Victorian Consolidated Legislation

INSTRUMENTS ACT 1958 - NOTES

No. 6279 of 1958
Version incorporating amendments as at 19 March 2009

ENDNOTES

1. General Information
The Instruments Act 1958 was assented to on 30 September 1958 and came into operation on 1 April 1959: Government Gazette 30 March 1959 p. 892.
2. Table of Amendments
This Version incorporates amendments made to the Instruments Act 1958 by Acts and subordinate instruments.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Instruments (Bills of Sale) Act 1958, No. 6438/1958
Assent Date:
5.11.58
Commencement Date:
1.4.59: Government Gazette 18.3.59 p. 896
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Statute Law Revision Act 1959, No. 6505/1959
Assent Date:
5.5.59
Commencement Date:
1.4.59: s. 1(2)
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Hire-Purchase Act 1959, No. 6531/1959
Assent Date:
12.5.59
Commencement Date:
1.7.59: Government Gazette 19.6.59 p. 1763
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Statute Law Revision Act 1962, No. 6867/1962
Assent Date:
16.4.62
Commencement Date:
16.4.62
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Subordinate Legislation Act 1962, No. 6886/1962
Assent Date:
8.5.62
Commencement Date:
1.8.62: Government Gazette 4.7.62 p. 2314
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Instruments (Corporate Bodies Contracts) Act 1967, No. 7547/1967
Assent Date:
17.3.67
Commencement Date:
1.7.67: Government Gazette 21.6.67 p. 2027
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Instruments (Bills of Exchange Amendment) Act 1969, No. 7852/1969
Assent Date:
14.10.69
Commencement Date:
1.3.71: Government Gazette 27.1.71 p. 201
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Instruments (Amendment) Act 1970, No. 7941/1970
Assent Date:
24.3.70
Commencement Date:
24.3.70
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Statute Law Revision Act 1971, No. 8181/1971
Assent Date:
23.11.71
Commencement Date:
23.11.71
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Instruments (Amendment) Act 1971, No. 8198/1971
Assent Date:
30.11.71
Commencement Date:
1.6.72: Government Gazette 19.4.72 p. 963
Current State:
All of Act in operation

Companies (Interstate Corporate Affairs Commission) Act 1974, No. 8565/1974
Assent Date:
14.5.74
Commencement Date:
1.7.74: Government Gazette 29.5.74 p. 1869
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Age of Majority Act 1977, No. 9075/1977
Assent Date:
6.12.77
Commencement Date:
1.2.78: Government Gazette 11.1.78 p. 97
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Instruments (Writs) Act 1979, No. 9279/1979
Assent Date:
10.7.79
Commencement Date:
10.7.79
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Instruments (Powers of Attorney) Act 1980, No. 9421/1980 (as amended by No. 9549)
Assent Date:
20.5.80
Commencement Date:
1.7.80: Government Gazette 25.6.80 p. 2123
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Penalties and Sentences Act 1981, No. 9554/1981
Endnotes
Assent Date:
19.5.81
Commencement Date:
S. 44 on 26.9.80 (but note ss 4, 9 of Act No. 9945): s. 1(3); ss 1, 36-46 on 3.6.81: Government Gazette 3.6.81 p. 1778; rest of  Act on 1.9.81: Government Gazette 26.8.81 p. 2799
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Crimes (Classification of Offences) Act 1981, No. 9576/1981
Assent Date:
26.5.81
Commencement Date:
1.9.81: Government Gazette 26.8.81 p. 2799
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Chattel Securities Act 1981, No. 9650/1981
Assent Date:
15.12.81
Commencement Date:
Ss 1, 2(1)(2)(6), 13-21, 21A, 21B, 26 on 28.3.84; rest of Act on 2.4.84: Government Gazette 28.3.84 p. 941
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Instruments (Enduring Powers of Attorney) Act 1981, No. 9691/1981
Assent Date:
5.1.82
Commencement Date:
3.3.82: Government Gazette 3.3.82 p. 604
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Companies (Consequential Amendments) Act 1981, No. 9699/1981
Assent Date:
5.1.82
Commencement Date:
Ss 9, 14, 18 on 1.7.81: s. 2(2); s. 19 on 1.10.81: s. 2(3); s. 22 on 5.1.82: s. 2(4); rest of Act on 1.7.82: s. 2(1)
Current State:
All of Act in operation


Instruments (Bills of Exchange) Act 1983, No. 9947/1983
Assent Date:
27.9.83
Commencement Date:
27.9.83
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Commercial Arbitration Act 1984, No. 10167/1984
Assent Date:
20.11.84
Commencement Date:
1.4.85: Government Gazette 20.2.85 p. 372
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Courts Amendment Act 1986, No. 16/1986
Assent Date:
22.4.86
Commencement Date:
Ss 1-11, 13-27, 29-34 on 1.7.86: Government Gazette 25.6.86 p. 2180; s. 28 on 1.9.86: Government Gazette 27.8.86 p. 3201; s. 12 on 1.1.88: Government Gazette 7.10.87 p. 2701
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Guardianship and Administration Board Act 1986, No. 58/1986
Endnotes
Assent Date:
3.6.86
Commencement Date:
S. 14 on 8.7.86: Government Gazette 25.6.86 p. 2179; Pt 1, ss 5, 6, 15-18, 75-82, Schs 1, 3 on 1.4.87: Government Gazette 25.3.87 p. 695; s. 58 on 1.4.87: Government Gazette 1.4.87 p. 778; rest of Act on 14.7.87: Government Gazette 8.7.87 p. 1792
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Supreme Court Act 1986, No. 110/1986 
Assent Date:
16.12.86
Commencement Date:
1.1.87: s. 2
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Chattel Securities Act 1987, No. 15/1987
Assent Date:
12.5.87
Commencement Date:
1.8.87: Government Gazette 29.7.87 p. 1992
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Sale of Goods (Vienna Convention) Act 1987, No. 35/1987
Assent Date:
12.5.87
Commencement Date:
Pts 1, 3 on 12.5.87: s. 2(1); Pt 2 on 1.4.89: Government Gazette 22.3.89 p. 652
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Conservation, Forests and Lands Act 1987, No. 41/1987
Assent Date:
19.5.87
Commencement Date:
S. 103(Sch. 4 items 38.1, 38.2) on 1.7.87: Government Gazette 24.6.87 p. 1694
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Instruments Act 1958
County Court (Amendment) Act 1989, No. 19/1989
Assent Date:
16.5.89
Commencement Date:
1.8.89: Government Gazette 26.7.89 p. 1858
Current State:
All of Act in operation

Magistrates' Court (Consequential Amendments) Act 1989, No. 57/1989
Assent Date:
14.6.89
Commencement Date:
S. 4(1)(a)-(e)(2) on 1.9.89: Government Gazette 30.8.89 p. 2210; rest of Act on 1.9.90: Government Gazette 25.7.90 p. 2217
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Medical Treatment (Enduring Power of Attorney) Act 1990, No. 7/1990
Assent Date:
10.4.90
Commencement Date:
6.8.90: Government Gazette 1.8.90 p. 2288
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Water (Further Amendment) Act 1994, No. 49/1994
Assent Date:
7.6.94
Commencement Date:
Ss 1, 2 on 7.6.94: s. 2(1); s. 8 (except s. 8(a)(c)) on 1.7.92: s. 2(2); rest of Act on 1.7.94: s. 2(4)
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Legal Practice Act 1996, No. 35/1996
Endnotes
Assent Date:
6.11.96
Commencement Date:
S. 453(Sch. 1 item 40.1-40.3) on 1.1.97: s. 2(3)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Instruments Act 1958
Law and Justice Legislation (Further Amendment) Act 1997, No. 84/1997
Assent Date:
2.12.97
Commencement Date:
Ss 48-50 on 2.12.97: s. 2(1)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Instruments Act 1958
Tribunals and Licensing Authorities (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1998, No. 52/1998
Assent Date:
2.6.98
Commencement Date:
S. 311(Sch. 1 item 43) on 1.7.98
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Instruments Act 1958
Corporations (Consequential Amendments) Act 2001, No. 44/2001
Assent Date:
27.6.01
Commencement Date:
S. 3(Sch. item 65) on 15.7.01: s. 2
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Instruments Act 1958
Public Notaries Act 2001, No. 52/2001
Assent Date:
25.9.01
Commencement Date:
S. 13(3) on 6.6.02: Government Gazette 30.5.02 p. 1118
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Instruments Act 1958



Auction Sales (Repeal) Act 2001, No. 84/2001
Assent Date:
11.12.01
Commencement Date:
S. 6 on 1.1.03: s. 2(4)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Instruments Act 1958
Corporations (Financial Services Reform Amendments) Act 2002, No. 9/2002
Endnotes
Assent Date:
23.4.02
Commencement Date:
S. 3(Sch. item 9) on 23.4.02: s. 2
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Instruments Act 1958
Instruments (Enduring Powers of Attorney) Act 2003, No. 75/2003
Assent Date:
21.10.03
Commencement Date:
Ss 3-5 on 1.4.04: Government Gazette 19.2.04 p. 333
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Instruments Act 1958
Transfer of Land (Electronic Transactions) Act 2004, No. 23/2004
Assent Date:
18.5.04
Commencement Date:
S. 9 on 19.5.04: s. 2
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Instruments Act 1958
Legal Profession (Consequential Amendments) Act 2005, No. 18/2005
Assent Date:
24.5.05
Commencement Date:
S. 18(Sch. 1 item 51) on 12.12.05: Government Gazette 1.12.05 p. 2781
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Instruments Act 1958
Motor Car Traders Amendment Act 2008, No. 4/2008
Assent Date:
4.3.08
Commencement Date:
S. 32(Sch. item 16) on 1.12.08: s. 2(2)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Instruments Act 1958
Courts Legislation Amendment (Associate Judges) Act 2008, No. 24/2008
Assent Date:
3.6.08
Commencement Date:
S. 79 on 17.12.08: Special Gazette (No. 377) 16.12.08 p. 1
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Instruments Act 1958
Racing and Gambling Legislation Amendment Act 2008, No. 73/2008
Assent Date:
25.11.08
Commencement Date:
S. 31 on 1.1.09: Government Gazette 18.12.08 p. 2998
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Instruments Act 1958
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Metric Conversion (Instruments Act) Regulations 1973, S.R. No. 375/1973
Endnotes
Date of Making:
18.12.73
Date of Commencement:
1.2.74: reg. 1
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3. Explanatory Details

1 Sch. 6: Refer to section 5 of the Decimal Currency Act 1965, No. 7315/1965.
2 Sch. 7: See note 1.

















INDEX

Subject

Section

Act

	commencement
1
	repeals
2, Sch. 1
	short title
1
	savings and transitional provisions
2, 125ZN-125ZP, 138A
Actions (def.)
3
Agreements

	certain agreements must be in writing
126, 128, 130
Arbitration See Insurance - Contracts in general
28
Banking shares
136
Bills of exchange - Proceedings

	appearances may be entered
5
	application of practice in actions
10
	bills to be deposited in court
7
	commencement
4, Sch. 2
	County Court actions
12
	defence after judgment
6
	definition of bill
3
	issue of one writ against several parties
9
	issue of writs
4, Sch. 2
	leave of court required for more than one action
13
	limitation of costs in Supreme Court
11
	Magistrates' Court actions
12
	recovery of expenses for noting dishonoured bills
8
	security for costs
7
Bodies corporate See Corporate bodies - Contracts

Bonds
30
Carriage of passengers by water - Contracts

	construction of Part 13
131
	definitions
131
	illegal conditions, agreements in contracts
132, 133-135
Contracts 
See Carriage of passengers by water - Contracts;
Corporate bodies - Contracts;
Public contracts;
headings beginning with Insurance

Corporate bodies - Contracts
31A
Crown lands
69
Definitions
3, 5, 14, 60, 69, 74, 104, 107, 111, 114, 125S, 125ZH, 131
Destruction, disposal of documents, instruments
138





Subject

Section

Enduring powers of attorney

	advisory opinions regarding
125T, 125ZA
	approved forms
114, 125ZL
	attorneys

acceptance of appointment
125B
appointment of alternative attorneys
120
appointment of one or more attorneys
119
death
125P
directions to
125T, 125V-125W, 125Z
heads of religious orders as
122
insolvent persons as
121, 125O
legal incapacity
125N
minimum age
119
power to execute instruments
125E
powers, role where guardian appointed
125F
powers, role where administrator appointed
125G
protection from liability
125S-125U
records and accounts kept by
125D, 125ZB
resignation
125M
	certificates in
123, 125A
	certified copies
125ZG-125ZI
	declarations regarding
125V-125W, 125Y, 125Z
	definition
114, 115
	donors

administrators
125G, 125W
death
125K
definition
114
guardians
125F, 125W
legal incapacity, lacking capacity 
115, 125M, 125X, 125Y
understanding of nature, effect of
118
	invalidity
125S, 125U, 125Y
	later enduring powers of attorney
125J
	made in other States, Territories
116, 125ZO
	orders of Tribunal regarding

applications
125V-125W
power to make, matters provided for
125Z, 125ZB
rehearings of applications
125ZC-125ZF
	proof
125ZG-125ZJ
	recommendations regarding
125T, 125V-125W, 125Z
	references to
125ZK
	regulations
125ZM
	requirements for making
123
	revocation

according to terms
125L
by attorneys
125M-125P
by donors
125I-125K
by Tribunal
125Q, 125X
effect if more than one attorney
125R
under other laws
125H
Subject

Section

	signing
123-124, 125A
	suspension
125Z
	taken to be deeds
125C
	time when exercisable
117
	transitional provisions
125ZN-125ZP
	variations of effects of
125Z
	witnesses
123, 125-125A
Evidence
61, 78
Fees
139
Gaming transactions
14
Guarantees
129
Insurance - Contracts in general

	application of Part 3 Division 3
29
	arbitration
28
	fraudulent statements
25
	maintenance of proceedings
27
Insurance - Life and other policies

	insertion of interested persons' names
22
	insurer must have interest
21
	not applicable to ships, goods, merchandises
24
	not void, voidable in certain circumstances
26
	recovery of value of interest
23
	void, voidable contracts
21, 25
Insurance - Marine policies

	assurance
15
	declaration of sums assured
17
	exclusion of policies covered by Commonwealth Act

20
	insertion of interested persons' names
18
	re-assurance
16
	void policies
19
Liens on crops

	affidavits
61, 68
	agreements
61, Sch. 6
	Chattel Securities Act 1987 not to apply
59
	definitions
60
	disposal of crops, land
67
	expiry
66
	liens by mortgagors
64
	liens by tenants
63
	register of agreements
66
	registration of agreements
61, Sch. 6
	right of lienee to crops
61-62
	transfer of liens
65
Liens on wool

	affidavits
70, 82
	agreements
70, Sch. 7
	Chattel Securities Act 1987 not to apply
69
	Crown lands
69
	definitions
69
	expiry
79
	fraud
81
Subject

Section

	receipts for registration
78
	register of agreements
79
	registration of agreements
70, Sch. 7
	right of lienee to wool
70-71
	transfer of liens
77
Life insurance 
See Insurance - Life and other policies

Mining
130
Mortgages of stock

	affidavits
80, 82
	Chattel Securities Act 1987 not to apply
69
	comprise all stock on station
75
	Crown lands
69
	definitions
69
	extinction of mortgages
80
	fraud
81
	not applicable to chattels
73
	priority of registered instruments
76
	receipts for registration
78
	register of mortgages
79
	registration of mortgages
72, Sch. 8
	rights of mortgagee
72
	transfer of mortgages
77
	vehicles and implements included in
74, Sch. 8
Offences

	regarding

contracts for carriage of passengers by water
135
liens on crops
67
liens on wool
81
mortgages on stock
81
Powers of attorney

	application of Part 11
105
	definitions
104, 111
	general powers of attorney

as security
109
dealing with property
108
execution
106
execution of instruments
108
form
107, Sch. 12
operation of
107
proof of instruments creating
111
protection of attorneys, third persons
110
revocation
110
	references to instruments
112
	regulations
113
See also Enduring powers of attorney

Public advocate

	applications to Tribunal
125V, 125ZB
	definition
114
	notice of applications to, hearings of Tribunal
125W
Public contracts
31

Subject

Section

Registrar-General

	powers, functions regarding

affidavits
68, 82
destruction, disposal of documents
138
registration of agreements as to liens on crops
61, 66
registration of agreements as to liens on wool
70, 78-79
registration of mortgages of stock
72, 74, 78-80
Regulations
113, 125ZM, 139
Repeals
2, Sch. 1
Representations of character
128
Secretary
114, 125ZL
Ships, vessels 
See	 Carriage of passengers by water - Contracts;
Insurance - Marine policies

State Trustees
125ZP
Transitional provisions
125ZN-125ZP, 138A
Tribunal 
See Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal

Unregistered companies
130
Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal

	jurisdiction regarding enduring powers of attorney

applications to
125V-125W
declarations of invalidity
125Y
leave required for resignation of attorneys 
125M
notice requirements
125W, 125ZD
powers in general
125Z-125ZB
rehearings of applications
125ZC-125ZF
revocation of powers by
125Q, 125X
Warrants of attorney
137

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Instruments Act 1958
No. 6279 of 1958