Form · Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Proper basis certification (Magistrates' Court of Victoria Form 4B)

Link to Magistrates' Court Form 4B, the certification that a complaint or defence is not frivolous, vexatious or an abuse of process, filed with Form 4A.

Kind
Form. A form to complete, or a guide to completing an official one.
Where it applies
Victoria
AI use
Yellow You and the tool draft together, with you directing. You check every statement you rely on.
Law stated as at
22 October 2026
Status
Maintained. Checked on 22 October 2026 against the official form at mcv.vic.gov.au and the 3 authorities it cites, for Victoria.
Version
1
Source
Link to the official form. Licence: © State of Victoria (Magistrates' Court of Victoria). Link only: download the current form from the official page each time; do not copy or adapt it.

Where this comes from

The official form is published by mcv.vic.gov.au; this page is a completion guide. Last checked on 2026-10-22.

When to use it

Use when a party files a Magistrates' Court civil complaint or a notice of defence. Form 4B is filed with Form 4A. The lawyer, not the tool, decides that there is a proper basis.

Used for these tasks

Each task page says how far AI may help with the task and what the lawyer must review.

How AI may be used

AI may check the draft against the current official form and list what is missing; the lawyer settles every statement that will be filed and signs or lodges the form.

AI may

  • Check the draft is the current version of the form and list every blank field or missing attachment
  • Index the documents on the file that the form calls for, with date and author
  • Turn the court's published filing and service steps into a checklist for this matter

AI must not

  • Must not write allegations, grounds, orders or figures in words that will be filed
  • Must not decide jurisdiction, standing or whether a time limit has been met
  • Must not sign, lodge or serve the form
  • Must not assert that a claim or defence has a proper basis

The lawyer checks

  • Form 4B is filed with the complaint or the notice of defence, and with Form 4A
  • The certification is about that filing: the Court describes it as a statement that the complaint, or the defence, is not frivolous, vexatious or an abuse of process
  • The person who signs can properly give the certification
  • Default-judgment applications also call for Form 4B if it is not already on the file

Method: how the Green, Yellow and Red levels are decided. This is guidance for planning, not legal advice.

Authorities

Official form

Open the official form. Always use the current version from the issuer. Licence: © State of Victoria (Magistrates' Court of Victoria). Link only: download the current form from the official page each time; do not copy or adapt it..

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