Request For Nullity Process

Either spouse may seek a Church declaration of nullity of his or her marriage. A person may apply to the Tribunal of the Catholic Diocese where the marriage took place, where the former spouse resides, where the person seeking the declaration of nullity has a permanent residence or where the majority of proofs will be collected. In some cases, the Tribunal where the former spouse lives has to give consent.  

To begin the nullity process in the Diocese of Corpus Christi, the Petitioner seeks the assistance of a local priest, deacon or appointed layperson.  

The application form and questionnaire, a recent copy of your baptismal certificate, along with the marriage certificate and divorce decree, are then sent to the Tribunal. For the legal protection of all, no case is ever accepted until the Tribunal has received the final signed civil divorce decree. After all documents have been received by the Tribunal you are contacted for your input (see below, “Contacting the Former Spouse”). Following this, the witnesses are contacted for their testimony and observations.