Mission Statement:
The primary duty of the Office of Canonical Services is to administer justice to the people of God in the local Church. This is most visible in deciding of cases of alleged marriage nullity. There are, of course, other areas of ecclesiastical legal concern in which the canon lawyers staffing the office can offer advice and insight.

Phone: (714) 282-3080
Fax: (714) 282-3087
View mailing address and location

Annulments, dispensations for mixed marriages, and other canonical procedures are initiated through the local pastor, the parochial vicar, or the deacon (Find a Parish). The local parish ministers determine, as best they can, the character of the request and the manner in which the application should be pursued. The Office staff is eager to assist in resolving any doubts or questions.

For Divorced & Separated groups, for Natural Family Planning, or for pre-marital classes and planning contact your local parish.

Suggested Reading

Annulment: A Step-by-Step Guide for Divorced Catholics
by Rev. Ronald T. Smith
Assisting Christians to Act Publications, Chicago, IL, 1995.

Annulment: The Wedding That Was
by Rev. Michael Smith Foster.
Paulist Press, New York/Mahwah, NJ, 1999.

The Catholic Teaching on Annulment: Preserving the Sanctity of Marriage
by Rev. W. Becket Soule, OP
Catholic Information Service, Knights of Columbus, New Haven, CT, 1997