File Charge and Summons

Part of
Prosecution Agencies
file_charge_and_summons.docx Download full guide with screenshots

This Quick Reference Guide shows how to file a Charge and Summons in CMS Portal.

 

1. From Home page, select: Magistrates' Court of Victoria or Children's Court Victoria

    Select a Case Type screen displays.

2. Select: Criminal

    Criminal screen displays.

3. Select: File Charges

    Criminal Initiation Portal screen displays.

4. To identify filing, type reference in My Reference field.

5. Complete required panels and fields. 

    Case Details

  • Jurisdiction: -

  • Initiating Type: Select: Charge and Summons

  • Is the accused a person or an organisation? Select relevant option.

 

Note: Field only displays for Magistrates' Court of Victoria cases. 

 

  • What would you like to do? Select relevant option. 

  • Filing Date: Change if required. 

  • Court Location: Select location. 

  • Brief/Reference ID: Type number if provided. 

 

    Case Alerts

  • Alert Type: Select if required.

 

    Case Initiating Document: -

6. Click: Next Step

    Informant screen displays.

7. Complete required panels and fields. 

    Informant

  • Surname:

    • Type surname. 

    • Select correct option from results.

 

  • Is there a legal representative? Change if required. 

8. Click: Next Step

    Accused Details screen displays.

9. Complete required panels and fields. 

    Accused Name

  • Party Designation Type: Change if required. 

 

Note: Different fields display if Organisation selected. 

 

  • MNI/JAID: Type number if provided.

  • Surname / Single Name: Type name.

  • First Name: Type name.

  • Middle Name: Type name(s) if provided. 

  • Name Suffix: Select relevant option if provided. 

  • Trading As: Type name if provided. 

 

Note: Field only displays for Magistrates' Court of Victoria cases. 

 

    Alias Details

  • Party Designation: Type Select relevant option if provided.

 

Note: Different fields display based on selection.

 

  • Title: Select relevant option. 

  • Surname / Single Name: Type name.

  • First Name: Type name.

  • Middle Name (s): Type name(s) if provided.

  • Name Suffix: Select relevant option if provided. 

 

Note: Panel does not display if Party Designation Type is Organisation.

 

    Address Details

  • Address: Type Select relevant option. 

 

Note: Different fields display if Unknown, Homeless or Overseas selected.

 

  • Physical Address

    • ​Type address. 

    • Select correct option from results. 

 

Note: If address cannot be located, type address details into relevant fields. 

 

    Contact Details

  • Mobile Number: Type number if provided.

  • Home Number: Type number if provided.

  • Work Number: Type number if provided.

  • Fax Number: Type number if provided. 

  • Email Address: Type address if provided.

 

    Additional Details

  • Date Of Birth: Type date or click calendar icon to select date.

  • Gender: Select relevant option.

  • Identified term and/or pronouns: Type if provided. 

  • Indigenous Status: Select relevant option.

  • Is an interpreter provided? Select Yes or No

 

Note: If Yes, complete additional fields. 

 

    Identification Details

  • Australian Business Number (ABN): Type number if provided. 

  • Corrections Reference Number: Type number if provided. 

 

    Driver’s Licence / Permit Details

  • Is it an international driver’s licence/permit? Change if required. 

  • Driver’s licence/permit state: Change if required. 

  • Driver’s licence / permit number: Type number if provided.

  • Vehicle registration number: Type number if provided. 

  • Vehicle registration state: Select relevant option if provided. 

10. Click: Next Step

      Charge Details screen displays

11. Complete required panels and fields. 

      Charge Details

  • Act and Section:

    • ​Type offence code or keyword(s). 

    • Select correct option from results. 

 

  • Date Period: Change if required. 

 

Note: Offence To Date field displays if In between dates selected.

 

  • Offence Date: Type date or click calendar icon to select date. 

  • Place of Offence Suburb:

    • Type suburb. 

    • Select correct option from results. 

 

Note:

  • If offence took place at unknown location, type suburb in Place of Offence (Text only) field

  • Place of Offence Postcode field automatically populates when selection made

 

  • Place of Offence (Text only): Type place of offence if relevant. 

  • Legislation Type: Select relevant option. 

  • Type of Offence: Select Indictable or Summary

  • Description of Offence: Type description. 

  • Is this an infringement offence? Change if required. 

 

Note: If Yes, complete additional fields. 

 

    Note: To add further charges: 

  • Click:  + Add Another Charge 

  • Complete additional panels

12. Click: Next Step

      Hearing Details screen displays.

13. Complete required panels and fields. 

      Hearing Details

  • Add New Hearing: -

  • Court Location: -

  • Hearing Type:

    • Select relevant option. 

    • Select relevant option from Listing Widget

 

  • Date and Time: Do not change.

  • Resources: Select resource(s).

  • Hearing Notes: Type if required.

14. Click: Next Step

      Fee Exemption screen displays.

15. Complete required panels and fields. 

      Fee Exemption

  • Are you claiming a fee exemption? Change if required. 

 

Note:

  • If Yes, complete Exemption Reason field

  • Certain organisations are automatically exempt from paying fees

  • Fees not required for filings with Children's Court of Victoria

 

16. Click: Next Step

      Document Details screen displays:

17. Complete required panels and fields. 

      Additional Documents

  • Code / Name: Type name and select additional document(s).

  • Upload Documents:

    • Select:  Attach File

    • Click:  Choose File and attach PDF document.

 

  • Electronic Signature Consent: Select checkbox. 

      Note: To add another document, click:  Add Another Document

18. Is fee required?

  • Yes: Click:  Proceed

 

See Quick Reference Guide: Make payment

 

  • No: Go to next step

19. Click: Proceed

      Confirmation of Filing screen displays.

Note:

  • If Court Issue selected:

    • document is placed in work queue for registry to review

    • and approved, document is accessed through My Account screen

 

  • If Informant Issued and Not Served selected, document is generated and accessed through My Account screen

 

See Quick Reference Guide: Download document

This page was last updated: Thursday 5 March 2026 - 9:04am