Locating the Respondent or Witness
Learn why and how to locate the Respondent or witnesses for a Catholic Tribunal annulment. Provide current addresses and use social media or contacts to find them.
Information for non-Catholics
Non-Catholics who wish to marry a Catholic are bound by the laws of the Church regarding marriage. That means that if a non-Catholic party wishes to marry a Catholic they must marry in the Catholic Church according to canonical form. That also means that if the non-Catholic party has a previous marriage(s), he/she must petition […]
Obtaining Certified Documents
Learn why certified marriage licenses and divorce decrees are required for a Catholic Tribunal annulment and how to obtain them from county records.
Annulment Process
The annulment process begins when a party petitions the Tribunal for a declaration of nullity by challenging the validity of his/her marriage. The party who initiates the process is referred to as the Petitioner; the other party is referred to as the Respondent. The Tribunal then conducts an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the marriage, […]
Tribunal’s Glossary
Key terms of the Diocese Tribunal’s glossary, from annulments to canon law, guiding people through ecclesiastical processes.
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Abortion
Abortion has been one of the most divisive issues in America since states were forbidden to outlaw abortion after the 1973 Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision. Since that time, over 50 million abortions have been performed in the United States with an average of 3400 abortions being performed each day.
Annulments
An annulment is a declaration by an ecclesiastical tribunal that a marriage between two parties was not valid according to the laws governing marriage in the Catholic Church. It is a statement that the bond of marriage was not formed at the time of consent, or at the time the vows were stated at the […]
What is the Tribunal?
According to the norms of canon law, the Tribunal of the Diocese of Phoenix is the court established by the diocesan bishop in order to adjudicate cases concerning the status of persons, the violation of rights, and the imposition of penalties. The Code of Canon Law and the jurisprudence of the tribunals of the universal […]
General Information
The Office of Canonical Services and Tribunal serves the diocese by providing expert guidance on Church law and ensuring justice in canonical matters. Canonical Services supports the bishop, clergy, and parishes with advice on sacramental records, dispensations, and ecclesiastical procedures. The Tribunal, as the diocese’s judicial body, primarily handles marriage annulments and other canonical cases […]