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 March 21, 2025)
2021-0610 Case sent to Judges
2022-0522 Abated: Death of Respondent
2022-0557 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2022-0562 Waiting to hear from Petitioner
2022-0587 Case sent to Judges
2022-0609 Publication of the Acts
2022-0611 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2023-0507 Waiting to hear from Petitioner
2023-0517 Case sent to Judges
2023-0532 Case sent to Judges
2023-0538 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2023-0539 Case sent to Judges
2023-0541 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2023-0542 Case sent to Judges
2023-0556 Waiting to hear from Petitioner
2023-0578 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2023-0582 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2023-0585 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
2023-0605 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2023-0607 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2023-0611 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2023-0615 Case sent to Judges
2023-0628 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2023-0631 Case sent to Judges
2023-0636 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0641 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0647 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0656 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0658 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0659 Case sent to Judges
2024-0660 Waiting to hear from Petitioner
2024-0661 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0662 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0663 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0664 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0665 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0666 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0667 Case sent to Judges
2024-0668 Case sent to Judges
2024-0669 Case sent to Judges
2024-0669 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0670 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0672 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0674 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0676 Case sent to Judges
2024-0677 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0678 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
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 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0687 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0690 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0691 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0692 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0693 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0695 Waiting for more information before case is begun
2024-0697 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0700 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0703 Case sent to Judges
2024-0704 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0705 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0706 Case sent to Judges
2024-0707 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0708 Publication of the Acts
2024-0709 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
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
2024-0723 Case sent to Judges
2024-0726 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0728 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0729 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0730 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0732 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2024-0734 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0735 Waiting for Respondent to reply
2024-0736 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0738 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0739 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
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
2024-0746 Case sent to Judges
2024-0747 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0748 ROMA ROTA PENDING DECISION
2024-0750 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0751 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0753 Publication of the Acts
2024-0754 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0755 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0756 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0757 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0758 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0759 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0760 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0762 Case sent to Judges
2024-0763 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0765 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
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
2024-0772 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0773 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0775 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0776 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0777 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0778 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0779 Waiting for Respondent to reply
2024-0780 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0781 Waiting to interview Respondent
2024-0783 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0784 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0785 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0786 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0788 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0789 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0790 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0791 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0792 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0793 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0794 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0795 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2024-0796 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0797 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0798 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2024-0799 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0800 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0801 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0802 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0803 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0804 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0805 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0806 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0807 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0808 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0809 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0810 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0811 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0813 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0814 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0815 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0816 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0817 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0818 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0819 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0821 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0822 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0823 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0824 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0825 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0826 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0500 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0501 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0502 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0503 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0504 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0505 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0506 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0507 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0508 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0509 Waiting for Respondent to reply
2025-0510 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0511 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0512 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0513 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0514 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0515 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0517 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0518 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0520 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0521 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0522 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0523 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0524 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0525 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0526 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0527 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0528 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0529 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0530 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0531 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0532 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0533 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0534 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0535 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0536 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0537 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0538 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0539 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0540 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0541 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0542 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0543 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0544 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0545 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0546 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0547 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0548 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0549 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0550 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0551 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0552 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0553 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance