Petrine Privilege Form

Was your former spouse Catholic at the time of the marriage ceremony? Yes No Uncertain

Was there marriage preparation in the Catholic Church before your marriage ceremony that occurred outside the Catholic Church? Yes No

If yes, list the following:

Name of Catholic parish/institution:

City/State:

NOTE to Case Sponsor: If there is any possibility that there was a dispensation from canonical form, contact the Tribunal.

CIVIL DIVORCE:

QUESTIONS to be asked of the Petitioner:

1) Were both you and your former spouse non-Catholics at the time of your marriage ceremony? Yes No

2) Did you and your former spouse subsequently recite your marital vows before a Catholic priest/deacon (convalidation—c. 1160)? Yes No

3) Did you and your former spouse recite your marital vows before an Eastern Rite Catholic priest or Orthodox priest (c. 1127, §1)? Yes No

4a) Is a radical sanation listed on the Catholic Baptismal or POF Certificate? Yes No

4b) Was a radical sanation ever requested from the Catholic Church? Yes No

5) If the marriage ceremony occurred after 1970, did you receive a dispensation from canonical form from a Catholic bishop allowing you to have a marriage ceremony officiated by someone other than a Catholic priest or deacon? Yes No

6) If the marriage ceremony occurred on or after November 27, 1983, did the Catholic “leave the Church by a formal act” prior to this marriage ceremony? Yes No

If any answer to questions #1-6 is yes, this lack of form petition CANNOT be used. Contact the Tribunal.

7) Are you meeting your moral and civil responsibilities to your former spouse and any child/children? Yes No

If no, explain as follows:

8) Do you have any plans to marry at this time? Yes No (If NO, this petition must be submitted to the Tribunal.)

Anyone who desires to be married in the Catholic Church, whether Catholic or non-Catholic (baptized or non-baptized), must have each and every marriage reviewed by the Catholic Church through some type of nullity process.

This includes any marriage(s) of any kind [religious, convalidation, civil court (justice of the peace, etc.), common law, etc.] that ended in divorce or a civil annulment.

The ONLY exceptions are if the former spouse is deceased OR the previous marriage has already been declared null by the Catholic Church. Without a death certificate(s) and/or an affirmative decision(s) for nullity, it is not possible to marry in the Catholic Church.

PART A: Besides the marriage described in this petition, does the Petitioner have any other marriage(s) that also ended in divorce or death of the other spouse? Yes No

Number of times: Married: Divorced: Widowed:

List any other marriage(s) of any kind that ended in divorce or death.

PART B: If the Petitioner is planning to marry, does the Intended or Current Spouse have any marriage(s) that ended in divorce or death of the other spouse? Yes No

What is his/her name?

Date/Place of Birth:

Religion:

Number of times: Married: Divorced: Widowed:

List any marriage(s) of any kind that ended in divorce or death.

I, the Petitioner, solemnly swear that the information given in this petition is the whole truth, so help me God.

***PARISH SEAL***

Place this completed, four-page petition with the Catholic Baptismal or POF Certificate in the marriage file, as well as a death certificate(s) and/or any other affirmative nullity decree(s) if applicable.

Return civil documents to the Petitioner.

Make a notation of this petition’s facts in the Parish Lack of Form Record Book.

This petition will NOT be accepted without a Case Sponsor.

Name:

Address:

City/State/Zip Code:

Address: Church Home

Phone Numbers: Home: ( ) Work/Cellular: ( )

Case Sponsor’s Parish: City/State:

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS to be submitted with this petition:

- A recent Baptismal or Profession of Faith (POF) Certificate (issued within the last 6 months, with any sacramental notations listed on the back) for the Catholic at the marriage ceremony. If both were Catholic, only one certificate is necessary.

- A certified copy of the marriage license showing the name and title of the officiant.

- A certified copy of the civil divorce decree with the signature of the judge and date signed.

- A death certificate(s) and/or any other affirmative nullity decree(s) if applicable.

- A check payable to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston for the processing fee of $50.00.

Mail this completed, four-page petition to: Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Metropolitan Tribunal, P.O. Box 907, Houston, TX 77001-0907. Telephone: (713) 807-9286