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 February 27, 2026)
2022-0562 Waiting to hear from Petitioner
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 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0672 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0678 Case sent to Judges
2024-0685 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0700 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0704 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0705 Case sent to Judges
2024-0707 Case sent to Judges
2024-0716 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0717 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0719 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0732 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2024-0740 Waiting to hear from Petitioner
2024-0744 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0745 Publication of the Acts
2024-0756 Case sent to Judges
2024-0760 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0766 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0768 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0777 Case sent to Judges
2024-0779 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0781 Sentence needs to be written
2024-0784 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0785 Case sent to Judges
2024-0790 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0793 Case sent to Judges
2024-0798 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0801 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0803 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0805 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0808 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0809 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2024-0811 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0813 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2024-0814 Closed NEGATIVE decision
2024-0816 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0818 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0823 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0825 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2024-0826 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2025-0500 Case sent to Judges
2025-0502 Case sent to Judges
2025-0509 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0514 Case sent to Judges
2025-0517 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0518 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0520 Case sent to Judges
2025-0521 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0523 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0524 Publication of the Acts
2025-0525 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0528 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0529 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0530 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2025-0531 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0535 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0536 Publication of the Acts
2025-0537 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0538 Case sent to Judges
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 Publication of the Acts
2025-0551 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0552 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0553 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0554 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0555 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0558 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0600 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0601 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0602 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0603 Publication of the Acts
2025-0604 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0605 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0607 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0608 Case sent to Judges
2025-0609 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0610 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0611 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0612 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0613 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0614 Case sent to Judges
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 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0621 Case sent to Judges
2025-0622 Publication of the Acts
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 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2025-0627 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0629 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0630 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0631 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0632 Publication of the Acts
2025-0633 Case sent to Judges
2025-0634 Case sent to Judges
2025-0635 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0636 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0637 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0638 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0639 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0640 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0641 Case sent to Judges
2025-0642 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0643 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0644 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0645 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0646 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0648 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0649 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0650 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0651 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0652 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0653 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0654 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0655 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0656 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0657 Waiting for Respondent to reply
2025-0658 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0659 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2025-0660 Case sent to Judges
2025-0661 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0662 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0663 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0664 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0665 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0666 Publication of the Acts
2025-0667 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0668 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
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 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
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
2025-0709 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0710 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0711 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0712 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0713 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0717 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0718 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0719 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0720 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0721 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0722 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0723 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0724 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0725 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0726 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0727 Waiting to hear from Petitioner
2025-0728 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0729 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0730 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0731 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0732 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0734 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0735 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0736 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0737 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0738 Case sent to Judges
2025-0739 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
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 Waiting for Respondent to reply
2025-0744 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0745 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0746 Waiting for Respondent to reply
2025-0747 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0748 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2025-0749 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0750 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0751 Waiting for Respondent to reply
2025-0753 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0754 Publication of the Acts
2026-0500 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0501 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0502 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0503 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0504 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0505 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0506 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0507 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0508 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0509 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0510 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0511 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0512 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0513 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0514 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0515 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0517 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2026-0518 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0519 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 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0524 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0525 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0526 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0527 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0528 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0529 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0530 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0531 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0532 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0533 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0534 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0535 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0536 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0537 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0538 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0539 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-054 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance