Canon law counsel & advocacy
Clear guidance when you face the Church’s legal system
I’m Richard Verver, a canon lawyer who has served as an ecclesiastical judge since 2015. I represent people in marriage nullity cases, clergy and lay faithful in penal matters, and anyone challenging a decision of Church authority. I also advise the dioceses and institutes that must get these processes right.
- Confidential
- Canada & United States
- By phone or video
Areas of practice
Who I help
Canon law is a complete legal system with its own courts, procedures and deadlines. Having someone in your corner who knows it from the inside makes a real difference.
Marriage nullity
Whether you are asking for a declaration of nullity or have just been told your former spouse has, I help you understand the grounds, prepare your testimony and witnesses, and make sure your voice is properly heard.
Annulment cases → Clergy, religious & lay faithfulPenal advocacy
An accusation, a preliminary investigation or a precautionary restriction on ministry is serious. You have a right to a defence and to a qualified advocate from the very first step.
Penal cases → Anyone affected by a decreeAdministrative recourse
Parish mergers, church closures, removal from office, restrictions and other decrees can be challenged, but only if you act within very short, strict time limits.
Recourse & appeals → Bishops, tribunals & institutesDioceses & institutions
Tribunal support, preliminary investigations, procedurally sound decrees, policy review and formation for clergy and staff, so decisions hold up and people are treated justly.
Consulting & tribunal work →Received a decree you disagree with?
In most cases you have only ten useful days from notification to ask its author to revoke or amend it (c. 1734 §2). Miss that window and your right to recourse can be lost. Get in touch now. The first consultation is free.
How it works
A calm, clear process
Free consultation
A confidential phone or video call to understand your situation and what’s at stake.
A clear plan
I explain your options, the likely timeline and my fees in writing before you commit to anything.
Representation
I prepare submissions, deal with the tribunal or authority, and keep deadlines in hand.
Through to the end
You’re kept informed at every stage, including any appeal or further recourse.
In clients’ words
I have been very grateful to have Richard Verver as my advocate. Very knowledgeable of the law, thorough in research and application, comprehensive and skilled in explanation. He makes himself available to my needs, listens carefully, incorporates my thoughts and suggestions appropriately. To these skills he adds a personable, friendly and informal approach, which has set me at ease and encouraged me along the way. The work on the case has felt like a genuine partnership, where I have been treated with respect. He loves the Church, but he also values its individual members in their difficulty and their need. I very highly recommend him.
About
I’ve seen these cases from the bench
For more than a decade I have judged marriage and contentious cases at the Toronto Regional Tribunal. I know what judges look for, where cases stall, and how to present yours so it is understood.
- Licentiate in Canon Law (JCL) from Saint Paul University, Ottawa; doctorate in progress
- Advocate before tribunals in Canada and the United States
- Teaches canon law and marriage nullity procedure at Saint Philip’s Seminary
- Treasurer of the Canadian Canon Law Society; published with the Canon Law Society of America
Common questions
Before you reach out
Do I really need a canonical advocate?
Not always. Many tribunals guide parties through a nullity case without one. But an advocate helps you choose the right grounds, prepare a clear account and witnesses, review the evidence, and respond before a decision is made. In penal and recourse matters, where rights and deadlines are unforgiving, an advocate is strongly advisable.
Can you help if I’m not in Toronto?
Yes. I work with clients across Canada and the United States by phone and video, and I have acted in dioceses in Ontario, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Whether I can appear before a particular tribunal depends on that tribunal’s approval; I’ll tell you at the outset.
Is what I tell you confidential?
Yes, once I’ve confirmed I can take your consultation. Before then, please share only your name, the type of matter and any deadline, so I can check that I’m free to act (for example, that I’m not already acting for someone else in the case). After that, what you tell me is kept strictly confidential, is never shared without your permission, and will not be used against you.
Let’s talk about your situation
The first consultation is free and confidential. Tell me briefly what’s happening and I’ll reply within two business days.