File complaint

Part of

Add new Civil cases

This Quick Reference Guide shows how to file a complaint.

 

1. Log in to Portal. Home screen displays.

2. Click:  Magistrates' Court of Victoria. Case Type screen displays.

3. Click:  Civil. Civil screen displays.

4. Click:  File a Complaint. Civil Complaints screen displays. 

5. Complete required panels and fields.

 

Panel: My Reference

Type reference name or number to identify filing.

 

Panel:  Case Details

• Case Type: Select case type.
• Sub Case Filing Type: Select initiation type.
• Application Type: Select claim type.
• Court Location: Change if required.

 

Note:

• Click:  Save for Later at any stage prior to application being filed 
• Complaint can be retrieved from Drafts tab located in My Account screen

 

6. Click:  Next Step. Plaintiff Details (1) screen displays. 

 

Note: Click green panels to navigate back and forth through initiation steps.

 

7. Complete required panels and fields: 

 

Panel:  Plaintiff Name

• Party Designation Type: Select Plaintiff type. When designated party is business, select Organisation as designation type. Do not select Agency or Company
• Party Type: -
• Other fields: Complete all required fields.

 

Panel:  Plaintiff Address

• Address Type: Select address type.
• Physical Address: Start typing address in search box and select correct option from auto-results.

 

Note: To add another address, click:  Add another Address

 

Panel:  Plaintiff Contact Details

• All fields: Type relevant contact information.
• Email Address: Type email address.

 

Note: If Plaintiff does not have legal representation, email address is mandatory.

 

Panel:  Plaintiff Identification Details

• Australian Business Number (ABN): Type Plaintiff's ABN if relevant.
• Australian Company Number (ACN): Type Plaintiff's ACN if relevant.

 

Panel:  Plaintiff Financial Details

Type financial information if relevant.

 

Panel:  Plaintiff Representation Capacity or Litigation Guardian

• Are you acting in a Representative Capacity? Select Yes or No.         
• Do you have a Litigation Guardian? Select Yes or No.

 

8. Is there only one Plaintiff?

• Yes: Go to next step.
• No: Click:  Add Another Plaintiff. Go to step 7.

 

9. Click:  Next Step

10. Complete required panels and fields.

 

Panel:  Plaintiff's Legal Representation Details

• Business Name: Start typing legal firm name into search box and select correct option from results.
• Reference Number: Type reference name or number to identify filing.

 

11. Click:  Next Step

12. Complete required panels and fields.

 

Panel:  Defendant Name

• Party Designation Type: Select Defendant type. When designated party is business, select Organisation as designation type. Do not use Agency or Company
• Party Type: -
• Other fields: Complete all required fields.

 

Panel:  Defendant Address

• Address Type: Select address type.
• Physical Address: Type address in search field and select correct option from auto-results. To add another address, click:  Add Another Address

 

Panel:  Defendant Identification Details

• Australian Business Number (ABN): Type Defendant's ABN if relevant.
• Australian Company Number (ACN): Type Defendant's ACN if relevant.

 

13. Is there only one Defendant?

• Yes: Go to next step.
• No: Click Add Another Defendant. Go to step 12.

 

14. Click:  Next Step

15. Complete required panels and fields.

 

Panel:  Claim Details

• Is this a monetary claim? Select Yes or No
• Claim Amount: Type claim amount. Claim Amount field only displays if monetary claim.
• Costs: Type costs amount. If no costs claimed, enter $0.00 in Costs field.

 

Panel:  Place of Claim

• Was the place of claim outside the state of Victoria? Select Yes or No. If Yes and not in Victoria, type location name.
• Where did the claim occur? -
• Suburb/Town: Type claim's suburb location and select option from results.
• Postcode: -
• Statement of Claim: Expand panel and type Statement of Claim, if required.

 

16. Click:  Next Step

17. Complete required panels and fields.

 

Panel:  Optional at Filing

• Code/Name: Type name and select additional document(s).
• Upload Documents: Click:  Choose File and add required PDF document to case. All document uploads must be PDF.
• Electronic signature: Select item Electronic Signature Consent.

 

18. Click:  Next Step

19. Complete required panels and fields.

 

Panel:  Fee Waiver

Change to Yes if applying for fee waiver.

 

20. Click:  Proceed. My Account screen displays. 

21. Select item requiring payment. Click:  Submit Payment. Process Payment screen displays. 

22. In Payment Options panel, select payment method. Click:  Continue. Confirmation of Filing screen displays. 

 

Note: Acknowledgment for filing email is sent to Portal user when document is filed.