to swear that the answers on this
Examination Sheet are true until the examination is conducted.
Care must be taken to provide complete and accurate answers as you will be
required to take an oath as to the accuracy of the answers on the day of the
examination and the information you provide will be forwarded to the
judgment creditor/judgment creditor's solicitors.
If you have difficulty in completing any of the answers or have any other
queries about the proceedings, you may contact the Magistrates' Court of
Victoria for advice.
Payment toward the judgment debt must be made to the judgment
creditor/judgment creditor's solicitor.
_______________
Form 27CC
-- 259 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
242
RULE 27.12.1 FORM 27CD
EXAMINATION OF AN OFFICER OF A JUDGMENT DEBTOR
WHICH IS A CORPORATION
[heading as in Form 4A]
[name of person being examined], an officer of the judgment debtor
corporation, having been sworn, has answered the questions set out in
Column 1 below in the manner set out in Column 2 below.
Column 1
Questions
Column 2
Answers
1. What is your full name?
2. What is your address?
3. What position do you hold in the judgment debtor
corporation?
4. What is the address of the registered office of the
corporation?
5. Is the corporation—
(a) registered; or
(b) deregistered—
at the Australian Securities and Investment
Commission?
6. Is the corporation still trading? If not, when did it
last trade?
7. What is the nature of the business of the
corporation?
8. At what addresses does the corporation carry on
business? If the premises are leased, give details
of—
(a) the name of the landlord;
(b) the expiration date of the lease.
9. What is the corporation's average weekly turnover?
10. Is the company owed any money? If yes, give
details including—
(a) who owes the money?
Form 27CD
-- 260 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
243
Column 1
Questions
Column 2
Answers
(b) the address, telephone number and reference
of the person or company;
(c) how much is owed?
(d) what are the circumstances that give rise to
the indebtedness?
(e) when is the debt due and payable to the
corporation? (give details).
11. Give details of the corporation's accounts at any
bank/building society/credit union/etc. For each
account give details, including—
(a) name of bank etc.;
(b) type of account;
(c) account number;
(d) name of account;
(e) present balance of account.
12. Do you produce a balance sheet of the
corporation? If yes—
(a) is it the most up to date balance sheet
available?
(b) does the balance sheet reflect the
corporation's present position? (give
differences).
13. What other assets does the corporation have? Give
details of all—
(1) real estate, listing—
(a) locations (addresses);
(b) values;
(c) mortgages (and financier).
(2) plant and equipment (not included elsewhere)
listing—
(a) a description;
(b) locations (addresses);
(c) values;
(d) are there any claims against these items
(e.g. finance, etc.).
Form 27CD
-- 261 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
244
Column 1
Questions
Column 2
Answers
(3) motor vehicles, listing for each—
(a) make/model/condition;
(b) registration number;
(c) lease or other finance details;
(d) value.
(4) stock (not included elsewhere), listing—
(a) a description;
(b) locations (address);
(c) values;
(d) are there any claims against these items
(e.g. finance, etc.).
(5) other deposits, investments, shares and
debentures, giving for each details of
value and in what business/corporation/
firm.
(6) forward orders and/or pending contracts.
(7) trademarks, labels, intellectual property.
14. Is there a registered debenture over the assets of
the corporation?
If yes, identify the debenture holder, state when
the debenture was given and state the amount
secured by the debenture.
15. Are there any other unpaid court orders/fines
against the corporation? If so, give details of each
court order/fine including—
(a) (for court orders) name/address/phone
number of party to whom the money is
owed;
(b) date of court order/fine;
(c) amount outstanding;
(d) reference number (if any).
16. What other monies does the corporation owe, not
previously mentioned?
17. Has the corporation paid any/all of the amount
ordered? If so, how much and when?
Form 27CD
-- 262 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
245
Column 1
Questions
Column 2
Answers
18. Do you produce a profit and loss statement for the
corporation? If yes—
(a) is it the most up to date profit and loss
statement available?
(b) does the profit and loss statement reflect
the corporation's present position? (detail
differences).
19. Does the corporation have a proposal to pay the
amount claimed by the judgment creditor?
[Signature]
Recorded at
this / /
Before me:
[Signature of Registrar]
I order the judgment debtor to pay the sum of $ being the costs of this
examination.
Filing fee $
Hearing fee $
Conduct money $
Service fee (including attempt(s) and travelling) $
Professional costs $
TOTAL $
[Signature of Registrar]
Form 27CD
-- 263 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
246
IMPORTANT
PRE-EXAMINATION INFORMATION
To the officer of the judgment debtor corporation
You have been served with a Summons to Attend for Oral Examination
(Form 27CA) and an Examination Sheet (Form 27CD).
The Examination Sheet sets out the questions you will be asked. It may
assist you to complete the answers to the questions before the examination is
conducted. You will not have to swear that the answers on the
Examination Sheet are true until the examination is conducted.
Care must be taken to provide complete and accurate answers as you will be
required to take an oath as to the accuracy of the answers on the day of the
examination and the information you provide will be forwarded to the
judgment creditor/judgment creditor's solicitors.
If you have difficulty in completing any of the answers or have any other
queries about the proceedings, you may contact the Magistrates' Court of
Victoria for advice.
Payment toward the judgment debt must be made to the judgment
creditor/judgment creditor's solicitor.
_______________
Form 27CD
-- 264 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
247
RULE 27.15 FORM 27D
ATTACHMENT OF EARNINGS SUMMONS
[heading as in Form 4A]
To [judgment debtor]
of [address]
You are summoned to attend before the Magistrates' Court at [venue] on the
hearing of an application by [judgment creditor] for an order that your
earnings be attached to satisfy the order against you in favour of [judgment
creditor] made by the Court at [venue] on [date] for [amount], in respect of
which [amount] is due and unpaid, being—
(a) [amount] due under the order;
(b) [amount] costs of this attachment application;
(c) [amount] other costs incurred subsequent to order;
(d) [amount] interest to date.
The application will be heard by the Court at [venue] at [time] on [date].
FILED: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
Registrar
This application was filed by , solicitor for [identify
party].
_______________
Form 27D
-- 265 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
248
RULE 27.15 FORM 27E
AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF APPLICATION FOR ATTACHMENT
OF EARNINGS ORDER
[heading as in Form 4A]
I, of
the judgment creditor, make oath and say that:
1. By an order dated: [e.g. 5 September 20 ] it was ordered that
[judgment debtor] pay me the sum of [amount] together with costs.
2. [amount] is due and unpaid in respect of the order, being—
(a) [amount] due under the order;
(b) [amount] costs of this attachment application;
(c) [amount] other costs incurred subsequent to order;
(d) [amount] interest to date.
or
[judgment debtor] has persistently failed to comply with an order with
respect to the order made by the Court on [date] that [insert terms or order
not complied with].
3. [judgment debtor] is employed by [name and address of employer] as a
[occupation].
4. No warrant committing [judgment debtor] to prison under the
Imprisonment of Fraudulent Debtors Act 1958 has been issued.
or
A warrant committing [judgment debtor] to prison under the Imprisonment
of Fraudulent Debtors Act 1958 has been issued and has been returned
unexecuted.
Sworn, etc.
_______________
Form 27E
-- 266 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
249
RULE 27.15 FORM 27F
JUDGMENT DEBTOR'S STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
[heading as in Form 4A]
To [judgment debtor]
of [address]
TAKE NOTICE that you must complete this form by giving the information
requested below. The completed forms signed by you must be sent to
[judgment creditor] at [address for service] before [day of hearing named in
the summons]. If you do not do this, the Court may make an order that you
attend before the Court and give the information.
Dated: [e.g. 5 September, 20 ].
[Signed by judgment creditor or solicitor].
1. Amount and source of weekly income
Occupation:
If working for an employer:
Name and address of employer:
Gross wage:
Current overtime (if any):
Car and other allowances and commission:
If self-employed or in partnership:
Average pre-tax earnings for last 12 months:
If unemployed:
State length of last employment, when last employment ceased and
gross weekly amount earned:
Pension or other benefit received:
Workers' compensation received:
Maintenance received:
Superannuation received:
Board or rent received:
Average weekly interest on bank or building society deposit,
debentures etc.:
Form 27F
-- 267 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
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Average weekly dividend on shares:
Other income (give particulars):
Total gross weekly income:
2. Property and assets
Land, including vacant land:
For each piece of land—
Market value:
Amount of mortgage:
Net value:
Motor vehicle:
For each motor vehicle—
Year, make and model:
Market value:
Amount owing to finance company:
Net value:
Deposit in bank, building society, etc.:
Other investments including shares, debentures, bonds:
Money owing to you:
From , $
From , $
Total:
Value of interest in partnership or business:
Furniture, household and personal goods:
Market value:
Amount owing to finance company:
Net value:
Life insurance policies:
Give particulars and state surrender value of each policy:
Form 27F
-- 268 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
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Other assets (give particulars):
Total property and assets:
3. Debts, liabilities and other financial obligations
(a) Weekly expenses
Income tax:
Superannuation:
Housing (mortgage, rent, board, hospital or institution):
Municipal rates:
Water and sewerage rates:
Land tax:
Child care expenses incurred for the purpose of earning income:
Maintenance actually paid:
Instalment payments such as for household goods or tools of trade:
To , $
To , $
Total:
Electricity and gas:
Food:
Other general household expenses:
Motor vehicle expenses (registration, insurance, maintenance, fuel):
Fares:
Telephone:
Insurance policy premiums:
School fees and other school expenses:
Clothing and shoes:
Medical and chemist expenses:
Entertainment:
Payment on court orders and fines:
Other expenses (give particulars):
Total:
Form 27F
-- 269 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
252
(b) Other debts outstanding
Give particulars of debts under hire purchase, leasing, credit card
or other credit contracts, department store accounts, guarantee or
personal loan:
$ , to , due on
$ , to , due on
Total:
4. If any of the assets referred to in paragraph 2 above is owned jointly,
identify each asset and give the name of the other owner or owners:
5. If any of the debts referred to in paragraph 3 is due jointly, identify
each debt and give the name of the other debtor or debtors:
6. Give particulars of any other circumstances which affect the financial
situation of the judgment debtor such as the number and age of
dependants, marital status and health:
Signature of judgment debtor:
Date:
_______________
Form 27F
-- 270 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
253
RULE 27.16 FORM 27J
ORDER THAT JUDGMENT DEBTOR ATTEND FOR
EXAMINATION
[heading as in Form 4A]
THE COURT ORDERS that
[judgment debtor] attend before the Court at on [date] to be
examined concerning the means and ability of [judgment debtor] to comply
with the order [state terms of order].
By the Court
Dated: [e.g. 5 September, 20 ].
Registrar
_______________
RULE 27.16 FORM 27K
ORDER THAT PERSON INDEBTED OR EMPLOYER OF
JUDGMENT DEBTOR GIVE STATEMENT
[heading as in Form 4A]
THE COURT ORDERS that
[name of person indebted or employer] give to the Court on or before [date] a
statement in writing signed by him or her or on his or her behalf containing
the following particulars of indebtedness to [judgment debtor] that became
payable during the period , 20 to
, 20 .
[complete appropriately]
By the Court
Dated: [e.g. 5 September, 20 ].
Registrar
_______________
Form 27J
-- 271 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
254
RULE 27.18(6) FORM 27L
ATTACHMENT OF EARNINGS ORDER
[heading as in Form 4A]
THE COURT ORDERS THAT:
1. [name] of [address], the employer of the [judgment debtor] ("the
judgment debtor") on each payday whilst this order is in force, subject to
paragraph 2 of this order, deduct from the earnings of the judgment
debtor, the sum of $ [amount per week/fortnight/month] ("the normal
deduction rate") until a total sum of $ [amount] has been deducted and
remit each payment made under this order to [name and address of
person to whom payments are to be made].
2. The protected earnings rate, that is, the rate below which the earnings of
the judgment debtor may not be reduced by a payment under this order,
shall be $ [amount] per [week/fortnight/month].
3. A deduction on a payday is only to be made if the net earnings of the
judgment debtor exceed the protected earnings.
4. If any deduction is not made from the judgment debtor's earnings on any
payday (or is not made in full) by reason of the protected earnings rate,
the employer shall make good such deduction from the excess of any
subsequent earnings of the judgment debtor.
5. The employer may deduct each payday $ [amount] for clerical and
administrative costs in complying with this order.
6. In the event that—
(a) you are not the employer of the judgment debtor;
(b) if you were the employer of the judgment debtor at the time of
service of this order but have since ceased to be the employer—
you must give written notice of such fact (and the date you ceased to be
the employer of the judgment debtor), to the registrar of the Magistrates'
Court of Victoria at [venue] and to the judgment creditor at [address of
judgment creditor or judgment creditor's solicitor].
BY THE COURT
Dated:
Registrar
Form 27L
-- 272 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
255
NOTES:
1. The first deduction required to be made under this order is on the first
payday following 7 days after the day of service of this order.
2. "Earnings" attached by this order means, in relation to a judgment
debtor—
(a) by way of wages or salary, including any fees, bonus, commission,
overtime pay or other emoluments payable in addition to wages or
salary; or
(b) by way of pension, including—
(i) an annuity in respect of past services whether or not the
services were rendered to the person paying the annuity; and
(ii) periodical payments in respect of or by way of compensation
for the loss, abolishment or relinquishment, or any
diminution in the emoluments, of any office or
employment—
but does not include any pension payable to the judgment debtor
under the Social Security Act 1991 of the Commonwealth or the
Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 of the Commonwealth.
3. Where you are or have been served with two or more attachment of
earnings orders, you are required to—
(a) comply with those orders according to the respective day on which
they took effect and disregard a subsequent order until an earlier
order has been complied with; and
(b) comply with any order as if the earnings to which it relates were
residue of the earnings of the judgment debtor after the making of
any payment under an earlier order.
4. You are required to give the judgment debtor a notice specifying
particulars of the payments made by you under this attachment of
earnings order.
5. You are required to give the judgment debtor notice of any deductions
made under paragraph 5 of this order.
WARNING:
1. It is an offence to fail to comply with an attachment of earnings order.
The maximum penalty for non-compliance is 60 penalty units or
6 months imprisonment or both.
2. It is an offence to dismiss an employee or injure an employee or alter an
employee's position to the prejudice of the employee because of the
making of an attachment of earnings order or because of a requirement
Form 27L
-- 273 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
256
to make payments under an attachment of earnings order. The
maximum penalty is 5 penalty units.
3. If you fail to comply with this order, the judgment creditor may apply to
the court to have you the employer liable to pay the deductions.
_______________
Form 27L
-- 274 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
257
RULE 27.30 FORM 27P
GARNISHEE ORDER
[where garnishee debt is less than judgment debt, interest and judgment
creditor's costs]
IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURT
OF VICTORIA
AT
BETWEEN A.B. Judgment creditor
and
C.D. Judgment debtor
and
E.F. Garnishee
THE COURT ORDERS that:
1. The garnishee [where appropriate insert here (after deducting
therefrom $ for costs of the garnishee application)] pay to
the judgment creditor without delay $ , the debt due from the
garnishee to the judgment debtor and if the garnishee defaults in
payment, execution may issue against the garnishee
[or where the debt is not due but accruing]
pay to the judgment creditor $ , the debt accruing from the
judgment creditor to the judgment debtor, as follows [state the amount
or amounts to be paid and the time or times of payment as directed by
the Court] and that in default of payment, execution may issue against
the garnishee.
2. $ , the costs of the judgment creditor of the garnishee
application, be added to the judgment debt and the interest accrued
thereon and be retained by the judgment creditor out of the money
recovered by the judgment creditor under this order in priority to the
judgment debt and interest.
By the Court
Dated: [e.g. 5 September, 20 ].
Registrar
_______________
Form 27P
-- 275 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
258
RULE 27.30 FORM 27Q
GARNISHEE ORDER
[where garnishee debt is greater than judgment debt, interest and judgment
creditor's costs]
[heading as in Form 27P]
THE COURT ORDERS that:
1. The garnishee pay without delay to the judgment creditor $ ,
being so much of the debt due from the garnishee to the judgment
debtor as is sufficient to satisfy the judgment debt, the interest accrued
thereon and the costs of the judgment creditor of the garnishee
proceedings and that in default of payment execution may issue against
the garnishee
[or where the debt is not due but accruing]
pay to the judgment creditor $ , being so much of the debt
accruing from time to time to the judgment debtor as is sufficient to
satisfy the judgment debt, the interest accrued thereon and the costs of
the judgment creditor of the garnishee proceedings as follows [state the
amount or amounts to be paid and the time or times of payment as
directed by the Court] and that in default of payment execution may
issue against the garnishee.
[where appropriate add]
2. The garnishee be at liberty to retain $ being the garnishee's
costs of the garnishee proceedings out of the balance of the debt due [or
accruing] from time to time to the judgment debtor.
By the Court
Dated: [e.g. 5 September, 20 ].
Registrar
_______________
Form 27Q
-- 276 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
259
RULE 27.35 FORM 27R
AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF SUMMONS FOR COMMITMENT
[heading as in Form 4A]
I, of , the abovenamed plaintiff [or
solicitor for the abovenamed plaintiff] make oath and say:
1. By an order dated [e.g. 5 September, 20 ] it was ordered that
[judgment debtor] should pay me [or the plaintiff] the sum of $
together with $ costs [or as the case may be].
2. The sum of $ ordered to be paid [or $ , part of the sum
ordered to be paid] is still due and unpaid.
3. I am informed by [name and address] and believe that since the date of
the order made against the defendant, the defendant has had sufficient
means and ability to pay the sum in respect of which the defendant has
made default and has refused or neglected and still refuses or neglects to
pay.
Sworn, etc.
_______________
Form 27R
-- 277 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
260
Rule 27A.03 FORM 27AA
ORDER
IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURT Case No:
OF VICTORIA
AT
BETWEEN A.B. Plaintiff
and
C.D. Defendant
Magistrate:
Date of order:
Nature of complaint:
How obtained: [state whether on hearing or arbitration or on
application before hearing, identifying party filing
application]
Attendances: [set out attendance or non-attendance of any person
entitled to attend and, if attending, whether by counsel
or solicitor]
Other matters: [state any finding of jurisdictional fact, undertaking of
party or other matter as directed by Court]
The Court orders that:
1.
2. [terms of order]
I certify that this is a true and correct record.
Registrar
_______________
Form 27AA
-- 278 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
261
Rule 27A.03 FORM 27AB
DEFAULT ORDER FOR DEBT
IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURT Case No:
OF VICTORIA
AT
BETWEEN A.B. Plaintiff
and
C.D. Defendant
Date of order:
Nature of proceedings:
How obtained: In default of notice of defence.
The order of the Court is that:
[e.g: The defendant pay the plaintiff $ and $ interest and $
costs].
I certify that this is a true and correct record.
Registrar
_______________
Form 27AB
-- 279 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
262
Rule 27A.04 FORM 27AC
AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF ENFORCEMENT
IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURT Case No:
OF
VICTORIA
AT
BETWEEN A.B. Plaintiff
and
C.D. Defendant
I, [name]...............................................of[address]........................................
in the State of.....................................................MAKE OATH AND SAY:
1. I am *the plaintiff
*a solicitor in the firm of [name of firm], solicitors for the
plaintiff, and I have the care and conduct of this matter and make this
affidavit according to my information and belief.
2. Judgment was entered in the [name of court] at [place] in the State of
[State] on [date]. The terms of the judgment were that the defendant pay
the plaintiff the sum of $[claim] with $[interest] and $[costs].
3. The nature of the proceedings was for [describe the nature of
proceedings/cause of action] ...................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
4. The amount of the judgment which is sought to be enforced is
$[amount] and is the extent the judgment is capable of being enforced in
the court of rendition.
5(a) The reasonable costs and expenses of and incidental to obtaining and
lodging the copy of the judgment are $ [amount], being the sum paid to
obtain a sealed copy of the judgment and $ [amount], being the cost of
registering the judgment in Victoria, making a total of $ [amount];
5(b) The costs and expenses reasonably incurred in attempting to execute the
judgment in the court of rendition or in another State are—
[set out details of the costs and expenses]
Form 27AC
-- 280 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
263
6. Pursuant to section [description] of the [name of the relevant
legislation], interest is payable on the judgment from [date] to the date
of payment of the judgment [describe the provisions of the legislation
referred to which provides the basis of interest calculation].
[e.g: Pursuant to section 39 of the Local Courts (Civil Claims) Act 1970
of the State of New South Wales interest is payable from the date of
judgment or on so much of the amount of a judgment that is from time to
time unpaid, provided that the judgment debt and costs are not paid in
full within 21 days after the judgment date.
21 days has elapsed since the date of judgment. Neither the judgment
debt nor the costs have been paid in full.]
7. At the date of judgment the applicable interest rate was [percentage
figure]%. On [date] the interest rate *will be/was* varied to
[percentage figure]%.
8. At the date of swearing this affidavit, interest in the sum of $ [amount]
has accrued and is calculated as follows—
[date of judgment] to [date], [number] days @ [percentage figure]% = $
[If relevant, provide additional calculations taking into account
payments or variations in interest rate e.g.—
[date] to [date], [number] days @ [percentage figure]% = $ .]
Sworn etc.
*Delete if inapplicable
_______________
Form 27AC
-- 281 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
264
RULE 28.02
28.03
FORM 28A
APPLICATION
(Judgment Debt Recovery Act 1984)
IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURT
OF VICTORIA AT
Court Number
Judgment Creditor
and
Judgment Debtor
An order was made at the Court on / /
This application is for—
* an instalment order;
* an instalment order in substitution of a previous instalment order;
* the variation of an instalment order (section 8);
* the cancellation of an instalment order (section 8).
1. Details of Applicant (*Debtor/*Creditor)
Name: Address:
Postcode:
Telephone: Home Business
2. Details of Respondent (*Debtor/*Creditor)
Name:
3. State:
(a) amount ordered Claim
Interest
Costs
$
$
$
Total (judgment debt) $
LESS
(b) amount paid since
order of / /
[State amounts and
dates paid] – $
Form 28A
-- 282 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
265
EQUALS
(c) balance of judgment
debt owing = $
PLUS
(d) interest on the
judgment debt until
the date of this
application + $
PLUS
(e) any other amounts
recoverable or
payable in respect of
the order of / /
(including any costs
of warrant);
Please specify—
(i)
(ii)
$
$
_________
Subtotal $ + $
EQUALS
(f) Total amount
owing = $
(g) Amount to be paid
per instalment: $
(h) Periodical time for
payment:
*weekly;
*fortnightly;
*monthly.
(i) Proposed date of
first instalment / /
(j) Person/corporation/
firm to whom
instalments are to be
made—
Name:
Address:
Form 28A
-- 283 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
266
4. If this is an application
for variation of an
instalment order, state—
(a) the date of the
current instalment
order / /
(b) the amount of each
instalment ordered $ *weekly;
*fortnightly;
*monthly.
5. Reasons for the
application—
6. State any other relevant
details—
Dated:
Signature of *Applicant/*Applicant's solicitor
PLEASE NOTE:
1. IF THE APPLICANT IS THE JUDGMENT DEBTOR, A
STATEMENT OF AFFAIRS TO THE EFFECT OF FORM 28B (OR
FORM 28BA IF A CORPORATION) MUST BE FILED WITH THIS
APPLICATION.
2. A COPY OF THIS APPLICATION AND, IF THE APPLICATION IS
BY THE JUDGMENT DEBTOR A STATEMENT OF AFFAIRS,
MUST BE SERVED ON THE RESPONDENT PARTY.
3. IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS DOCUMENT, YOU
SHOULD OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE IMMEDIATELY. YOU MAY
ALSO NEED TO OBTAIN FINANCIAL COUNSELLING.
* Delete if not applicable
_______________
Form 28A
-- 284 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
267
RULE 28.02
28.03
28.05
FORM 28B
STATEMENT OF AFFAIRS BY AN INDIVIDUAL
(Judgment Debt Recovery Act 1984)
IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURT
OF VICTORIA
AT
Court Number
Judgment Creditor
and
Judgment Debtor
To the Registrar,
1. Amount and Source of Weekly Income (*Complete (a)—(c) where
applicable)
*(a) Employed persons
Occupation:
Name and address of employer:
Gross wage: $
Current overtime (if any): $
Car and other allowances and commissions: $
$
*(b) Self-employed persons
Average earnings from self-employment or
partnership for last 12 months: $
*(c) Unemployed persons or persons not working
If unemployed, state length of last employment, date when last
employment ceased, and gross weekly amount earned:
Pension or Benefit received: $
WorkCover received: $
$
Form 28B
-- 285 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
268
(d) All persons
Maintenance received: $
Superannuation received: $
Board or rent received: $
Average weekly income from investments in
banks, building societies, shares, etc.: $
Other (e.g. family allowance—give details) $
TOTAL GROSS WEEKLY INCOME: $
2. Weekly expenses
Income tax: $
Superannuation: $
Health Insurance: $
Union fees: $
Housing (mortgage, board, rent): $
Municipal rates: $
Water and sewerage rates: $
Land tax: $
Child care costs (kindergarten, day care, etc.): $
Maintenance actually paid: $
Instalment payments:
(state purpose)
...........................$
...........................$
$
Electricity: $
Gas: $
Telephone: $
Food: $
Other general household expenses: $
Form 28B
-- 286 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
269
Car expenses (registration, insurance,
maintenance, fuel): $
Fares: $
Insurance Policies: $
School fees and other schooling costs: $
Clothing and shoes: $
Medical and chemist expenses: $
Entertainment: $
Payments on court orders and fines: $
Other expenses (give details):
...............................$
...............................$
TOTAL WEEKLY EXPENSES: $
3. Are there any persons who contribute to paying your expenses?
If so, who are they and how much do they contribute?
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
4. Property and Assets
Market value of house (place of residence)
owned: $
Amount owing on mortgage $
Net value of interest on house: $
Market value of any other house or land
owned: $
Amount owing on mortgage: $
Net value or interest in other house or
land owned: $
Market value of motor vehicle(s):
(a) Year: Make/Model:
(b) Year: Make/Model:
$
$
Form 28B
-- 287 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
270
Amounts owing, under finance, on motor
vehicles:
(a) $
(b) $
Net value of interest(s) on motor
vehicles: $
Cash in banks, building societies, etc: $
Cash on hand: $
Value of other investments including shares,
debentures, bonds: $
Money owed to you:
(state reason)
...................................................$
...................................................$ $
Value of interest in partnership or business
(including stock, goodwill equipment,
debtors): $
State approximate resale value of furniture
and personal goods: $
Amount owing on these furniture and personal
goods: $
Net value of interest: $
Other assets (give details): $
TOTAL NET VALUE: $
Life insurance policies [specify insurer, policy
number, surrender value(s)]:
...................................................................... $
TOTAL PROPERTY AND ASSETS: $
Are any assets jointly owned? Give details:
...................................................................................................
...................................................................................................
...................................................................................................
Form 28B
-- 288 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
271
5. Debts and liabilities (give details)
(Hire purchase, leases, credit cards, credit contracts, personal
loans, store accounts, guarantees being paid off, etc.):
Total amount due: $ To:
Total amount due: $ To:
Total amount due: $ To:
TOTAL OTHER DEBTS: $
6. Have any of the above debts been jointly incurred with any other
person? Give details:
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
7. Give details of any other circumstances which affect your financial
position (e.g. number and age of dependants, marital status, health,
etc.):
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
Date:
[Signature]
WARNING
AN INSTALMENT ORDER THAT IS MADE AS A RESULT OF A
FALSE STATEMENT MAY BE VARIED OR CANCELLED
_______________
Form 28B
-- 289 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
272
RULE 28.02
28.03
28.05
FORM 28BA
STATEMENT OF AFFAIRS BY AN OFFICER OF A CORPORATION
(Judgment Debt Recovery Act 1984)
IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURT
OF VICTORIA AT
Court number
Judgment Creditor
and
Judgment Debtor
1. State the address of the registered office of the
judgment debtor corporation.
2. Is the corporation still trading? If no, when did
it last trade?
3. What is the corporation's average weekly
turnover?
4. Is the corporation owed any money? If yes, give
details including—
(a) who owes the money?
(b) the address, telephone number and
reference of the person or corporation;
(c) how much is owed?
(d) what are the circumstances that give rise
to the indebtedness?
(e) when is the debt due and payable to the
corporation? Give details.
5. Give details of the corporation's accounts at any
bank/building society/credit union/etc.
For each account give details, including—
(a) name of bank etc.;
(b) type of account;
(c) account number;
(d) name of account;
(e) present balance of account.
Form 28BA
-- 290 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
273
6. Do you produce a balance sheet of the
corporation? If yes—
(a) is it the most up to date balance sheet
available?
(b) does the balance sheet reflect the
corporation's present position? (give
differences).
7. What other assets does the corporation have?
Give details of all—
(1) real estate, listing—
(a) locations (addresses);
(b) values;
(c) mortgages.
(2) plant and equipment (not included
elsewhere), listing—
(a) a description;
(b) locations (addresses);
(c) values;
(d) are there any claims against these
items, eg. finance, etc.
(3) motor vehicles, listing for each—
(a) make/model/condition;
(b) registration number;
(c) lease or other finance details;
(d) value.
(4) stock (not included elsewhere), listing—
(a) a description;
(b) locations (address);
(c) values;
(d) are there any claims against these
items, eg. finance, etc.
(5) other deposits, investments, shares and
debentures, giving for each details of
value and in what business/corporation/
firm.
(6) forward orders and/or pending contracts.
(7) trademarks, labels, intellectual property.
Form 28BA
-- 291 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
274
8. Is there a registered debenture over the assets
of the corporation? If yes, identify the
debenture holder, state when the debenture was
given and state the amount secured by the
debenture.
9. Are there any other unpaid court orders/fines
against the corporation? If so, give details of
each court order/fine including—
(a) (for court orders) name/address/phone
number of party to whom the money is
owed;
(b) date of court order/fine;
(c) amount outstanding;
(d) reference number (if any).
10. What other monies does the corporation owe,
not previously mentioned?
11. Do you produce a profit and loss statement for
the corporation? If yes—
(a) is it the most up to date profit and loss
statement available?
(b) does the profit and loss statement reflect
the corporation's present position [detail
differences]?
12. Give details of any other circumstances which affect the financial
position of the corporation.
.............................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................
Date:
[Signature]
Full name:
Position held in judgment debtor corporation:
WARNING
AN INSTALMENT ORDER THAT IS MADE AS A RESULT OF A
FALSE STATEMENT MAY BE VARIED OR CANCELLED
_______________
Form 28BA
-- 292 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
275
RULE 28.04 FORM 28C
NOTICE OF OBJECTION
(Judgment Debt Recovery Act 1984)
IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURT
OF VICTORIA
AT
A.B. Judgment creditor
and
C.D. Judgment debtor
To the Registrar,
An application under section 6 of the Judgment Debt Recovery Act 1984
was *granted
*refused by the proper officer on [date].
Notification of such *order/*refusal was received by me on [date].
TAKE NOTICE that I object to the *order made/*refusal to make the order
on the grounds that [set out grounds].
Dated: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
[Signed by judgment creditor or judgment debtor]
* Delete if not applicable.
_______________
Form 28C
-- 293 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
276
RULE 28.05 FORM 28D
INSTALMENT AGREEMENT
IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURT
OF VICTORIA
AT
A.B. Judgment creditor
and
C.D. Judgment debtor
On [date] the Court ordered that [judgment debtor] pay [judgment creditor]
the sum of $ and $ for interest and $
for costs.
I, [judgment debtor] of [address] agree and undertake to pay to [judgment
creditor] of [address] the sum of $ [total sum] in the following manner:
Number of instalments:
Amount of each instalment: $
Time of payment of each instalment: On or by the day of each
*week/*fortnight/*month.
First instalment is payable on or by the day of 20 .
Last instalment is payable on or by the day of 20 .
Person to whom payment is to be made:
Address at which payment is to be made:
I am aware that should I fail to keep to this agreement, I may be called before
the Court.
I attach a Statement of Affairs which I believe to be true and correct in every
particular.
Signature of judgment debtor:
Witness:
Date: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
* Delete if not applicable.
Form 28D
-- 294 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
277
I agree that the judgment debt owing to me shall be paid in the manner set out
above.
Signature of judgment creditor:
Witness:
Date: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
IMPORTANT NOTE TO DEBTOR
IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS DOCUMENT YOU SHOULD
OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE IMMEDIATELY.
BEFORE SIGNING THIS DOCUMENT YOU SHOULD OBTAIN
FINANCIAL COUNSELLING.
_______________
Form 28D
-- 295 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
278
RULE 28.07 FORM 28E
SUMMONS FOR EXAMINATION
(Judgment Debt Recovery Act 1984)
IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURT
OF VICTORIA
AT
A.B. Judgment creditor
and
C.D. Judgment debtor
To [judgment debtor]
of [address]
An order was made by the Court on [date] that you pay to [judgment
creditor] the sum of $ and $ for interest and $ for
costs, and *an application dated has been made to this Court for
the *making/*confirming/*varying/*cancelling/*substituting of an
instalment order by [full name of applicant] and this Court is not satisfied
that in the circumstances an instalment order should be
*made/*confirmed/*varied/*cancelled/*substituted
or
* An instalment order was made by [name of Court] dated
for the payment of the judgment debt; and
[Full name of judgment creditor] alleges that you have defaulted in the
payment of instalment(s) ordered.
YOU MUST ATTEND the Court at [venue] on [date] at [time]
* to be examined concerning your financial circumstances and your means
and ability to satisfy the order against you:
or
* to be examined according to your financial circumstances and, in the case
of an alleged default, as to the circumstances of your alleged default.
You are required to produce to the Court on the examination the following
documents [description of documents].
Date: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
Registrar
Form 28E
-- 296 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
279
WARNING
IF YOU DO NOT ATTEND AS ORDERED BY THIS SUMMONS, A
WARRANT MAY BE ISSUED FOR YOUR ARREST.
* Delete if not applicable.
_______________
Form 28E
-- 297 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
280
RULE 28.07 FORM 28F
APPLICATION FOR ISSUE OF SUMMONS
(Judgment Debt Recovery Act 1984)
IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURT
OF VICTORIA
AT
A.B. Judgment creditor
and
C.D. Judgment debtor
I, of , the judgment creditor make oath and
say that:
1. By an order dated: [e.g. 5 September 20 ] it was ordered that
[judgment debtor] pay me the sum of $ and $ for
interest and $ for costs.
2. An instalment order for the payment of the sum was made on [date].
3. The judgment debtor has defaulted in the payment of instalment(s)
under the order in the following way [set out details of default].
4. I seek the issue of a summons for the oral examination of the judgment
debtor.
Sworn, etc.
_______________
Form 28F
-- 298 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
281
RULE 28.08 FORM 28G
WARRANT OF APPREHENSION
(Judgment Debt Recovery Act 1984)
IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURT
OF VICTORIA
AT
A.B. Judgment creditor
and
C.D. Judgment debtor
TO: [named member or all members of the Police Force]
[name of judgment debtor] of [address] has failed to appear at the time and
place appointed in the summons dated to be examined
regarding *his/*her financial circumstances.
You are authorised to enter and search any place where you may suspect
[judgment debtor] to be and you may use all necessary force for that purpose.
When you have apprehended [judgment debtor] you are to bring *him/*her
before a magistrate or the Court at [time] at [place] to be dealt with according
to law.
Dated: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
Registrar
NOTE: If apprehended before the date and time of hearing specified in this
Warrant, the judgment debtor may be released on his or her own undertaking
to appear for oral examination at the time and place specified in this Warrant.
IF UNABLE TO EXECUTE BY THAT DATE PLEASE RETURN
UNEXECUTED.
* Delete if not applicable.
_______________
Form 28G
-- 299 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
282
RULE 28.09 FORM 28H
NOTICE
(Section 6(4); 6(7); 7(4); 18(2))
(Judgment Debt Recovery Act 1984)
IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURT
OF VICTORIA
AT
A.B. Judgment creditor
and
C.D. Judgment debtor
TO: [name and address of judgment creditor or judgment debtor].
TAKE NOTICE THAT upon application by [name of applicant] for [type of
application] and *a notice of objection filed by [name] having been heard,
the proper officer of the Court has
* ordered that [details of order]
or
* refused to make the order sought in the application.
Dated: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
Registrar
* Delete if not applicable.
_______________
Form 28H
-- 300 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
283
RULE 28.09 FORM 28J
NOTICE
(Section 14(6); 17(5))
(Judgment Debt Recovery Act 1984)
IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURT
OF VICTORIA
AT
A.B. Judgment creditor
and
C.D. Judgment debtor
TO: [name of judgment creditor]
of [address].
A *warrant of apprehension/summons for oral examination was issued on
[date] requiring the attendance of the judgment debtor at the Court on [date]
for the *purposes of examination as to financial circumstances [and]/as to the
circumstances of the alleged default in payment of instalments.
Dated: [e.g. 5 September, 20 ].
Registrar
* Delete if not applicable.
_______________
Form 28J
-- 301 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
284
RULE 28.09 FORM 28K
NOTICE
(Section 6(6), 8)
(Judgment Debt Recovery Act 1984)
IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURT
OF VICTORIA
AT
A.B. Judgment creditor
and
C.D. Judgment debtor
TO: [name of judgment creditor or judgment debtor] of [address].
An application for [type of application] was made by [identify party] on
[date] and on [date] the proper officer of the Court *made an order in the
terms of the application/refused to make an order.
* And the [identify party] filed on [date] *a notice of objection/application
for variation of instalment order/application for cancellation of instalment
order.
TAKE NOTICE that the matter will be heard on [date] at [time] by the Court
at [venue].
Dated: [e.g. 5 September, 20 ].
Registrar
* Delete if not applicable.
_______________
Form 28K
-- 302 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
285
RULE 28.10 FORM 28L
WARRANT OF COMMITMENT
(Judgment Debt Recovery Act 1984)
IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURT
OF VICTORIA
AT
TO: All members of the Police Force and to the keeper of Her Majesty's
Prison at
You are commanded to take [judgment debtor] and to convey *him/her to the
prison at and deliver *him/her to the keeper of that prison and
you, the keeper are required to receive *him/her into your custody and keep
*him/her there safely for [number] of days unless you receive a certificate
signed by the registrar of the Court at [venue] that the judgment debt has been
paid or satisfied or until the judgment debtor is discharged by due course of
law.
Dated: [e.g. 5 September, 20 ].
Registrar
* Delete if not applicable.
_______________
Form 28L
-- 303 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
286
RULE 28.12 FORM 28M
CERTIFICATE OF DISCHARGE
(Judgment Debt Recovery Act 1984)
IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURT
OF VICTORIA
AT
A.B. Judgment creditor
and
C.D. Judgment debtor
TO: The Keeper of Her Majesty's Prison at
This is to certify that [judgment debtor] presently held by you under a
warrant dated has paid the debt owing [or has made satisfaction
for the debt owing] for which the warrant issued and is now entitled to be
discharged out of your custody.
Dated: [e.g. 5 September, 20 ].
Registrar
* Delete if not applicable.
_______________
Form 28M
-- 304 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
287
RULE 30.02 FORM 30A
APPLICATION FOR RE-HEARING
[heading as in Form 4A]
To the Registrar
and to [names and addresses of other parties to proceeding].
I did not appear at the hearing of the above complaint. The Court on [date] in
my absence made an order against me for [set out terms of order] and for
$ costs.
TAKE NOTICE that I intend to apply to the Court for an order that that order
be set aside and the complaint be re-heard as soon as possible.
I did not appear at the hearing for the following reason(s) [set out reasons].
*I did not file a notice of defence for the following reason(s) [set out
reasons].
My address for service is:
[Signed]
Filed: [e.g. 5 September, 20 ].
This application will be heard by the Court on [date] at [time].
Registrar
* Delete if not applicable.
_______________
Form 30A
-- 305 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
288
RULE 31.07 FORM 31A
IRREVOCABLE BANK GUARANTEE
[heading as in Form 4A]
The [name of bank] of [address] undertakes to hold itself responsible for the
payment into Court of $ ordered to be paid by the
*plaintiff/*defendant in the above matter by order of the Court on [date].
The bank acknowledges that this undertaking can be amended or revoked
only with the leave of the Court or discharged by payment of $
into Court.
[*sealed by the Bank
or
* Signed by an officer of the bank
authorised in writing]
Filed: [e.g. 5 September, 20 ].
* Delete if not applicable.
_______________
RULE 31.08 FORM 31B
NOTICE OF DISCHARGE AND PAYMENT INTO COURT
[heading as in Form 4A]
The [name of bank] of [address] which guaranteed the payment of $
into Court on behalf of the *plaintiff/*defendant in the above matter hereby
discharges the guarantee and pays into Court the total sum of money so
guaranteed.
[*sealed by the Bank
or
* Signed by an officer of the bank
authorised in writing]
Filed: [e.g. 5 September, 20 ].
* Delete if not applicable.
_______________
Form 31A
-- 306 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
289
RULE 32.01 FORM 32A
CONSENT TO ACT AS LITIGATION GUARDIAN
IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURT
OF VICTORIA
AT
To the Registrar
I, [name of litigation guardian] of [address] give notice that I consent to act
as litigation guardian for [name of minor or person with a disability] of
[address] for the purposes of [set out brief details of proceeding in which
litigation guardian consents to act].
[Signed]
Dated: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
_______________
Form 32A
-- 307 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
290
RULE 34.02 FORM 34A
NOTICE OF APPEAL
IN THE MAGISTRATES' COURT 20 No.
OF VICTORIA
AT
In the matter of an appeal
pursuant to [name of the
Act and section of Act
under which appeal is
brought.]
APPLICANT: [Name and Address]
RESPONDENT: [Name and Address]
The appellant appeals against [set out briefly the substance of the order or
decision appealed against].
Date of order or decision:
Grounds of appeal: [set out specifically the grounds of appeal]
Dated: [e.g. 5 September 20 ].
[Signed by appellant]
__________________
Form 34A
-- 308 of 324 --
Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
291
APPENDIX A
Scale of Costs
Scale of costs and fees which may be claimed by Solicitors and Counsel as
between party and party as well as between solicitor and client.
If in any case the Court or registrar thinks that any item is inadequate or
excessive, the Court or registrar may allow a greater or lesser sum than the
scale provides.
If the scale of costs does not provide for any case, the Court or registrar may
allow reasonable costs.
Item Particulars of Service $
1. Claim for debt, liquidated demand or claim arising from
a motor vehicle collision for costs of repairs only or for
total loss of vehicle only including all professional costs
where the amount claimed is—
(a) Less than $500 164
(b) $500 to less than $5000 344
(c) $5000 to less than $7500 422
(d) $7500 to less than $20 000 506
(e) $20 000 to less than $40 000 629
(f) $40 000 to less than $70 000 757
(g) $70 000 and over 905
Item Particulars of Service
(Costs for items 2 to 80 are set out in Table 1)
Instructions
2. Instructions to make, issue or oppose an application or summons
or any notice of objection under the Judgment Debt Recovery
Act 1984 including instructions for any affidavit (not otherwise
provided for).
Institution of proceedings
3. Complaint, including instructions to sue, letter before action,
attendances on counsel, copies for service, issuing, and
attendances on process server.
App. A
-- 309 of 324 --
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Item Particulars of Service
(Costs for items 2 to 80 are set out in Table 1)
4. Consent of litigation guardian including preparation of
memorandum, copies and obtaining signature of litigation
guardian.
5. Notices of defence to claim, counterclaim or third party notice
including instructions to defend, perusal of claim, counterclaim or
third party notice, reply, attendances on counsel, copies, filing
and service.
6. Counterclaim, third party notice, notice of contribution or any
further pleading including instructions to issue, attendances on
counsel, copies, filing and service.
7. Perusal of notice of defence, counterclaim, third party notice or
any other pleading, and notice of contribution.
Particulars
8. Request for particulars of any document including attendances on
counsel, copies, filing, service and perusal of further particulars.
9. Further and better particulars of any documents including perusal
of request, attendances on counsel, copies, filing and service.
View
10. Attending view, including arranging view and attendance on
counsel.
11. If the attendance exceeds half an hour—for each quarter hour
thereafter.
Discovery
12. Notice of discovery including filing and service.
13. Perusal of affidavit of documents and inspection of documents.
14. Affidavit of documents including instructions, attendances on
counsel, copies, swearing, filing, service and production of
documents for inspection.
15. Notice to produce documents including filing and service.
Interrogatories
16. Interrogatories for examination including instructions,
attendances on counsel, copies, filing, service and perusal of
answers.
App. A
-- 310 of 324 --
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293
Item Particulars of Service
(Costs for items 2 to 80 are set out in Table 1)
17. Answers to interrogatories including perusal of interrogatories,
instructions, attendances on counsel, copies, swearing, filing and
service.
Brief to advise
18. Brief to advise including preparation of memorandum to counsel,
attendances on counsel and perusal of advice.
Notices, undertakings, etc.
19. Any necessary notice (including notices before proceeding),
undertaking, consent, order, memorandum (not otherwise
provided for) including copies, filing and service.
20. Notice to admit including perusal of admissions, copies, filing
and service.
21. Admissions, including perusal of notice to admit, copies, filing
and service.
22. Offer of compromise or notice of acceptance of offer including
copies, filing and service.
Witnesses and Expert witnesses
23. Witness summons including instructions, copies and issuing.
24. Attendance on witness to arrange attendance to give evidence
without witness summons, including reminders.
25. Arranging examination or inspection by an expert witness and
notifying party, supplying relevant documents to witness,
obtaining and perusing report.
26. Notifying party of examination or inspection arranged by opposite
party.
27. Statement of expert witness (pursuant to Rule 19.02) including
instructions, filing and service.
Applications
28. Application or summons or any notice under the Judgment Debt
Recovery Act 1984 including copies, issuing and affidavit of
service.
29. Application for an order under Rule 10.01 (in addition to item 1 if
applicable) or 10.04 including copies and issuing.
App. A
-- 311 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
294
Item Particulars of Service
(Costs for items 2 to 80 are set out in Table 1)
Notice of Objection
30. Notice of objection under the Judgment Debt Recovery Act
1984 including copies, issuing and affidavit of service.
Affidavits
31. Affidavit including attendances on counsel, copies, swearing,
filing and service.
32 Affidavit of service, including swearing and filing (not otherwise
provided for).
General Preparation
33. For work necessarily and properly done in preparing for hearing
and not otherwise provided for, including—
(a) taking instructions for examination of any party or witness;
(b) considering the facts and the law;
(c) attending on and corresponding with client;
(d) interviewing and corresponding with witnesses and taking
proofs of their evidence;
(e) obtaining reports or advice from experts and maps, plans,
photographs and models;
(f) making search in any public office and elsewhere for relevant
documents;
(g) inspecting any property or place material to the proceeding;
(h) perusing relevant documents;
(i) general care and conduct of the proceeding.
Pre-Hearing Conference
34. Preparation including all necessary instructions, instructions for
brief for counsel or brief notes for solicitor, correspondence and
perusals.
35. Attendance at conference whether by counsel or solicitor.
Mediation
36. Preparation including all necessary instructions, instructions for
brief for counsel or brief notes for solicitor, all necessary
correspondence, perusals, etc.
App. A
-- 312 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
295
Item Particulars of Service
(Costs for items 2 to 80 are set out in Table 1)
37. Attending mediation by solicitor, for first 4 hours or part thereof.
38. For each subsequent hour.
39. Attending mediation with counsel (where necessary) per hour.
40. If solicitor attends at a place more than 50 kilometres from his or
her place of business, an additional fee may be allowed.
41. The reasonable costs of a mediation held before the
commencement of proceedings may be allowed.
Court Attendance
42. Attendance at Court or upon magistrate or officer of the Court on
application, summons, appeal or to hear reserved judgment.
43. Attendance of solicitor without counsel at a WorkCover
directions hearing or at the hearing of an application for
revocation of a direction of a conciliation officer.
44. Attending WorkCover mentions.
45. Attendance at Court on hearing—solicitor without counsel for the
first six hours (including any luncheon adjournment).
46. If attendance at Court exceeds six hours—for each hour
thereafter.
47. Attendance at Court by solicitor on hearing with counsel for the
first 3 hours.
48. If attendance exceeds 3 hours—for each hour thereafter.
Conference with Counsel
49. Appointment and attendance per hour (when necessary).
Fees to Counsel
50. To draw or settle any necessary document including notice before
action, particulars of claim or defence (including special defence),
counterclaim, interrogatories and medical panel referral
documents including medical questions, section 65(6A)
statements, lists of documents and submissions pursuant to the
Accident Compensation Act 1985 etc.
51. To confer, prepare, view or consult—per hour.
52. To advise on evidence or give opinion.
App. A
-- 313 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
296
Item Particulars of Service
(Costs for items 2 to 80 are set out in Table 1)
53. Brief on hearing.
54. For each six hours or part thereof after the first six hours of
hearing (including any luncheon adjournment).
55. Attending mediation, for the first 4 hours or part thereof.
56. For each subsequent hour.
57. Attending at WorkCover directions hearing.
57A. Attending at the hearing of an application for revocation of a
direction of a conciliation officer.
Documents
58. Drawing any document or brief (where not otherwise provided
for)—per folio.
59. Typing any document or brief (where not otherwise provided
for)—per folio.
60. Copies—
For the first 50 pages of photocopying in a proceeding,
$2.00 per page.
For any photocopying after the first 50 pages in a
proceeding, 60 cents per page.
Perusals
61. Of any document or part of a document (where not otherwise
provided for)—per folio.
62. Examination or scanning any document which is not necessary to
peruse—per folio.
Correspondence
63. Special letter.
64. Ordinary letter (including an agency letter).
65. Circular letter. After the first, postage may be claimed as a
disbursement.
Attendances
66. Attendance—such as an attendance at the office of the Registrar
or on a process server or to serve or an attendance which is
capable of being made by a clerk.
App. A
-- 314 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
297
Item Particulars of Service
(Costs for items 2 to 80 are set out in Table 1)
67. Attendance (personal or by telephone) of a solicitor or managing
clerk and involving the exercise of skill or legal knowledge—for
each quarter hour.
68. Attendance which does not involve the exercise of skill or legal
knowledge—for each quarter hour.
Warrant, summons, etc.
69. Warrant to seize property or of delivery including instructions,
preparation and issuing.
70. Summons for oral examination, including instructions,
preparation of summons and affidavit, issuing, arranging service,
forwarding summons and affidavit to Registrar with letter.
71. Proceedings for attachment of debts including all professional
costs.
72. Summons for attachment of earnings, including instructions,
preparation of summons, affidavit and Form 27F, issuing
summons, arranging service, forwarding summons and affidavit
to registrar with a letter (including affidavit of service).
73. Form 27L, including preparation, filing and service.
74. Order to attend or to give a statement under Rule 27.16 including
preparation, issuing and arranging service.
75. Registration of interstate judgment.
Service
76. For service of Court documents on each person to be served.
77. For service of Court documents on each person to be served
where service is effected by post or by leaving at a document
exchange.
78. For every necessary visit made in attempting service of Court
documents and for each report of non-service where the time, date
and number of visits attempting service are shown by affidavit.
79. In addition to the above mentioned service fees an allowance at
the rate of 60 cents for each 1 kilometre in respect of any distance
measured both ways from the nearest court house or other
building where the Court is held, or the residence of the person
who served the court document, whichever is the closer, to the
place of service or attempted service of the document.
App. A
-- 315 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
298
Item Particulars of Service
(Costs for items 2 to 80 are set out in Table 1)
Notes to items 76 to 79 inclusive:
A In these items "Court documents" include complaint,
summons, application or other document used in a court
proceeding.
B A registrar, upon application made before service of any
Court document, may fix and endorse on the document an
amount representing an allowance calculated at 60 cents for
each kilometre of the distance both ways by the shortest
practicable route, from the nearest court house or other
building where the Court is held, or the residence of the
process server, whichever is the closer to the place of service
and the Court in assessing costs on the hearing shall have
regard to the amount so fixed and endorsed.
C For service of two or more Court documents in the same
proceeding on the same person who was or could have been
served at the same time and place, only one service fee shall
be allowed.
D For service of a Court document in the same proceeding on
two or more persons who were or could have been served at
the same time and place, only one service fee shall be
allowed.
E No costs shall be allowed for service of any Court document
where service has been effected by an employee of the
plaintiff or defendant, unless the Court is satisfied by
evidence on oath or affidavit that the employee is exclusively
engaged on the service of legal process for the employer.
Substituted service
80. Order for substituted service including all professional costs.
81. If an advertisement in lieu of service is ordered, the necessary and
reasonable costs of the advertisement in addition.
Witnesses' expenses
82. Subject to item 82A, witnesses giving evidence in an expert or
professional capacity, up to $231 per hour or part thereof, but not
to exceed $1618 per day.
Other witnesses—up to $58 per hour or part thereof, but not to
exceed $289 per day.
App. A
-- 316 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
299
Item Particulars of Service
(Costs for items 2 to 80 are set out in Table 1)
82A Witnesses giving evidence in the capacity of motor vehicle loss
assessors, up to $120 per hour or part thereof, but not to exceed
$660 per day.
Circuit fees
83. (a) A circuit fee may be charged by counsel where the claim or
the counterclaim is $40 000 or more. No circuit fee may be
charged where the claim or the counterclaim is less than
$40 000, unless the Court otherwise orders;
(b) A circuit fee must be calculated on the same time basis as a
fee for counsel on the hearing of a proceeding, namely, for
each 6 hours or part thereof after the first 6 hours of hearing
(including any luncheon adjournment);
(c) Any circuit fee allowed under paragraph (a) or (b) must be in
accordance with the Schedule 1 to Appendix A of the Scale
of Costs in Chapter I of the Rules of the County Court unless
the circuit town appears in Table 2, in which case Table 2
applies. Whether or not Appendix A or Table 2 applies, not
more than one circuit fee must be allowed in any one day in
relation to any proceeding or matter;
(d) A circuit fee may be charged by a mediator who conducts a
mediation following a referral of a proceeding or part of a
proceeding to mediation. A circuit fee may also be charged
for a pre-issue mediation held in accordance with a Practice
Direction. A circuit fee may only be charged by a mediator
with the agreement of the parties to the mediation.
TABLE 1
(Costs in dollars for items 2 to 80)
Item
A
Less than
$500
B
$500
to less
than
$5000
C
$5000
to less
than
$7500
D
$7500
to less
than
$20 000
E
$20 000
to less
than
$40 000
F
$40 000
to less
than
$70 000
G
$70 000
and over
2. 56 56 56 85 105 126 147
3. 164 345 423 507 630 759 908
4. n/a n/a 123 161 164 175 186
App. A
-- 317 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
300
Item
A
Less than
$500
B
$500
to less
than
$5000
C
$5000
to less
than
$7500
D
$7500
to less
than
$20 000
E
$20 000
to less
than
$40 000
F
$40 000
to less
than
$70 000
G
$70 000
and over
5. 76 163 201 240 300 361 433
6. 87 180 222 264 329 396 474
7. 40 40 40 40 40 40 40
8. 57 129 157 189 234 279 331
9. 52 108 130 157 195 235 281
10. n/a n/a 132 182 197 222 250
11. n/a n/a 15 38 38 38 38
12. 38 61 76 89 114 133 154
13. 46 86 103 128 160 191 224
14. 89 193 235 281 354 419 497
15. 38 57 76 89 114 133 154
16. 75 153 186 222 278 330 383
17. 99 210 266 319 396 476 564
18. n/a n/a 132 182 197 222 249
19. 37 66 77 91 115 134 162
20. 99 99 99 134 169 204 244
21. 99 99 99 134 169 205 244
22. 85 85 85 125 157 189 224
23. 18 31 44 44 56 68 81
24. 17 18 18 31 35 41 47
25. 53 54 54 83 103 123 147
26. 11 11 11 40 51 61 74
27. 72 131 182 218 274 324 376
28. 30 71 77 87 107 129 152
29. 34 34 34 34 34 34 34
30. 33 33 33 33 33 33 33
31. 75 153 186 222 278 329 382
App. A
-- 318 of 324 --
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S.R. No. 49/2009
301
Item
A
Less than
$500
B
$500
to less
than
$5000
C
$5000
to less
than
$7500
D
$7500
to less
than
$20 000
E
$20 000
to less
than
$40 000
F
$40 000
to less
than
$70 000
G
$70 000
and over
32. 31 31 31 31 31 31 31
33. 298 975 1203 1445 1806 2610 4059
34. 73 221 294 356 442 532 608
35. 130 251 357 442 553 667 775
36. 73 221 294 356 434 520 597
37. 130 251 357 442 544 652 763
38. 38 71 87 104 135 162 190
39. 38 71 87 104 135 162 190
40. refer to item 40
41. refer to item 41
42. 77 172 213 257 322 386 462
43. 130 251 358 443 556 669 777
44. 117 117 117 117 117 117 117
45. 274 553 832 998 1249 1491 1735
46. 58 108 130 160 197 237 277
47. 125 213 265 319 396 476 551
48. 38 71 87 104 129 157 184
49. 38 77 98 124 156 187 218
50. 48 84 117 135 175 209 242
51. 48 90 117 135 175 209 242
52. n/a n/a 155 234 253 283 422
53. 318 714 963 1155 1440 1730 1890
54. 214 477 639 767 963 1150 1343
55. 132 255 364 450 564 677 790
56. 40 72 89 106 142 168 197
57. 134 259 370 457 575 690 827
App. A App. A
-- 319 of 324 --
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Item
A
Less than
$500
B
$500
to less
than
$5000
C
$5000
to less
than
$7500
D
$7500
to less
than
$20 000
E
$20 000
to less
than
$40 000
F
$40 000
to less
than
$70 000
G
$70 000
and over
57A. 457 457 457 457 457 457 457
58. 3.4 8.6 8.6 8.6 10 12 16
59. 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1
60. refer to item 60
61. 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1
62. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
63. 31 31 31 31 31 31 31
64. 22 22 22 22 22 22 22
65. 12 12 12 12 12 12 12
66. 22 22 22 22 22 22 22
67. 38 38 38 38 38 38 38
68. 18 18 18 18 18 18 18
69. 43 86 103 129 162 195 228
70. 45 104 126 139 176 213 249
71. 125 253 307 366 458 547 660
72. 224 345 370 465 581 696 840
73. 38 66 77 91 115 134 155
74. 38 66 77 91 115 134 155
75. 56 56 56 85 85 85 85
76. 54 54 54 54 54 54 54
77. 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
78. 37 37 37 37 37 37 37
79. refer to item 79
80. 110 198 237 280 351 416 483
App. A
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Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
303
TABLE 2
CIRCUIT FEES
Circuit town Fee for first six hours
Further fee for further
six hours or part
thereafter
Ararat 378 250
Benalla 400 265
Colac 317 210
Echuca 400 265
Mansfield 317 210
Moe 296 197
Portland 436 292
Stawell 400 265
Swan Hill 400 265
_______________
App. A
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Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
304
APPENDIX B
CIVIL REGISTRY COURTS
Ararat Hamilton Ouyen
Bacchus Marsh Heidelberg Portland
Bairnsdale Hopetoun Ringwood
Ballarat Horsham Robinvale
Benalla Kerang St. Arnaud
Bendigo Korumburra Sale
Broadmeadows Kyneton Seymour
Castlemaine Latrobe Valley Shepparton
Cobram Mansfield Stawell
Colac Maryborough Sunshine
Collingwood Melbourne Swan Hill
Corryong Mildura Wangaratta
Dandenong Moe Warrnambool
Dromana Moorabbin Justice
Centre situated at
1140 Nepean Highway,
Highett
Werribee
Echuca Myrtleford Wodonga
Frankston Nhill Wonthaggi
Geelong Omeo
Orbost
__________________
App. B
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Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
305
SCHEDULE 1
RULES REVOKED
1. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 1999 S.R. No. 58/1999
2. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment
No. 1) Rules 1999
S.R. No. 121/1999
3. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment
No. 2) Rules 1999
S.R. No. 149/1999
4. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment
No. 3) Rules 2000
S.R. No. 22/2000
5. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment
No. 4) Rules 2000
S.R. No. 46/2000
6. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment
No. 5) Rules 2000
S.R. No. 89/2000
7. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment
No. 6) Rules 2000
S.R. No. 133/2000
8. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment
No. 7) Rules 2001
S.R. No. 80/2001
9. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment
No. 8) Rules 2001
S.R. No. 142/2001
10. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment
No. 9) Rules 2002
S.R. No. 123/2002
11. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment
No. 10) Rules 2003
S.R. No. 144/2003
12. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment
No. 11) Rules 2004
S.R. No. 153/2004
13. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment
No. 12) Rules 2005
S.R. No. 5/2005
14. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment
No. 13) Rules 2005
S.R. No. 15/2005
15. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment
No. 14) Rules 2005
S.R. No. 165/2005
16. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment
No. 15) Rules 2006
S.R. No. 87/2006
17. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment
No. 16) Rules 2006
S.R. No. 164/2006
Sch. 1
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Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009
S.R. No. 49/2009
306
18. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment
No. 17) Rules 2006
S.R. No. 170/2006
19. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment
No. 18) Rules 2006
S.R. No. 178/2006
20. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment
No. 19) Rules 2007
S.R. No. 103/2007
21. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment
No. 20) Rules 2007
S.R. No. 119/2007
22. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment
No. 21) Rules 2007
S.R. No. 142/2007
23. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment
No. 22) Rules 2008
S.R. No. 43/2008
24. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment
No. 23) Rules 2008
S.R. No. 64/2008
25. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment
No. 24) Rules 2008
S.R. No. 139/2008
26. Magistrates' Court Civil Procedure (Amendment
No. 25) Rules 2009
S.R. No. 39/2009
Dated: 12 May 2009
IAN L. GRAY,
Chief Magistrate
P. LAURITSEN,
Deputy Chief Magistrate
LANCE MARTIN,
Deputy Chief Magistrate
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Sch. 1
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