Tribunal
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Tribunal

Provides justice for all persons who approach the Church's court system for a declaration of nullity (annulment) or other process.

Welcome to the Metropolitan Tribunal. Our mission is to provide justice for all persons who approach the Church's court system. This mission is fulfilled through the rendering of judgments concerning people's rights and obligations as well as their status in the Church. Such judgments seek to discern the truth about a matter and then initiate solutions that provide for justice based upon the law of the Scriptures, the Magisterial Teaching of the Church, and the Code of Canon Law.

The Ordinary Process

The Church established the ordinary contentious process as a means to examine a marriage that a Petitioner has alleged to be invalid. The Church presumes all marriages to be valid, and this process allows evidence to be presented and considered by a court of canon lawyers which may lead to the presumption of validity being overturned.

Below you will find resources which will help you learn more about the ordinary process. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our office.

Petition for a Declaration of Invalidity

Resources

 

Frequently Asked Questions
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  What is a Declaration of Invalidity?

A church annulment, or more properly, a Declaration of Invalidity, is an acknowledgment that for a particular couple a canonically valid marriage was never achieved. Through the Ordinary Process, one of the parties of the marriage asks the Tribunal to examine their marriage in question based on the party's claim that their consent lacked something which marriage requires: freely given consent involving permanence, fidelity, and openness to the possibility of children.

 

The Tribunal seeks to determine if there truly was something that prevented one or more of those elements from being present at the time of consent, even though both individuals may have entered the marriage in good will.

  How long will a Declaration of Nullity in the Ordinary Process take?

Due to the great number of cases considered and the demands of canon law, an exact time cannot be specified. No one is free to promise a specific date for a subsequent marriage until the tribunal gives notification of an affirmative decision (without restrictions) and the time for an appeal to be made ends. The parties involved in the case are always free to contact the tribunal office regarding the status of the case.

 

Note: Due to the inability of the tribunal to provide specific timelines, parties with an active case who are engaged to be remarried or who plan have an existing marriage convalidated are not permitted to even tentatively schedule a wedding until their case has been resolved.

  Will my former spouse have to participate in the Declaration of Nullity Process?

No, however, the tribunal is required to inform the other spouse that the review has been initiated and then offers that person the opportunity to participate. By canon law, both parties enjoy all the same rights in the process. A reasonable time is given the former spouse to reply. If the former spouse declines to cooperate, the tribunal is not bound to wait indefinitely for a response before judging the case.

  Do I have to come to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Pastoral Center for a deposition?

The ordinary expectation is that you will. The judge instructing your case will arrange for a deposition with you.

  Does a Declaration of Nullity affect the legitimacy of children?

A church Declaration of Nullity is always strictly a religious matter and is solely an evaluation of the spousal relationship. It does not affect the civil validity of the marriage and does not involve the legal standing of any children

When Mom & Dad Break Up

A PDF brochure to explain Church Annulments to Children.

When Mom & Dad Break Up

Contact Us

tribunal@archmil.org
414-769-3305

Fr. John Lococo, J.C.L.
Judicial Vicar/Canon Lawyer

Zabrina Decker, J.C.D.
Tribunal Chancellor/Canon Lawyer

Anna Marie Chamblee, J.C.L.
Canon Lawyer

Andrew Gass, J.C.L.
Defender of the Bond/Canon Lawyer

Andrew R.J. Vaughn, M.A.
Auditor/Ecclesiastical Notary

Calum McIninch
Assessor/Ecclesiastical Notary

Natalia Peñaloza Ferreira
Ecclesiastical Notary/Office Coordinator

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The Archdiocese of Milwaukee

3501 South Lake Drive
St. Francis, WI 53235

Phone:  (414) 769-3300
Toll-Free: (800) 769-9373
Fax:  (414)  769-3408