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 October 17, 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
2024-0789 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
2024-0823 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 Presiding Judge reviewing file
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
2025-0534 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
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 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0554 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0555 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0558 Waiting for Respondent to reply
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 Publication of the Acts
2025-0622 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0623 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
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 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0629 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
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 Waiting for Respondent to reply
2025-0651 Waiting for Respondent to reply
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 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0667 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
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