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 30, 2026)
2020-0502 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2022-0562 Waiting to hear from Petitioner
2023-0527 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2023-0599 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2023-0603 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0685 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0716 Case sent to Judges
2024-0717 Publication of the Acts
2024-0740 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0790 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0801 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0803 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0805 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2024-0808 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2024-0811 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0813 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2024-0818 Case sent to Judges
2024-0823 Case sent to Judges
2024-0825 Case sent to Judges
2025-0509 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0517 Case sent to Judges
2025-0518 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2025-0530 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2025-0535 Publication of the Acts
2025-0539 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2025-0540 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0544 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2025-0545 Case sent to Judges
2025-0551 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0554 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0600 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0604 Case sent to Judges
2025-0605 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0607 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0611 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0616 Case sent to Judges
2025-0622 Case sent to Judges
2025-0625 Case sent to Judges
2025-0635 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0636 Case sent to Judges
2025-0637 Case sent to Judges
2025-0638 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0639 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0640 Case sent to Judges
2025-0642 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0643 Case sent to Judges
2025-0644 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0645 Case sent to Judges
2025-0646 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0648 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0649 Case sent to Judges
2025-0650 Notice to Respondent it is Affirmative (15 days to appeal)
2025-0651 Case sent to Judges
2025-0654 Case sent to Judges
2025-0655 Case sent to Judges
2025-0656 Case sent to Judges
2025-0657 Case sent to Judges
2025-0659 Case sent to Judges
2025-0661 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2025-0663 Case sent to Judges
2025-0664 Publication of the Acts
2025-0667 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0668 Case sent to Judges
2025-0669 Publication of the Acts
2025-0700 Publication of the Acts
2025-0701 Publication of the Acts
2025-0702 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0703 Case sent to Judges
2025-0704 Case sent to Judges
2025-0705 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0706 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0707 Waiting for more information before case is begun
2025-0710 Publication of the Acts
2025-0711 Case sent to Judges
2025-0717 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2025-0718 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0719 Case sent to Defender of the Bond
2025-0720 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0721 Case sent to Judges
2025-0724 Case sent to Judges
2025-0725 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2025-0728 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0729 Case sent to Judges
2025-0731 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0732 Case sent to Judges
2025-0734 Case sent to Judges
2025-0735 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0736 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0737 Case sent to Judges
2025-0739 Case sent to Judges
2025-0740 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0741 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2025-0742 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0744 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2025-0745 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0746 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2025-0747 Case sent to Judges
2025-0748 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2025-0749 Case sent to Judges
2025-0750 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0500 Case sent to Judges
2026-0501 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0502 Publication of the Acts
2026-0503 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0504 Case sent to Judges
2026-0506 Publication of the Acts
2026-0507 Case sent to Judges
2026-0508 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2026-0511 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2026-0512 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2026-0513 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0514 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2026-0515 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0518 Publication of the Acts
2026-0520 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0521 Closed AFFIRMATIVE decision
2026-0522 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0523 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2026-0526 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0528 Publication of the Acts
2026-0529 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0530 Case sent to Judges
2026-0531 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2026-0532 Publication of the Acts
2026-0533 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0534 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0535 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0536 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0537 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0538 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0539 Case sent to Judges
2026-0540 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2026-0541 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0542 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0543 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0544 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0545 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0546 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0547 Publication of the Acts
2026-0548 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0549 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0550 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0551 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0552 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2026-0553 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2026-0554 Abandoned - At request of Petitioner
2026-0555 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0556 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0557 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0558 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0559 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0561 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2026-0562 Case sent to Judges
2026-0563 Petitioner reminded to contact witnesses
2026-0564 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2026-0565 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0566 Waiting for Respondent to reply
2026-0567 Waiting for Respondent to reply
2026-0568 Case sent to Judges
2026-0569 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0570 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2026-0571 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0572 Publication of the Acts
2026-0573 Case sent to Judges
2026-0574 Publication of the Acts
2026-0575 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0576 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0577 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0578 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0579 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0580 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0581 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0582 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2026-0583 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2026-0584 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2026-0585 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2026-0586 Waiting for Respondent to reply
2026-0587 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0588 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0590 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0590 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0591 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2026-0592 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2026-0593 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0594 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0595 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0596 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0597 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0598 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2026-0599 Waiting for Respondent to reply
2026-0600 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0601 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0602 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0603 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2026-0604 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2026-0605 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0606 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0607 Waiting for Respondent to reply
2026-0608 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2026-0609 Waiting for Respondent to reply
2026-0610 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0611 Waiting for Respondent to reply
2026-0613 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0614 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0615 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0616 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0617 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0618 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2026-0619 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2026-0620 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0621 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0622 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0623 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0624 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0625 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2026-0626 Presiding Judge reviewing file
2026-0627 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0628 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2026-0629 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0630 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0631 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0632 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0633 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2026-0634 Waiting for Respondent to reply
2026-0635 Waiting for more information before case is begun
2026-0636 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0637 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0638 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0639 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0640 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2026-0641 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0642 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0643 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0644 Investigation underway - Waiting for Witnesses to reply
2026-0645 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0646 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0647 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0648 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0648 Officers of the Court named & Grounds set
2026-0649 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0650 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0651 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0652 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0653 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0654 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0655 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0656 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0657 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0658 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0659 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0660 Waiting for Respondent to reply
2026-0661 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0662 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0663 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0665 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0666 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0667 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0668 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0669 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0670 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0671 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0672 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0673 Case accepted & Respondent contacted
2026-0674 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0675 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0676 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0677 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0678 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0679 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0680 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0681 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0682 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0683 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0684 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance
2026-0685 Case accepted
2026-0686 Judicial Vicar reviewing case before acceptance