Either party in a marriage that has ended in divorce has the right to ask the Church to review a former marriage. The petitioner has the burden of providing proofs to demonstrate why a marriage may be considered invalid.The formal process is not adversarial and does not make a moral judgment on any person involved, it simply makes a statement of truth regarding the validity of the prior bond according to Church teaching.
While you can represent yourself, having a lawyer is usually a good idea to help navigate the legal waters and make your case effectively.
After the testimony is provided, the court will review the information and make decisions on how to proceed with the case.
Yes, typically, these proceedings are open to the public, so you can go and watch how things unfold.
The duration can vary, but it usually takes a few hours to a couple of days, depending on the complexity of the case and how many witnesses are involved.
Both sides in a dispute will present preliminary testimony from witnesses who can support their claims or defenses.
Preliminary testimony is an early stage in the legal process where witnesses provide their initial statements about the case before it goes to trial.
A formal case is a legal proceeding in which the court is asked to make a decision based on evidence and testimonies presented by both sides.