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books in which court proceedings were recorded. In general, for each case the proceedings note the parties, their counsel, the witnesses called by each party, whether they were cross-examined, and the disposition of the case. Though some prothonotaries had earlier kept notes on court activity, the proceedings books became mandatory in 1884 when legislation first addressed the records to be kept by local prothonotaries. Although not typical, the Annapolis County proceedings books record jury lists, County Court proceedings, County chambers proceedings and proceedings of the County Court Judge's Criminal Court, proceedings of the Supreme Court, and, during the 1950s and 1960s, divorce proceedings.

Subseries forms part of Shelburne County circuit records series and consists of docket books that provide a schedule or calendar of actions or matters for hearing or trial. Books provide case file number, action and proceedings taken, and attending lawyers. Books include nominal index by name of plaintiff and defendant. Series is arranged chronologically.

Series forms part of the Official record books series of the Supreme Court at Halifax sub-fonds and consists of registers used to record the filing of petitions for divorce as well as subsequent actions by the court in relation to the petition, including the granting of any decrees, the hearing of evidence, and the filing of orders for support and maintenance. The pagination and numbering of the volumes subsequent to 1901 reflect case numbers assigned by the registrar. The books prior to 1901 are of a different character and record, verbatim, decrees issued by the court as well as recording other actions in relation to the case.

Series forms part of the Official record books series of the Supreme Court at Halifax sub-fonds and consists of registers used by the Supreme Court at Halifax to index case numbers by plaintiff and defendant as they were assigned. The indexing is chronological and then alphabetical by the first letter of a party's last name. Prior to the start of case numbering in 1861 these registers were used as indexes to the cause books which recorded the commencement of cases. Some subsequent index volumes record case number as well as the page number reference to the cause book. Prior to 1861 the indexes refer only to cause book page numbers. The registers are independent of the cause books for which they act as indexes and have been divided by years for convenience. Indeed, book 14 starts with the notation, "new millennium - new book." Overlapping time periods probably indicate that some volumes were copied to replace others which due to use needed replacement.
In 1928 the court administration office changed to an index card system. Subsequent to 1952 the cards were photographically copied into index books which were microfilmed by the NS Archives in the period 2011 to 2013.

Sub-series forms part of Guysborough County circuit records and consists of a cause book that provides a calendar of actions or matters for hearing or trial. Book provides case file numbers, action and proceeding taken, and attending lawyers. Sub-series is arranged chronologically.

Subseries forms part of Circuit records at Truro series and consists of books used to record judgments awarded by the court in civil actions. The books generally record, for each award, the parties to the cause, their lawyers, the nature of the claim, and the amount of the award including any costs awarded. In many cases the judgments are by default, awarded when the defendant did not enter a plea. Settlements and information concerning executions and attachments are also recorded although their completeness is unknown. From time to time, particularly in the 19th century, property descriptions were recorded if the determination of boundaries was part of the cause. Subsequent to 1884 case numbers are recorded. Many of the books are indexed. Some volumes were also used to record judgments awarded by the Colchester County Inferior Court of Common Pleas.

Sub-series forms part of the Official records books series and consists of books used to record the issuance of documents, such as a summons, capias or occasionally other originating documents such as notices of expropriation, that would start a civil case or cause before the court. Some books, particularly the early ones are titled “original entry books” and record the residence and occupations of parties to a case. Generally the books record the parties, plaintiff’s attorney, the date the originating document was issued and the amount of damages or judgment sought. The books usually record the return of the originating writ indicating the defendant has been served. Indexes are available from 1821 until case numbering commenced in 1861. Starting in 1884 the books record, although perhaps not with great consistency, the issuance and filing of all documents related to a case. Papers filed in connection with application such as Bar Admissions, were also recorded in these books. The sub-series ended in 1980 when another index and case tracking system started.

After case numbering started in 1861 these cause books were used to record the issuance of case numbers, as well as the documents filed in relation to a case, and can serve date based way of locating particualar actions or cases.

Sub-series forms part of Case files series and consists of documents presented before the Prothonotary of the Supreme Court at Halifax to demonstrate qualification for admission to the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society and thus eligibility to practice law in Nova Scotia. The years from 1830 to 1902 are well represented as it appears the documents were maintained as a unit separate from the general civil case files. With the exception of a few files from 1946, grouped together in the general civil case files, subsequent admissions were not stored separately and are found scattered among the general civil case files. In 1986 the practice of separating the files resumed. Early files contain articles of clerkship in which a prospective barrister was in effect apprenticed to a member of the bar, certificates of good character, certifications of competency and legal knowledge and admission documents. Modern files contain a brief document indicating the applicant's qualifications, including information on where they have articled and their legal education, and an indication that fees have been paid and certificates of moral character have been filed with the Society. Most files also contain a brief biography used to introduce the applicant at the Bar Admission ceremony. Records related to disciplinary matters, such as complaints or even disbarment, were filed with the Bar Admission case file.

The subseries consists of 16 rolls recording the admission of individuals to the Bar of Nova Scotia and thus to the legal profession within the province. Bar Admission was, and continues to be, through an application to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia made at a sitting of the Court. Upon review of qualification and standing, individuals seeking admission to the Bar were invited by the judge to sign the Roll. The information content of the Rolls is limited to a date and signature of the newly admitted lawyer. The separate legal professional streams of barrister, solicitors, and attorneys were recognised until 1892 through separate admissions, and sometimes separate rolls, After 1892 all admissions have been as Barristers. In 1899 membership in the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society became a condition for practising law in the Province making the Roll both a document recording admission to the Bar and also admission to the Society. While the earlier "Rolls" are large format documents on a single sheet of paper, the 20th century documents are multiple sheets attached to each other or bound into a book-like "Roll" or register

Sub-series forms part of Circuit records at Annapolis Royal series of the Supreme Court on county circuit sous-fonds of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds and consists of books used to record judgments awarded by the court in civil actions. Generally the books record, for each award, the parties to the cause, their lawyers, the nature of the claim, and the amount of the award, including any costs awarded. In many instances, the judgments are default judgments awarded when the defendant did not enter an appearance, or response, to the initial writ. Case numbers, settlements and information concerning executions and attachments are also recorded, although their completeness is unknown. Most volumes have an internal index.

Sub-series forms part of Official record books series and consists of judgment books used to record the awarding of judgments in civil cases heard by the Supreme Court at Halifax. The books record the parties involved in the case, the date judgment was awarded, and the amount of damages or costs awarded. Case numbers are also recorded as are executions and the issuance of some other documents. Although the discharge of judgments, or their satisfaction, was sometimes recorded by scoring out the judgment entry, it is unclear how complete this practice was. Judgments could also be recorded in the registry of deeds and acted as a lien on a property. Most books contain an index. The books do not contain the decisions of the court in civil suits. Most cases before the court relate to the collection of routine personal and commercial debt and thus most judgments are monetary awards that follow a standardized wording. Some judgments involve more complex settlement terms, such as those for the partition of lands, where the award might not have been monetary. After 1920, pre-printed books of standardized judgments are used for causes where a default judgment is made. Separate pre-printed books of judgment forms are later used for cases involving the Workman's Compensation Board, the Health Services Tax Commission and the Labour Standards Tribunal. The New Practice Act of 1861 allowed the Prothonotary to award judgments in some instances and to sign judgments on behalf of the court. This facilitated court business and allowed the awarding of judgments when the judges were not in term. The books end in 1980 and subsequent judgments were recorded only in the case files.

Sub-series forms part of Circuit records at Annapolis Royal series of the Supreme Court on County Circuit sous-fonds of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia fonds and consists of a docket book recording the cases scheduled to be heard during each court term. Each entry generally records the parties to the action, their lawyers, the nature of the action and its disposition by the court. From 1877 to 1895, the same book was also used separately to record the names of persons selected as potential jurors.

Sub-series forms part of Circuit records at Sydney and consists of two volumes recording rules of the supreme court. The dated volume is a handwritten copy of what is also found as RG 1 Volume 143 in the Halifax records of the Supreme Court. These rules would appear to date primarily from the time when Cape Breton was a separate jurisdiction and during which the Halifax rules would not appear to have been directly applicable. The second, undated, volume belonged to C.L. Leonard, who was prothonotary when Cape Breton was a separate colony and who continued to act after reannexation.

Sub-series forms part of Circuit records at Sydney and consists of two volumes indexing inquests filed with the prothonotary at the Sydney Court House. The index gives the date of death, date of the inquest and the date the report was filed. The inquests themselves are not part of the holdings of Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management.

Sub-series forms part of Circuit records at Truro and consists of an entry book used by the prothonotary, initially, for one year, as a docket book and subsequently to record the commencement of civil suits and their progress by documenting the issuance of summons, the filing of defenses, the receipt and issuance of other documents and often recording the outcome of the suit. In general, the book records the names of the parties, the name of the plaintiff's attorney, the nature of the suit and the amount of damages sought. When a defense is filed, the name of the defendant's attorney is also recorded. The book was also used to control the numbering of cases with a new sequence, designated as A, commencing in 1884.

Subseries forms part of Digby County circuit records series and consists of judgment books that record decisions of the court in civil actions. Books provide the names of the parties in the lawsuit, date of judgment, and amount of damages and/or costs awarded. Each volume contains a nominal index of plaintiff and defendant.

Sub-series forms part of Digby County circuit records and consists of books of entry that provide a calendar of causes to be heard by the court. Entry books provide the names of plaintiff and defendant, their solicitors, the nature of the action, and how the action was disposed of by the court (including the amount of the judgment or damages awarded). Entry books for 1888-1969 include minutes of cases (1938-1969), but no entries exist for 1920-1935. Entry book for 1940-1972 contains a nominal index.

Subseries forms part of Digby County circuit records series and consists of books of issuance of writs of final process or enforcement of sentence in judicial proceedings for debt. Books provide date of issue, names of parties, amount, writ number, court, attorney, date and nature of return, and fees. Each book contains a nominal index. Series is arranged chronologically.

Subseries forms part of Guysborough County circuit records series and consists of case files that contain summonses, subpoenas, affidavits, briefs, exhibits (documentary evidence), pleadings, informations (charges), indictments, motions, orders, transcripts of testimony, appeals, motion orders, rulings, verdicts, and other material relating to civil actions and matters, as well as criminal prosecutions.

Subseries forms part of Guysborough County circuit records series and consists of small unbound booklets for each session of the court that records attorney's name, names of plaintiff and defendant, the outcome of proceedings, and court fees charged. Later cases are assigned an alphanumeric classification. Some booklets also record grand and petit jury members for the session. Cases are listed civil (jury or non-jury) or criminal. Sub-series is arranged chronologically by year.

Subseries forms part of Guysborough County circuit records series and consists of lists of persons qualified to serve as grand and petit jurors. The lists were created for separate sessions of the court.