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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 October 10, 2025)

2022-0562    Waiting to hear from Petitioner
2023-0538    Case sent to Judges
2023-0556    Waiting to hear from Petitioner
2023-0578    Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2023-0586    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    Case sent to Judges
2024-0658    Case sent to Judges
2024-0660    Waiting to hear from Petitioner
2024-0667    Abandoned - At request of Petitioner
2024-0668    Waiting for Final Sentence to be Written
2024-0670    Case sent to Judges
2024-0672    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0678    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0683    Case sent to Judges
2024-0684    Case sent to Judges
2024-0685    Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0691    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0695    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0700    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0704    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0705    Case sent to Judges
2024-0707    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0708    Case sent to Judges
2024-0709    Waiting for more information before case is begun
2024-0715    Case sent to Judges
2024-0716    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0717    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0719    Publication of the Acts
2024-0720    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0722    Case sent to Judges
2024-0726    Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0729    Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0730    Case sent to Judges
2024-0732    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2024-0735    Waiting for Respondent to reply
2024-0736    Case sent to Judges
2024-0738    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0739    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0740    Waiting to hear from Petitioner
2024-0741    Case sent to Judges
2024-0742    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0744    Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0745    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0747    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0756    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0757    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0759    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0760    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0765    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0766    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0767    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2024-0768    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0769    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0773    Case sent to Judges
2024-0776    Case sent to Judges
2024-0777    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0778    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0779    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0781    Remind Respondent to contact witnesses
2024-0784    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0785    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0786    Case sent to Judges
2024-0789    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0790    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0791    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0793    Publication of the Acts
2024-0794    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0795    Case Rejected
2024-0796    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0798    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0799    Case sent to Judges
2024-0801    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0803    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0804    Case sent to Judges
2024-0805    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0807    Case sent to Judges
2024-0808    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0809    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0810    Case sent to Judges
2024-0811    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0813    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0814    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0816    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    Case sent to Judges
2024-0823    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0825    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0826    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0500    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0502    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0503    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0505    Case sent to Judges
2025-0506    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0507    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0508    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0509    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0510    Case sent to Judges
2025-0511    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0512    Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0513    Case sent to Judges
2025-0514    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0515    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0517    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0518    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0520    Publication of the Acts
2025-0521    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0522    Case sent to Judges
2025-0523    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0524    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0525    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0526    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0527    Case sent to Judges
2025-0528    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0529    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0530    Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2025-0531    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0532    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0533    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0534    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0535    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0536    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0537    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0538    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0539    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0540    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0541    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0542    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0543    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0544    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0545    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0546    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0549    Publication of the Acts
2025-0551    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0552    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0553    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0554    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0555    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0558    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0559    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0600    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0601    Waiting for Respondent to reply
2025-0602    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0603    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0604    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0605    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0607    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0608    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0609    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0610    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0611    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0612    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0613    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0614    Remind Respondent to contact witnesses
2025-0615    Case sent to Judges
2025-0616    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0617    Waiting for Respondent to reply
2025-0618    Waiting for Respondent to reply
2025-0619    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0620    Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0621    Waiting for Respondent to reply
2025-0622    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0623    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0624    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0625    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0626    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0627    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0629    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0630    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0631    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0632    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0633    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0634    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0635    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0636    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0637    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0638    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0639    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0640    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0641    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0642    Waiting for Respondent to reply
2025-0643    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0644    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0645    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0646    Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0648    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0648    Waiting for more information before case is begun
2025-0649    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0650    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0651    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0652    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0653    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0654    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0655    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0656    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0657    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0658    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0659    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0660    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0661    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0662    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0663    Waiting for Respondent to reply
2025-0664    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0665    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0666    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0667    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0668    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0669    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0700    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0701    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0702    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0703    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0704    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0705    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0706    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0707    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0708    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0709    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0710    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0711    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0712    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0713    Waiting for more information before case is begun
2025-0717    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0718    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0719    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0720    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0721    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0722    Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0723    Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0724    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0725    Waiting to hear from Petitioner
2025-0726    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0727    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0728    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0729    Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance

 

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