Office of the Tribunal

The Diocese of Brooklyn Tribunal (the Court of the Bishop of Brooklyn) is located in Douglaston, Queens and the staff of the Tribunal is at the service of the people of the Diocese. Who can approach the Brooklyn Tribunal? Basically, the answer is simple: anyone who was married in the Diocese or anyone who lives in the Diocese or whose former spouse lives in the Diocese.

The process usually begins on a local level, in a parish. Often persons who want to have their marriage examined by the Tribunal approach a priest or deacon or a pastoral associate in their own parish. These people will be directed to call the Tribunal and a letter with information about the process will be sent to them.

Our Diocese has many deacons and others who have been trained to assist people with gathering together information and documents, a task which can often seem quite daunting. However, with the assistance of these dedicated “case instructors,” it can be easier. Once all the information is gathered, it is sent to the Tribunal and a case is opened.

What kind of information is needed? Aside from what you might suspect (baptismal and marriage certificates, divorce declaration, etc.), people are asked to provide an “autobiography” which recounts the details of their courtship and marriage. (An outline is provided to facilitate this). Certainly, rehashing these sometimes painfully recalled experiences can be difficult, but the case instructor and Tribunal personnel are always available to assist. You will also need to ask “witnesses” or persons who knew you at the time of the courtship and wedding to provide their view of what happened.

The process which takes place at the Tribunal, then, follows. The ex-spouse will be contacted to offer the opportunity to submit an “autobiography” and to take part in the process. At no time will the two parties have to have any contact with each other.

Once all the testimony is collected, the petitioner is invited in for a “hearing” during which the judge will discuss the facts already submitted, and clarify anything that is unclear. The respondent is also invited for a “hearing” at another time, if he or she has agreed to participate in the process. Sometimes an “expert witness” in psychology (a psychologist or psychiatrist) will be asked to examine the evidence to offer information to the judge to assist him in making a decision. Once the investigation is complete and required reviews have taken place, the judge will make a decision on the case. The parties will be informed as to whether the judge determined, with moral certainty, that the marriage was valid or not.

At this point, people often say that they “got an annulment.” This is misleading and faulty terminology, though. It implies that one can get an annulment like one can “get” a new car or a new suit. It is more accurate to say that a declaration is made that the marriage was null from the beginning. The Tribunal merely states what is there already, the truth. It does not grant an annulment, it makes a Declaration of Nullity. The decision may also be negative, that is to say the nullity of the marriage was not proven.

Looking for more information about annulment? Visit this website for more: https://www.foryourmarriage.org/annulments/