Procedure for submitting documents to the judicial vicar and the diocesan tribunal

Friday, Oct. 31, 2014

To be able to serve you in a more efficient way, and in anticipation for this period of time during autumn/winter 2014-2015, I ask you kindly to keep the following information and recommendations in mind:

RCIA Canonical Procedures: The continuation of the RCIA program 2014 – 2015 in our diocese presents a challenge for most pastors and administrators. The Tribunal always appreciates the efforts of all our canonical advocates on behalf of the faithful of our diocese. To all allow the Tribunal to do the proper procedure of law in applications for a declaration of invalidity of marriages (formal cases, Pauline privileges of the faith, ligamen cases and lack of form cases), we kindly ask you to plan accordingly submitting your cases with sufficient anticipation and according to our diocesan policy.  

Time frame for processing of cases: The time frame for formal cases is about six to eight months to be completed in the first instance; the process of confirmation or appeal of decisions takes several months. For Pauline privilege of the faith and ligamen cases, the processing time is about three months. Canonical advocates (priests, deacons, religious and lay qualified canon lawyers) are always welcome to present their questions, concerns or specific issues to the Judicial Vicar & Vice-Chancellor, Reverend Langes J. Silva, at 801-456-9312.

Throughout the year, but especially during summer and autumn, many members of the faithful plan their weddings with their families, friends or with other institutions close to them. For those marriages to be celebrated outside the Diocese of Salt Lake City, pastors and administrators should complete the prenuptial investigation and forward the entire documentation directly to the Judicial Vicar at the Office of the Tribunal along with the Testimonial Letter (a blue form) properly completed and a certificate of marriage preparation.  Our office will forward the documentation with the nihil obstat to the place where the marriage is to take place. The documentation should include a certificate that the couple has completed the required marriage preparation and the result of any of the premarital test, such as marriage inventory or focus test (if applicable). Please, make sure to submit your documentation to Fr. Silva at our Tribunal office at least one month prior to the wedding. 

For weddings to be celebrated in our diocese for people coming from other dioceses, please inform the bride and the groom that the marriage documentation and the testimonial letter from their own diocese should be sent directly to the Office of the Tribunal with the Visum or Nihil Obstat. Once the documentation is received in our Office, Fr. Silva will forward the documentation with the Nihil Obstat to the parish in which the celebration is going to take place. A period of 30 days prior to the wedding is an ideal time to receive and process the documentation.

Requests for dispensation of canonical impediments for marriages: Canonical dispensations of disparity of worship or permissions for mixed marriage should be requested at least three weeks prior to the wedding. For that purpose, the application form is required along with the original of the prenuptial investigation and the documentation required for marriage.  It is not the common practice of our Diocesan Tribunal to grant canonical dispensations via phone or verbally.  In cases of emergency, make sure to submit the entire documentation via fax prior to the celebration of the wedding to the attention of the Judicial Vicar.