Office of Canonical Services
Services
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 May 4, 2026)
2022-0562 Waiting to hear from Petitioner
2023-0527 Publication of the Acts
2023-0578 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
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 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0685 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0704 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0716 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0717 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0732 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2024-0740 Waiting to hear from Petitioner
2024-0744 Publication of the Acts
2024-0745 Publication of the Acts
2024-0760 Case sent to Judges
2024-0784 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0785 Case sent to Judges
2024-0790 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0798 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0801 Waiting for Respondent to reply
2024-0803 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0805 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0808 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0809 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0811 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0813 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0818 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0823 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0825 Case sent to Judges
2024-0826 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0509 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0517 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0518 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2025-0520 Case sent to Judges
2025-0521 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0523 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0525 Publication of the Acts
2025-0528 Case sent to Judges
2025-0529 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0530 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2025-0535 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0536 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0537 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0539 Remind Respondent to contact witnesses
2025-0540 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0542 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0543 Case sent to Judges
2025-0544 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2025-0545 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0549 Case sent to Judges
2025-0551 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0552 Case sent to Judges
2025-0553 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0554 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0555 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0558 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0600 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0601 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0602 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0603 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0604 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0605 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0607 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0608 Case sent to Judges
2025-0609 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0610 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0611 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0612 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0613 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0616 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0617 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0618 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0619 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0621 Case sent to Judges
2025-0622 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0624 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0625 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0626 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0627 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0629 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0630 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0631 Case sent to Judges
2025-0632 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0633 Case sent to Judges
2025-0635 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0636 Publication of the Acts
2025-0637 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0638 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0639 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0640 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0642 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0643 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0644 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0645 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0646 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0648 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0649 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0650 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0651 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0652 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0653 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0654 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0655 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0656 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2025-0657 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0658 Case sent to Judges
2025-0659 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2025-0661 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2025-0662 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0663 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2025-0664 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0665 Case sent to Judges
2025-0666 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0667 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0668 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0669 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0700 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0701 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0702 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0703 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0704 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0705 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0706 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0707 Waiting for more information before case is begun
2025-0708 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0710 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0711 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0712 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0713 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0717 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0718 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0719 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2025-0720 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0721 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0722 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0724 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0725 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0726 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0728 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0729 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0730 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0731 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0732 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0734 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0735 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0736 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0737 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0739 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0740 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0741 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0742 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0743 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0744 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0745 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0746 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0747 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0748 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0749 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0750 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0751 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2025-0753 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0754 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2026-0500 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0501 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0502 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0503 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0504 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0505 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2026-0506 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2026-0507 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0508 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2026-0510 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0511 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0512 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0513 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0514 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0515 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0518 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0520 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0521 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0522 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0523 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0525 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0526 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0527 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0528 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0529 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0530 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2026-0531 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0532 Waiting for Respondent to reply
2026-0533 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0534 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0535 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0536 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0537 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0538 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0539 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0540 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0541 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0542 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0543 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0544 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0545 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0546 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0547 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0548 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0549 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0550 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0551 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0552 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0553 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0554 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0555 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0556 Waiting for more information before case is begun
2026-0557 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0558 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0559 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0560 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0561 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0562 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0563 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0564 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0565 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0566 Waiting for more information before case is begun
2026-0567 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0568 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0569 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0570 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0571 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0572 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0573 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance