Marriage Advisory Board
The Tribunal
Diocese of St. Petersburg

The Office of the Tribunal serves the Bishop and the people of the Diocese of St. Petersburg through the ministry of justice and truth. Staffed by Judges, Defenders of the Bond, a Promoter of Justice, a Psychological Expert, and Ecclesiastical Notaries, the Ecclesiastical Tribunal strives to uphold the obligations and rights of the Christian Faithful as outlined in the Code of Canon Law, keeping always in mind, "the salvation of souls, which is always the supreme law of the Church." (c. 1752)

• The Tribunal processes all petitions for Declaration of Nullity or "annulments" within the diocese. ("A Time for Healing")
   

• The Tribunal is also charged with the regulation of the Sacrament of Marriage within the diocese. All requests for permission and/or dispensation to marry are processed by this office. If a priest or deacon decides to delay a marriage, the Tribunal also serves as the first instance of recourse. ("Joined in Christ")
   

• At the request of the Bishop, the Tribunal gathers information and documentation for petitions for laicization from priests no longer active in ministry. The petitions are then presented to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in Rome.
   

• The Tribunal also serves as the canonical consultant to the diocese on matters pertaining to the Sacraments of the Church and the application of Canon Law.

The office of the Marriage Tribunal of the Diocese of St. Petersburg is designed to help those who have experienced divorce.

Information and assistance are available from the personnel of the Tribunal. You may contact the Tribunal Office Monday through Friday between 8:30am and 4:30pm, at (813) 446-2326 to speak with a Tribunal staff member. You may also write us at:

P.O. Box 1460
Clearwater, Fl, 34617
TRIBSP@tampabay.rr.com

THE ANNULMENT PROCESS
(Declaration of Nullity or Dissolution)
A Time for Healing

Divorce is unique among life experiences. There is no precedent that prepares an individual for its trauma. Divorce is a process, not an event. The experience of divorce is the result of a series of incidents which eventually erode the relationship between a husband and wife. The ending of any marriage is a traumatic experience. The adjustment which follows can either be positive or negative; it is always difficult.

The Catholic Church reaches out to the divorced through her ministry. One of the ways the Church offers to help people achieve healing and closure is through a Declaration of Nullity or "Annulment".  It is the hope of the Tribunal that this will be a "Time for Healing". This explanation is intended to help you understand the process of petitioning for a declaration of nullity.

MARRIAGE is an intimate partnership of life and love, arising from the irrevocable consent of husband and wife and geared to the giving and receiving of mutual love. The partnership of "community of life" is characterized by permanence (indissolubility) and fidelity to one another and is ordained by God for the good of the spouses and the proclamation and education of children.  For the baptized, Christ raised the marital relationship to the dignity of a sacrament.

Furthermore, the Church presumes that every marriage between a man and a woman (Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Non-Believer, etc.) to be a valid marriage until the opposite is proven.

Therefore, any one who is divorced, Catholic or non-Catholic, needs to obtain a Catholic Declaration of Nullity or Dissolution before he/she is allowed to marry in the Catholic Church. A declaration of nullity concludes that the union lacked something basic from the beginning and, as a result, the union was not binding according to the Catholic Church.

Important: Please note that this process has NO civil effect. It does NOT affect the validity of your civil union, legitimacy of children, custody, property, or other settlements.  It does not seek to assign blame or guilt on anyone.  It merely ascertains the status of the union according to the laws of the Church.  The children remain legitimate.

It should be noted that the process for a Declaration of Nullity would not be initiated in the Diocese of St. Petersburg until at least one year has passed from the date of the final divorce decree.  It is the experience of this Tribunal that time is a great healer.  Not only will the passage of time indicate that the marital relationship is indeed over and reconciliation is no longer possible, but it will allow for closure and healing.

How to Petition:

To begin the process, contact a priest or deacon (preferably one in your parish). He will meet with you and give you the necessary information and forms to petition the Church for a Declaration of Nullity.

After you have completed the paperwork, have signed the appropriate form's, and written a detailed history of your former union, you should return them to the priest/deacon who will forward them to the Tribunal. Be sure you include a recent copy of your Baptismal certificate (if Catholic), your marriage certificate, and final decree of divorce. Many find it helpful to tell their children what they are doing so as to avoid potential misunderstandings.  Know that all materials gathered are held in the strictest confidence in accord with Church Law.

Your Former Spouse: The Church requires that your former spouse be notified of your petition to the Tribunal.  Therefore, be sure to provide a current address for him/her.  It is often worthwhile to let your former spouse know that they will be contacted by the Tribunal. The cooperation of your former spouse is very helpful so that the Tribunal mat reach a just and fair decision.  However, should your former spouse choose not to cooperate, the petition will continue to be processed.

Witnesses: The Church requires witnesses in order to provide a deeper understanding of you, your former spouse and the union.  Please name people who knew you, or preferably, both of you prior and during the union and who have indicated they would be willing to answer a questionnaire from the Tribunal. (Parents, brothers, sisters, mutual friends, members of the wedding party, usually make excellent witnesses.)  Do not name children of the union.  Be sure to let the witnesses know that they will be contacted by the Tribunal.

Interview: After all the testimony has been gathered, an appointment will be made for you to meet with a staff member of the Tribunal.  After reviewing all of the material the judge will render a decision.

What next? If the judge finds the union not binding, the decisions will be sent to the Court of Second Instance in Miami. There the decision will either be confirmed, denied, or will be given a new hearing.  When a final decision has been reached you will be notified.

How long? Since no two petitions presented to the Tribunal are the same, it is impossible to predict the length of time this process will take.  The average length of time is eight months to one year, if we have complete cooperation from all involved.

NO DATE FOR A MARRIAGE IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH CAN BE SET UNTIL A DECLARATION OF NULLITY IS RECEIVED.

Fees:

The ministry is expensive and is heavily subsidized by the Diocese of St. Petersburg. There is a fee of $200.00 in order to help defray expenses incurred by the Tribunal during this process.  We ask that a deposit of $100.00 accompany your petition and the balance of $100.00 be paid at the time of the interview.  The ability or inability to pay all of part of the fee has no bearing on the successful outcome of the petition.

Questions?

It is the sincere intention of the Tribunal that this entire process be, for you and all involved, a time of healing and insight, a healing of the pain and guilt that you may be experiencing as a result of a broken marriage.

 The staff of the Tribunal is here to help. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Tribunal office Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at (727) 446-2326.

You may also write:

Marriage Advisory Board
Office of the Tribunal
Diocese of St. Petersburg
905 South Prospect Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33756-4039
TRIBSP@tampabay.rr.com

Need More Information?

For further information or to establish an appointment with the Parish priest, please call the Rectory Office at (727) 397-3312 during normal office hours.