Frequently asked questions

A canon lawyer is trained in the law of the Catholic Church (the Code of Canon Law and related norms), usually holding a Licentiate in Canon Law (JCL) from a pontifical faculty. Canon lawyers serve as judges, advocates, defenders of the bond and advisors within the Church’s legal system. A canon lawyer is not the same as a civil lawyer and does not advise on the law of the state.

For a marriage nullity case, not always. Many tribunals help parties directly. An advocate is most valuable when a case is complex, when you are unsure which grounds apply, or when you want someone to review the evidence and argue on your behalf. In penal cases and recourse against decrees, where rights and deadlines are strict, an advocate is strongly advisable; in a judicial penal trial it is required.

Yes. Most of my work is done by phone, video and email, and I act for clients across Canada and the United States. To act as advocate before a particular tribunal, I need that tribunal’s approval, which I seek at the start of a case.

The first consultation is free. Fees depend on the kind of matter and how much work it involves; after we speak I’ll give you a written estimate before you commit to anything. Any fees charged by the tribunal itself are separate and set by that tribunal, which often offers reductions for those who need them.

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.

No. The site sets no cookies and uses no analytics, advertising or tracking tools, and it loads nothing from outside services. If you use the contact form, your message is passed to my inbox by FormSubmit, a form-to-email service. GitHub, which hosts the site, keeps the standard server logs every web host keeps for security, but I don’t receive or use them.

My email is hosted by Proton Mail in Switzerland, where messages are stored encrypted. If you write from a Proton account too, our correspondence is end-to-end encrypted, so only you and I can read it.

No. Divorce ends a marriage that exists. A declaration of nullity is a finding that, from the start, a valid marriage never came into being because something essential was missing. The tribunal examines the circumstances at the time of the wedding.

No. Children born of a marriage entered in good faith are legitimate, and remain so after a declaration of nullity (c. 1137). A declaration also has no effect on custody, support or other civil arrangements.

The law asks that a case be decided in first instance within about a year (c. 1453), and the briefer and documentary processes can be much faster. Actual timelines depend on the tribunal, the ground, and how quickly witnesses respond.

No, but you have the right to give your account, name witnesses, review the evidence and appeal. Whether you support or oppose the petition, participating helps the tribunal reach the truth. I can help you decide how to respond.

Generally, yes. Tribunals only accept a case once the marriage has irretrievably broken down (c. 1675), and in practice they usually ask for proof of civil divorce.

Get advice before you make any statement. You are presumed innocent (c. 1321 §1) and you are not required to incriminate yourself. If there is any possibility of civil or criminal proceedings, speak to a civil lawyer too.

Possibly. Such decrees must follow specific procedures, and parishioners may be able to seek their revocation and bring hierarchical recourse to the Holy See. The first deadline is usually only ten useful days from notification of the decree, so contact me right away.

Canon law counts many deadlines in useful days: days on which you knew about the decision and were able to act (c. 201 §2). They are not simply business days, and missing them usually means losing the right to challenge the decision.