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 23, 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 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
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 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0660 Waiting to hear from Petitioner
2024-0663 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0664 Case sent to Judges
2024-0665 Case sent to Judges
2024-0666 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
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
2024-0676 Case sent to Judges
2024-0677 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
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 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0687 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0691 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0692 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0693 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0695 Waiting for more information before case is begun
2024-0697 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0700 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0703 Case sent to Judges
2024-0704 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0705 Remind Respondent to contact witnesses
2024-0707 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0708 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
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 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0732 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2024-0735 Waiting for Respondent to reply
2024-0736 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0738 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
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 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0751 Case sent to Judges
2024-0754 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0755 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0756 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0757 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0758 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0759 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0760 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
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 Defender of the Bond
2024-0775 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0776 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0777 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0778 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0779 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
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 Waiting to hear from Petitioner
2024-0786 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0788 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0789 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0790 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0791 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
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 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
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 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0818 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0819 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0821 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0822 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0823 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0824 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0825 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0826 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0500 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0501 Case sent to Judges
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 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
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 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0537 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
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 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0544 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0545 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0546 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
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 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0555 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0556 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0558 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0559 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0600 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0601 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0602 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0603 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0604 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0605 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0606 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0607 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0608 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
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 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
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 Waiting for more information before case is begun
2025-0625 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0627 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance