- Lack of Form (Cheryl M. Tholcke)
- Pauline Privilege (Fr. Mark Richards, JCL)
- Favor of the Faith (Fr. Mark Richards, JCL)
- Ligamen (Fr. Brian Atienza, JCL)
- Formal Cases (Cheryl M. Tholcke)
Advanced Parish Advocate Training Resources
Click on each topic to download a PDF copy of the slides used for presentations in our September 2022 training. These files are for your use only and may not be shared with anyone else.
- Defect of Form (Fr. Brian Atienza, JCL)
- Grounds of Invalidity - In depth (Karla Felix-Rivera, JCL)
- Summary Statement of Petitioner (Fr. Mark Richards, JCL)
- Multiple Marriages - One Petitioner (Cheryl M. Tholcke)
- RCIA and Convalidation (Cheryl M. Tholcke)
- Sacramental Registers (Cheryl M. Tholcke)
- Annulment Files in the Parish (Cheryl M. Tholcke)
- Monitum and Vetitum (Fr. Mark Richards, JCL)
- Convalidation (Fr. Mark Richards, JCL)
- Sanatio en Radice (Fr. Mark Richards, JCL)
- Meeting with a Petitioner (Cheryl M. Tholcke)
- More about the Respondent (Cheryl M. Tholcke)
- Ordering Documents Online (Cheryl M. Tholcke)
Parish Advocate Check List
Advocates: Use this checklist to be sure you have submitted all the necessary documents for the case you are presenting to the Tribunal.
Parish Advocate Brief: Notes Concerning the Petitioner
Advocates: Please include this page when you submit the paperwork and documents for a formal case.
Quick Reference for Determining Grounds of Nullity
Affidavit of Diligent Search
When the Respondent cannot be located, the Petitioner must complete this form detailing efforts to locate the Respondent. Contacting the Respondent is required for Formal cases. This form is to be submitted along with the application form for Formal cases.
Guide to Writing a Summary Statement
Assembling Required Documents
- Baptismal Certificate
- For the Catholic party, the baptismal certificate must be recently-issued, within six months, and include notations. If there are no notations, it must clearly state "no notations." This is to verify the sacramental information is current. A souvenir certificate or original certificate issued immediately after baptism are not accepted. Sacramental certificates from parishes in the Diocese of Sacramento are required to have the signature of the pastor/parochial administrator (no stamped signature is allowed).
- If the couple were married civilly and were later married in the Catholic Church (convalidation), please provide a recently-issued marriage certificate from the church where the wedding took place.
- The marriage license must be original/certified.
- California's document is one page. Click here to see example.
- For marriages that took place in Nevada, two documents are required:
- Marriage Certificate - this document provides the names of the bride and groom, their dates of birth, and the name of the official performing the marriage
- Marriage License - this document also provides the names and dates of birth of the bride and groom, but most importantly, it shows the number of previous marriages
- For divorces occurring in California, two documents are required:
- Notice of Entry of Judgment
- Judgment
If the marriage and/or divorce took place outside California, parties may order the needed documents by contacting the government office in the particular state or consider using VitalChek.
- For the Catholic party, the baptismal certificate must be recently-issued, within six months, and include notations. If there are no notations, it must clearly state "no notations." This is to verify the sacramental information is current. A souvenir certificate or original certificate issued immediately after baptism are not accepted. Sacramental certificates from parishes in the Diocese of Sacramento are required to have the signature of the pastor/parochial administrator (no stamped signature is allowed).