Contact Information
1404 East 9th Street
Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 696-6525
(800) 869-6525
The forms found on this page are designed to assist priests, deacons and parish staff members submitting petitions to the tribunal.
If you are seeking to submit a petition for yourself, please work with a case specialist who will help you select the correct kind of petition, and will work with you to prepare it.
If you are a parish minister who is not a case specialist, please review our guidelines for how you can assist your parishioners.
In a formal case, the consent at the time of the wedding is examined to determine if it was invalid, according to the Church's understanding of marriage.
These cases must be submitted through a case specialist.
In a lack of form case, typically one or both parties was Catholic but the wedding was celebrated civilly or only in a non-Catholic religion, and without any permission or dispensation from the Catholic Church.
As a result of a Pauline Privilege petition, a non-sacramental marriage between two unbaptized people is dissolved if the one petitioning intends to be baptized (or was baptized after the first wedding) and now intends to marry again.
These cases must be submitted through a case specialist.
In a Favor of the Faith petition (sometimes called a 'Petrine Privilege'), a non-sacramental marriage where at least one party was not baptized is dissolved by the Pope, for the benefit of someone being able to practice the Catholic faith.
These cases must be submitted through a case specialist.
In a ligamen or prior bond case, one party was unable to marry validly because of a previous, presumed valid marriage to someone else.
These cases must be submitted through a case specialist.
On August 20, 2021, Bishop Malesic announced a new formation program for those who assist people seeking the ministry of the Diocesan Tribunal. From July 2022, those who have not received this additional formation will not be able to submit new cases as procurators.
This book gives information for pastoral ministers regarding marriage, sacramental records, and ascription to Churches sui iuris.
Some notes which may be helpful in understanding what kind of documents are to be submitted with petitions.
This is an information brochure for petitions regarding invalidity of marriage due to lack of canonical form.
This book gives information for pastoral ministers regarding dissolution and invalidity of marriage. It will be updated shortly to reflect changes made in summer 2022 for Case Specialists.
This booklet provides petitioners (and other interested persons) the basic information needed to submit a petition regarding nullity of marriage. Case Specialists should use this booklet to help petitioners understand the process and possible grounds of nullity.
