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Annulment Case Status

On average, it takes two years from the time our office receives a Formal Petition for a Declaration of Nullity of Marriage to complete the investigation. Over the course of the investigation, there is often communication between our office and the Petitioner, as well as with the Respondent and witnesses. Of course the Petitioner is interested in the status of the case - "At what stage in the investigation is the case? How much longer will it take?" Understandably, the Petitioner is anxious to resolve the case as soon as possible, and so are we. However, it is of no help to the Petitioner or to us to call the office weekly for an update, especially given the fact that we have over 400 cases pending and we try to handle them on a first-come, first-served basis. Instead of calling, please check for the Case Status for your case as listed below (chronologically according to case number). Your case status may not change for weeks, and that is often because we try to handle cases in the order in which we received them. Please be patient with us.

 

Here is a list of the chronological steps from the time we receive a case until it receives a decision. Once a decision is given, the case is removed from the list below. Please note that not all steps are applicable in every case.

                   CASE STATUS                                       WHAT IT MEANS

​

Case received in the tribunal                                        Case has been received by our office

​

Waiting for more information before case is begun         Case is missing required information before it 

                                                                                         can be started (for example, address for the                                                                                           Respondent, witnesses, documents)

​

Judicial vicar reviewing case before acceptance             Checking to see if there are grounds for nullity

                                                                                         and summarizing petition for Respondent

​

Case accepted                                                           Case meets requirements for investigation of nullity

​

Contacting Respondent and waiting for reply                 Summary of petition sent to Respondent, awaiting

                                                                                          his/her reply

​

Officers of the Court named & Grounds set                    Judges assigned and grounds of nullity set

​

Investigation begun - Waiting for Witnesses to reply       Questionnaires sent to witnesses - awaiting replies

​

Waiting to hear from Petitioner                                     Tribunal needs to speak to Petitioner

​

Waiting to interview Respondent                                   Tribunal wants to interview Respondent

​

Case with Auditor for interviews                                   Auditor needs to interview one of the parties or

                                                                                     the witnesses

​

Petitioner reminded to contacts Witnesses                       Witnesses have not replied - need the Petitioner

                                                                                      to encourage witnesses to reply

​

Presiding Judge reviewing file                                        Judge reviewing the case to see if all testimony

                                                                                      has been gathered and whether it is sufficient

                                                                                      to conclude the investigation

​

Publication of the Acts                                                  Both parties have 15 days to review all the 

                                                                                     testimony of the parties and witnesses

​

Publication of the Acts in another diocese                       Testimony in the case sent to another diocese so

                                                                                      the Respondent can review it

​

Case sent to Defender of the Bond                                 Defender puts forth all arguments in favor of the 

                                                                                      marriage bond

​

Case sent to Judges for their vote                                   Judges take turns reading all testimony and the 

                                                                                      Defender's arguments before casting a vote

​

Waiting for Sentence to be written                                  Judges have voted - but the case is waiting to be 

                                                                                       written

​

Final sentence being written                                           Judges have voted - decision being written under

                                                                                       guidance of presiding judge

Waiting for Case to be written

​

Case being signed by Judges                                         Sentence written - all judges need to sign it

​

Respondent notified of final decision                               Respondent & Petitioner have 15 days to lodge 

      15 days to appeal                                                       an appeal

​

Decision appealed to San Diego                                    One of the parties appealed the decision to the

                                                                                       court of Second Instance in the Diocese of                                                                                             San Diego

​

Decision appealed to Roman Rota                                   One of the parties appealed the decision to the

                                                                                        Roman Rota

​

​

​

Case Status for Formal Cases

(listed in numerical order, and accurate as of June 13, 2025)

2022-0557    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2022-0562    Waiting to hear from Petitioner
2022-0609    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2022-0611    Case sent to Judges
2023-0507    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2023-0538    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2023-0541    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2023-0542    Case sent to Judges
2023-0556    Waiting to hear from Petitioner
2023-0578    Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2023-0582    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2023-0586    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2023-0587    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2023-0597    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2023-0599    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2023-0603    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2023-0607    Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0641    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0647    Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0656    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0658    Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0660    Waiting to hear from Petitioner
2024-0663    Publication of the Acts
2024-0664    Case sent to Judges
2024-0665    Case sent to Judges
2024-0666    Case sent to Judges
2024-0667    Abandoned - At request of Petitioner
2024-0668    Case sent to Judges
2024-0669    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0670    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0672    Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0674    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0677    Case sent to Judges
2024-0678    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0679    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0683    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0684    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0685    Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0687    Publication of the Acts
2024-0691    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0692    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0693    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0695    Waiting for more information before case is begun
2024-0697    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0700    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0703    Case sent to Judges
2024-0704    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0705    Remind Respondent to contact witnesses
2024-0707    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0708    Case sent to Judges
2024-0709    Waiting for more information before case is begun
2024-0710    Waiting for more information before case is begun
2024-0714    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0715    Case sent to Judges
2024-0716    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0717    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0719    Publication of the Acts
2024-0720    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0722    Case sent to Judges
2024-0726    Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0728    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0729    Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0730    Publication of the Acts
2024-0732    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2024-0735    Waiting for Respondent to reply
2024-0736    Publication of the Acts
2024-0738    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0739    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0740    Waiting to hear from Petitioner
2024-0741    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0742    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0744    Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0745    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2024-0747    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0748    ROMA ROTA PENDING DECISION
2024-0750    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0754    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0755    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0756    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0757    Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0758    Publication of the Acts
2024-0759    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0760    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0763    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0765    Publication of the Acts
2024-0766    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0767    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2024-0768    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0769    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0773    Case sent to Judges
2024-0775    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0776    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0777    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0778    Publication of the Acts
2024-0779    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0780    Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0781    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0783    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0784    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0785    Waiting to hear from Petitioner
2024-0786    Case sent to Judges
2024-0788    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0789    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0790    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0791    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0792    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0793    Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0794    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0795    Case Rejected
2024-0796    Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0798    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0799    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0800    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0801    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0802    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0803    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0804    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0805    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0806    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0807    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0808    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0809    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0810    Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0811    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0813    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0814    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0815    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0816    Publication of the Acts
2024-0817    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0818    Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0819    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0821    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0822    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0823    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0824    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0825    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0826    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0500    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0502    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0503    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0504    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0505    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0506    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0507    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0508    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0509    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0510    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0511    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0512    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0513    Publication of the Acts
2025-0514    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0515    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0517    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0518    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0520    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0521    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0522    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0523    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0524    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0525    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0526    Waiting for Respondent to reply
2025-0526    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0527    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0528    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0529    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0530    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0531    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0532    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0533    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0534    Waiting for Respondent to reply
2025-0535    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0536    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0537    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0538    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0539    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0540    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0541    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0542    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0543    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0544    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0545    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0546    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0548    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0549    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0550    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0551    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0552    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0553    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0554    Waiting for Respondent to reply
2025-0555    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0556    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0558    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0559    Waiting for Respondent to reply
2025-0600    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0601    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0602    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0603    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0604    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0605    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0606    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0607    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0608    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0609    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0610    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0611    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0612    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0613    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0614    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0615    Waiting to interview Respondent
2025-0616    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0617    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0618    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0619    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0620    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0621    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0622    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0623    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0624    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0625    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0627    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0629    Waiting for more information before case is begun
2025-0630    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0631    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0632    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0633    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0634    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0635    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0636    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0637    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0638    Waiting to hear from Petitioner
2025-0639    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance

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