Marriage Tribunal (Annulments)

Your mission is a big one! It has to maintain, deepen, defend, and illuminate those divine values which human beings bear in themselves as the instruments of divine love." - John Paul II address to the Roman Rota, 1986

The Providence Tribunal, a staff of specially trained and experienced priests, religious, and lay persons, offers assistance to individuals who request that the church study a marriage in order to determine whether or not there is any possibility of an annulment. The Tribunal investigates the marriage and proceeds to a decision.

By Church Law, the Providence Tribunal accepts cases when a request is made from someone married in Rhode Island or if the other marriage partner (Respondent) resides in Rhode Island. The Tribunal can also accept a request from an individual residing in Rhode Island without meeting the two former conditions. In these cases, the Tribunal must consult the Respondent’s Diocese before proceeding.