DIOCESAN TRIBUNAL

Diocese of San Pabb

M, Paulino St., San Pablo City
Tel. Nos.: (049) 561-1857loc. 106
INSTRUCTION FOR USING PRETIMINARY QUESTIONAIRE
1.

This form is designed to help you, the Petitioner, to express your interest in seeking
a canonical decision regarding the spiritual validity of your former marriagefs).
The form you are about to complete is only a Preliminary Questionnaire designed to
cover all possible marriage cases. The information you give is important for us to
determine whether or not t}te Tribunal can be of help. If there appear to be
sufficient grounds on which to accept your case, we will notifyyou. An application
fee of P500.00 should be attachedto your formal petition.
Any information yoq gtve to the Tribunal could made available to your former
spouse in formal process. The other party has the right to petition to review such
Information either in person or through their duly appointed pro)ry
(Procurator/Advocate). No confidentiality can be requested or granted. Therefore,
whateveryou tell us mustbe provable eitherthrough documents or sound
testimony. Claims which cannotbe substantiated are of little or no help.
This and all other forms and questionnaires must be signed before a duly
authorized notary of the Tribunal.

4.

ALL addresses, zip codes and telephone numbers requested mustbe correct and
complete. It is ESSENTIAL that we have a complete, current address for the
respondent. Unnecessary delays will occur if this information is not complete.

Any civil or religious documents requested MUST BE CERTIFIED or notarized by th,e

appropriate or ecclesiastical authorities. Mere photocopies are not acceptable in
civil or ecclesiastical courts as legal documents.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you be given any false hopes about a
favourable solution to this matter. SET NO WEDDING DATES unless and until a
Decree of Nullity has been issued to you by the proper Church authority.
7.

There are many others seeking canonical decision about their former marriages.
This procedure will take much time and effort on your part and ours. Your case will
be heard in sequential order behind the other cases already pending in the Tribunal.
Please contact us either by telephone or in writing every seven to eight weeks to
check on the progress ofyour case.

Rev. Fr. Ridardo De

Lunaicl

fudicialVicar

DIOCESAN TRIBIINAL
'Diocese

of San Pablo

M. Paulino St., SanPabloCity

Tel. Nos.: (049) 561-1857loc. 105

GENERAL INFORMATION SHEET

Name of PETITIONER
Residence

Tel. No.
Parish

Date& Placeof Birth

Baptisur (Churdt)

Date:

Name of Fattrcr

Religioru

Narrre of Mother

Religion

Sctrools Attended

Name of RESITONDENT:
Residence

Tel. No.

Parish
Date & Place of Birttt

Baptism (Church)

Date:

Narrre of Father

Religion

Name of Mother

Religion

Sctrools Attended

Marriage

(Church) :

Date:

Where did they live togefter?

Date of

Separation

Children (Please lnchrde nmtes):

Was marriage brought to the civil court?

How long?

BILL OT COMPI,AINT

TM

REVEREND JTIDICIAL VICAR

Diocesan Tribunal
Diocese of San Pablo
M. Paulino St., P.O. Box 8
San Pablo City

born on

L
ln

and

baptized as a
at

and
and

presently residing at
MARRI E D
at

on

ln

My spouse was born on

also
at

and

baptized as a

on

and presently

residing at

It is my firm conviction that the said marriage is ITULL and YOID ab initio
before the eyes of the Catholic Church bmause

of

In zupport ofthis conviction, I offer the following facts enclosed in my CASE

HISTORY
Wherefore, I request that jurisdiction of this cause be taken up by this
TRIBUNAL and that the Respondent be cited to appear and answer this allegation.
further request that this Tribunal, upon hearing the case, gile a declaration that my
marriage to the above-mentioned Respondent is NULL and VOID from the very
beginning on the strength ofthe alleged ground.

PETITIONER
Date:

.l

STATEMENT OF PETITIONER

L.

I have read and fully understood the policies of the Diocesan Tribunal of the Diocese
of San Pablo and I hereby agree to all the stipulations contained therein.

2.

Moreover, it is my duty to provide the Tribunal wit} all the required documents as
well as a complete, current and accurate list of all my witnesses. I agree to inform
them that said Tribunal will contact them. I will make myself available for personal
testimony
If the Tribunal is able to decide t}tis case, there is no guarantee that the final decision
will be favorable to me. I also understand that no guarantee can be given to me
aboutwhen the canonical process will be completed.
I understand that I may not set a date for any future marriage in the Catholic Church
untii, and if, an affirmative decision is given and approved by a second ecclesiastical
confirmatory decision. I undersand that no priest or deacon may provide me with
even a tentative date for a future marriage in the Catholic Church.
A decision depends wholly on the merits of the case, the evidence and the exact
reasons, which the Church recognizes as grounds for nullity. I understand that if an
affirmative decision is reached

3.

4.

5.

b ;:llll:liXtiHli;X1',ii,XillT,Xx:?:i#"'"1*:::l,f"T;
a.

'
6.

either the defender of the bond or my spouse may appeal it and;

marriage. Anyone of these may delay my ability to set a date for a

forthcoming marriage in the Catholic Church.

I understand that the Tribunal staff is bound by oath to confidentiality. Because of

the sensitive nature of the information gathered in this process and because the
Tribunal wishes to promote the spirit of Christian charity, all the information
gathered in the course of this investigation is considered to be exclqsive,
confidential property of the Tribunal of the Diocese of San Pablo. This information
is never made available except as required by Catholic Church law for inspection by
the Procurator/Advocate for the Petitioner or'the Respondent The |udge may
curtail the availability of the information even to the Procurator/Advocate for
special reasons that he determines to avoid serious dangers. The information is not
made available to the witnesses or for any civil proceedings.

T. I will inform the Tribuna} of any future change in my name,

address or my civil

status.

AFFIDAVIT OF PETITIONER
FULLY WITH THE TRIBUNAL AND TO BE BOUND BY THE
POLICIES IN THE ABOVE STATEIVfENT. I SWEAR THAT THE CASE HISTORY, WHICH I
SUBMIT WITH THIS AFFIDAVIT, IS THE WHOLE TRUTH'

I AGREE TO COOPEMTE

Signature:
Date:

DIOCESAN TRIBUNAT
Diocese of San Pablo
M. Paulino SL, San Pablo City

TeL Nos.: (049) 561-1857loc.106

HOry TO MAKE A CASE HISTORY

Address to

The REVEnEND IUDICIAL,VICAR

DIOCESAN TRJBUNAL
Diocese of San Pablo
M. Paulino SL, San Pablo City

CONTENTS:

1. FAMILY BACKGROUND of BOTH PARTIES

a)

PARENTS

What kind of work did they do? How did they relate to family and friends? How did
they practice their religion? How did they get along together? Where there any
problems in their marriage? Discuss how you related to each parent How did they
raise their children? Did they both. raise you? Did they allow you to become
independent? Did theytake an interest in you and your development? Were they
over protective? Did they set realistic goals for you? Which parents was dominant
as far as you were concerned? Did you feel rejected by either? Did you feel
deprived of anything while growing up? Did you over-come this later? Did you
dislike any household member? <Why?> Did either parent feel inferior? <Why?>
Did either have psychiatric care? Were there any.unusual burdens the family faCed
while grew up? Were there any history of divorces, emotional problems in your
parents?

b) Your BROTHERS and SISTERS:

List of names and dates of birth in chronological order, including yourself. How did
yoU relate tO each other? Howwere they raised in comparison to you? How did
they influence your attitudes, marriage, etc,? Are you still in regular contact with
them?
c)

Your EDUCATION:
Where did you attend school? What type of studentwere you? Did you fail any
grades or quit school early? If so, give the reasons. Explain any problems in school
iither with studies or fri'ends. What grade level of school did you complete?

d) ADOLESCENCE:

Where there happy times? Why or why not? Did any special experience have a
great effect on you? How did you relate to boys and girls? What was your parents
attitude towards sex and marriage? How did you react to sex? When did you first
start to date? Where there any serious relationships or other engagements? Tell
when and how serious relationship ended. Were you ever in love with someone
other than your former spouse? Had you experienced any sexual relationships
before marriage? Did you have any serious illness while growing up? How much
contact did you have with your former spouse's family prior to the marriage? Did
you have any serious illness while growing up? How much contact did you have
with your former spouse's famrly prior to the marriage? What contact did you have
with your foimer spouse's family prior to the marriage? What was your impression
of his/her family? Did you feel comfortable with the attitudes and values of your
former spouse's family (were these above or below your expectadons?) How did
your spouse treat his/her parents, brothers and sisters?
e) Your FORMER SPOUSES FAMILY:

Answer sections [a) through (d) [parents, brot]rers and sisters, education and
adolescence) regarding your former spouse (indicate all that you know about
him/her in these areas)

2.

CHAMCTERDESCRIPTION of BOTH PARTIES:

Discuss moods and temperaments, positive and negative traits, hobbies, etc.

3.

COURTSHIP:

first

'

When and how did you meet? How old are you both? What was your
impression of your former spouse? How long and often did you date before the
engagement? How did your family react? Did you get along with your in-laws? Was
the engagement broken? <Why> How long did the engagement last? What made
you decide on the engagement? Was the marriage date advanced? <lMrP How did
you show affection? Did your life change in any significant events during courtship?
Did either of you have serious doubts about the marriage? .\{hy or whaD Did
anyone counsel you about them? How did you and/or your former spouse deal with
these doubts? Were both able to make a sensible, mature and balanced decision to
marry? How much pre-marriage preparation didyou have? Did anyone caution
either of you about this marriage? Briefly describe each of your personalities at the
time of your courtship? What attracted you to your spouse? How much contact did
your family have with your former spouse during the courtship? How did she/he
get along with your family? What was your family's feeling about your spouse
during the courtship? Did both families ercourage the relations to continue?

4.

CML WEDDING, if any: CHURCH WEDDING:

Did anyttring unusual happen duringthe wedding and/or resenting? (lf this
marriage was a Church validation of a civil marriage: Why did you have the

marriage validated?) Describe fullythe attitudes each of you had aboutthis. Were
there difficulties or pressures at that time? What prompted you to have t}te
marriage in Church? How was your common life at that time? How long and where
was the honeymoon? Did anything unusual happen during the honeymoon? If so,
please explain. Was there any physical or emotional distress as a result of the
honeymoon or early days of your common life? Was the marriage consummated? If
the marriagi was not consummate4 please explain why it was not? How did you
feel about the quality of your sexual life? How did your former spouse feel about it?

Explainanydifficultiesonyoursexuallife?Dideitherrefusetheother?<Why?>

How did each of you have to adJust to make the mamiage work? How long was it
happy for both? Who was the dominant spouse atrd how did t}re other react? Were
you equals? Could you discuss problems as partners? How well did each of you
fulfil the needs of the other? What are the major dissensions in the marriage? When
did they arise? What cause them? How did each of you respond? How could you
portrayyour arguments? Was there ever abuse? How did you communicate your
differences, problems, and conflicts? Any moral or character problems flytng,
cheating stealing arrest, imprisonment, trouble with civil authorities?) Was there
iury use of drugs or alcohol? Did this cause problem?
6.

CHILDREN:

Did the presence or absence of children hurt your relationship? <Whyb How did
you deal with this? How did each of you relate withyour children? Who was more
responsible fortheir material needs, their upbringing and theirguidance? <Why?>
Were both of you interested in them? Was either party abusive (physically,
emotionally or verbally) or domineering?
a

7.

SEPAMTIONS:
What brought about the first separation? Please describe the first separation in
detail. Whatwas the cause of subsequent separations? How manytims did you
separate before the final separation? How much effort did either seek counselling?
<explain> What was the actual date when you ceased living together? What caused
this?

8.

WORK HISTORY:

Did you both work? Did either of you change jobs frequently? <Why?> Any
problems with co-workers or superior? Did either party's job cause marital

problems? <Why?>
9.

CONCLUSION:

From your point of vidw, explain why the marriage failed. How have the lives of
each of you-been the separaiion? <divorce?> Has anything significant happened
since then?

10. LIST of WITNESSES:

Please list pehons who have knowledge of your family background, childhood or
marital situation and who would provide us information. You must contact them
before presenting them. We suggest you include your parents, siblings and friends
lfrom courtship. Please make an effortto include witnesses from your side and from
your former spouse's side. If they inquire about confidentiality, please inform them
that it is the Tribunal's poliry to always keep strict confidentiality. You must give
complete and current names, addresses and phone numbers. There is no limit to the
numbers of witnesses. We will contact them initidly by mail, or if the parties so
desire, they may hand carry tle communications to them. Also, list all the
counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists either of you saw before, during pre
dter the marriage. If either of you was hospitalized for any nenvous/mental
difficultybefore, during or afterthe marriage, please list names and address of the
hospital and which party.

Signature
Date of Submission

NOTE:
The Case History should be type written, in triplicate and either hand carried or send by
mail.
The evaluation of the merits of the petitionerwill depend largely on the completeness of the
3.

Case History
The Case History should be submitted together with the GENEML INFORMATION SHEET
and a BILL of COMPLAINT (duly fllled up and signed by the Petitionqr).

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:
(2) I.D. pictures oitott parties, BAPTISMAL CERTIFICATES of both parties, MARRIAGE

CONTMCT and other documents pertinentto the case.

LIST OF WTINESSES (Minimum of

witnesses):