Töï Saéc Cuûa Ñöùc Giaùo Hoaøng Phanxicoâ
Chuùa Gieâsu Thaåm Phaùn Nhaân Töø
Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus
Veà vieäc caûi toå thuû tuïc phaùp lyù
ñoái vôùi caùc vuï aùn tuyeân boá söï voâ hieäu cuûa hoân nhaân trong boä Giaùo Luaät
Baûn dòch vieät ngöõ cuûa:
Linh Muïc John Baptist Leâ Ngoïc Duõng, Giaùo Phaän Nha Trang
vaø Linh Muïc Joseph Hoaøng Vaên Syõ, Giaùo Phaän Quy Nhôn
Vaøi Toá Tuïng Ñaëc Bieät
Ñeà Muïc 1: Toá Tuïng Hoân Nhaân
Chöông 1:
Nhöõng Vuï AÙn Tuyeân Boá Hoân Nhaân Baát Thaønh
Tieát 1: Toøa AÙn Coù Thaåm Quyeàn
Ñieàu 1671
1. Do luaät rieâng, caùc vuï aùn hoân nhaân cuûa nhöõng ngöôøi ñaõ ñöôïc Röûa Toäi, thuoäc quyeàn thaåm phaùn Giaùo Hoäi.
2. Caùc vuï aùn lieân quan ñeán nhöõng hieäu löïc thuaàn tuùy daân söï cuûa hoân nhaân thuoäc quyeàn thaåm phaùn daân söï, tröø khi luaät ñòa phöông aán ñònh raèng thaåm phaùn Giaùo Hoäi coù theå cöùu xeùt vaø giaûi quyeát chính caùc vuï aùn ñoù, neáu caùc vuï aùn aáy ñöôïc giaûi quyeát nhö laø vaán ñeà phuï vaø tuøy toøng.
Ñieàu 1672
Ñoái vôùi nhöõng vuï aùn veà söï baát thaønh cuûa hoân nhaân maø Toâng Toøa khoâng daønh rieâng cho mình, thì caùc toøa aùn coù thaåm quyeàn laø:
10 Toøa aùn taïi nôi ñaõ cöû haønh hoân nhaân;
20 Toøa aùn taïi nôi maø moät hoaëc caû hai beân coù cö sôû hay baùn cö sôû;
Ñieàu 1673
1. Trong moãi giaùo phaän vaø cho nhöõng vuï aùn baát thaønh cuûa hoân nhaân maø khoâng bò luaät minh nhieân loaïi tröø, thaåm phaùn cuûa toøa aùn caáp moät laø Giaùm Muïc giaùo phaän, ngaøi coù theå ñích thaân hay nhôø nhöõng ngöôøi khaùc thi haønh quyeàn xeùt xöû, chieáu theo qui taéc cuûa luaät.
2. Trong giaùo phaän Giaùm Muïc phaûi thieát laäp toøa aùn giaùo phaän ñeå xöû nhöõng vuï aùn baát thaønh cuûa hoân nhaân mieãn laø vaãn giöõ nguyeân naêng quyeàn cuûa Giaùm Muïc ñoù ñöôïc xuùc tieán taïi moät toøa aùn giaùo phaän laân caän hoaëc lieân giaùo phaän.
3. Nhöõng vuï aùn veà söï baát thaønh cuûa hoân nhaân phaûi ñöôïc daønh cho hieäp ñoaøn goàm ba thaåm phaùn. Chaùnh aùn toøa hieäp ñoaøn phaûi laø giaùo só; nhöõng vò coøn laïi cuõng coù theå laø giaùo daân.
4. Giaùm muïc coù traùch nhieäm, neáu khoâng theå thieát laäp toøa aùn hieäp ñoaøn trong giaùo phaän hay trong giaùo phaän laân caän ñöôïc choïn theo quy taéc cuûa ~2, phaûi uûy thaùc nhöõng vuï aùn cho moät thaåm phaùn giaùo só duy nhaát, vaø nôi naøo coù theå ñöôïc, vò naøy phaûi môøi hai hoäi thaåm coù ñôøi soáng lieâm khieát, thaønh thaïo trong khoa luaät phaùp hay nhaân vaên, ñöôïc Giaùm Muïc chuaån nhaän cho nhieäm vuï naøy; vò thaåm phaùn duy nhaát coù thaåm quyeàn thi haønh nhöõng chöùc naêng daønh cho hieäp ñoaøn, cho vò chaùnh aùn hay cho baùo caùo vieân, tröø khi roõ raøng laø traùi ngöôïc.
5. Ñeå ñöôïc höõu hieäu, toøa aùn caáp hai luoân luoân phaûi laø hieäp ñoaøn, theo nhö quy ñònh cuûa ~3 noùi treân.
6. Vieäc khaùng aùn ñöôïc thöïc hieän töø toøa aùn caáp moät leân toøa aùn caáp hai cuûa Toång Giaùm Muïc giaùo tænh, mieãn laø vaãn giöõ nguyeân nhöõng quy ñònh cuûa nhöõng ñieàu 1438-1439 vaø 1444.
Tieát 2: Quyeàn Khaùng Nghò Hoân Nhaân
Ñieàu 1674
1. Nhöõng ngöôøi coù naêng caùch khaùng nghò hoân nhaân laø:
10 nhöõng ngöôøi phoái ngaãu;
20 coâng toá vieân, khi söï baát thaønh cuûa hoân nhaân ñaõ trôû thaønh coâng khai, neáu hoân nhaân khoâng theå thaønh söï hoùa, hoaëc khoâng thích hôïp neáu thaønh söï hoùa.
2. Hoân nhaân naøo ñaõ khoâng bò khaùng nghò khi hai ngöôøi phoái ngaãu coøn soáng, thì cuõng khoâng theå khaùng nghò khi moät trong hai beân hay caû hai ñaõ cheát, tröø khi vaán ñeà thaønh söï cuûa hoân nhaân laø vaán ñeà tieân quyeát ñeå giaûi quyeát moät cuoäc tranh tuïng khaùc hoaëc ôû toøa aùn Giaùo Hoäi hoaëc ôû toøa aùn daân söï.
3. Nhöng neáu moät ngöôøi phoái ngaãu cheát trong khi vuï aùn chöa ngaõ nguõ, thì phaûi giöõ ñieàu 1518.
Tieát 3: Khôûi Söï Vaø Thaåm Cöùu Vuï AÙn
Ñieàu 1675
Tröôùc khi nhaän xeùt xöû vuï aùn, thaåm phaùn phaûi chaéc chaén raèng hoân nhaân ñaõ ñoå vôõ khoâng coøn söûa chöõa ñöôïc, ñeán noãi khoâng theå taùi laäp ñôøi soáng chung vôï choàng.
Ñieàu 1676
1. Sau khi nhaän ñôn thænh caàu (libellus), neáu xeùt thaáy ñôn coù moät neàn taûng naøo ñoù, thì Ñaïi Dieän tö phaùp phaûi chaáp ñôn vaø, baèng moät saéc leänh ñính keøm ôû cuoái chính ñôn naøy, truyeàn göûi moät baûn sao ñeå thoâng baùo cho baûo heä vieân vaø, neáu ñôn khoâng ñöôïc caû hai beân kyù teân, thì thoâng baùo cho bò ñôn vaø cho ngöôøi aáy thôøi haïn möôøi laêm ngaøy ñeå baøy toû yù kieán cuûa mình veà ñieàu thænh caàu.
2. Quaù thôøi haïn neâu treân, sau khi ñaõ nhaéc nhôû moät laàn nöõa cho beân kia baøy toû yù kieán neáu thaáy thích hôïp, vaø sau khi ñaõ nghe yù kieán cuûa baûo heä vieân, Ñaïi Dieän tö phaùp phaûi ra saéc leänh xaùc ñònh theå thöùc nghi vaán vaø quyeát ñònh vuï aùn phaûi ñöôïc xöû theo thuû tuïc thoâng thöôøng hay theo thuû tuïc ngaén goïn hôn theo nhöõng ñieàu 1683-1687. Saéc leänh naøy phaûi laäp töùc ñöôïc thoâng baùo cho caùc beân vaø cho baûo heä vieân.
3. Neáu ñònh xöû vuï aùn theo thuû tuïc thoâng thöôøng, Ñaïi Dieän Tö Phaùp, cuõng vôùi saéc leänh ñoù, thu xeáp vieäc thieát laäp thaåm phaùn ñoaøn hoaëc moät thaåm phaùn duy nhaát vôùi hai hoäi thaåm theo quy ñònh cuûa ñieàu 1673~4.
4. Tuy nhieân, neáu ñònh xöû theo thuû tuïc ngaén goïn hôn, Ñaïi Dieän Tö Phaùp tieán haønh chieáu theo qui taéc cuûa ñieàu 1685.
5. Theå thöùc nghi vaán phaûi xaùc ñònh xem hoân nhaân thaønh söï bò khaùng nghò vì lyù do naøo hoaëc vì nhöõng lyù do naøo.
Ñieàu 1677
1. Baûo heä vieân, caùc luaät sö cuûa caùc beân vaø caû coâng toá vieân, neáu caùc vò naøy tham gia toá tuïng, ñeàu coù quyeàn:
10 coù maët trong luùc thaåm vaán caùc beân, caùc ngöôøi laøm chöùng vaø caùc giaùm ñònh vieân, mieãn laø vaãn giöõ nguyeân nhöõng quy ñònh cuûa ñieàu 1559;
20 xem caùc aùn töø tö phaùp, ngay caû khi nhöõng aùn töø ñoù chöa ñöôïc coâng boá, vaø nghieân cöùu caùc taøi lieäu do caùc beân cung caáp.
2. Caùc beân khoâng ñöôïc tham döï cuoäc thaåm vaán ñöôïc noùi ñeán ôû 1,10.
Ñieàu 1678
1 Trong nhöõng vuï aùn hoân nhaân baát thaønh, lôøi töï thuù tö phaùp vaø nhöõng lôøi khai cuûa caùc beân, maø söï ñaùng tin cuûa hoï cuõng coù theå ñöôïc cuõng coá bôûi caùc nhaân chöùng, coù theå ñöôïc thaåm phaùn ñaùnh giaù laø coù hieäu löïc chöùng minh ñaày ñuû, sau khi vò naøy ñaõ cöùu xeùt taát caû nhöõng daáu hieäu vaø nhöõng yeáu toá cuõng coá, mieãn laø khoâng coù nhöõng yeáu toá khaùc phuû ñònh chuùng.
2. Trong nhöõng vuï aùn naøy, lôøi khai cuûa moät nhaân chöùng duy nhaát coù theå ñaùng tin hoaøn toaøn, neáu ñoù laø moät nhaân chöùng coù phaåm caùch cung khai veà nhöõng ñieàu ñöôïc thöïc hieän theo chöùc vuï cuûa mình, hoaëc nhöõng söï kieän veà ngöôøi vaø söï vieäc gôïi leân ñieàu aáy.
3. Trong nhöõng vuï aùn veà söï baát löïc hay veà haø tì öng thuaän do beänh taâm thaàn hoaëc do nhöõng baát thöôøng thuoäc baûn chaát taâm lyù, thaåm phaùn phaûi nhôø ñeán söï giuùp ñôõ cuûa moät hay nhieàu giaùm ñònh vieân, tröø khi hoaøn caûnh cho thaáy roõ vieäc giaùm ñònh khoâng caàn thieát; coøn trong nhöõng vuï aùn khaùc, phaûi giöõ nhöõng quy ñònh cuûa ñieàu 1574.
4. Moãi khi thaåm cöùu vuï aùn maø thaáy coù moät nghi vaán raát höõu lyù veà hoân nhaân baát hoaøn hôïp, sau khi nghe yù kieán caùc beân, toøa aùn coù theå ñình hoaõn vuï aùn veà söï baát thaønh, boå tuùc vieäc thaåm cöùu ñeå xin mieãn chuaån hoân nhaân thaønh nhaän, vaø sau ñoù chuyeån nhöõng aùn töø ñeán Toâng Toøa, keøm theo ñôn xin mieãn chuaån cuûa moät hay cuûa hai ngöôøi phoái ngaãu, cuøng vôùi yù kieán cuûa Toøa aùn vaø cuûa Giaùm Muïc.
Tieát 4: Baûn AÙn, Nhöõng Khaùng Nghò Vaø Thi Haønh
Ñieàu 1679
Baûn aùn laàn ñaàu tieân tuyeân boá hoân nhaân laø baát thaønh, khi maõn caùc thôøi haïn ñöôïc aán ñònh trong nhöõng ñieàu 1630-1633, coù hieäu löïc thi haønh.
Ñieàu 1680
1. Beân naøo caûm thaáy mình bò thieät haïi, cuõng nhö coâng toá vieân vaø baûo heä vieân, ñeàu coù toá quyeàn xin tieâu huûy baûn aùn hoaëc khaùng caùo choáng laïi baûn aùn ñoù theo nhöõng ñieàu 1619-1640.
2. Maõn thôøi haïn luaät aán ñònh cho vieäc khaùng caùo vaø tieán haønh khaùng caùo, toøa aùn caáp treân sau khi ñaõ nhaän ñöôïc caùc aùn töø tö phaùp, phaûi thieát laäp toøa aùn hieäp ñoaøn, chæ ñònh baûo heä vieân vaø nhaéc nhôû caùc beân baøy toû yù kieán trong moät thôøi haïn quy ñònh; maõn thôøi haïn ñoù, neáu khaùng caùo roõ raøng chæ laø trì hoaõn, thì toøa aùn hieäp ñoaøn xaùc nhaän baûn aùn cuûa toøa aùn caáp moät baèng saéc leänh.
3. Neáu vieäc khaùng caùo ñöôïc chaáp nhaän, phaûi tieán haønh cuøng caùch thöùc gioáng nhö ôû toøa caáp moät, vôùi nhöõng thích nghi caàn thieát.
4. Neáu ôû caáp khaùng caùo ngöôøi ta ñöa ra moät lyù do môùi khieán hoân nhaân baát thaønh, thì toøa aùn coù theå chaáp nhaän lyù do ñoù vaø xeùt xöû nhö ôû toøa aùn caáp moät.
Ñieàu 1681
Neáu moät baûn aùn ñaõ coù hieäu löïc thi haønh, coù theå thöôïng caàu toaø aùn caáp ba baát kyø luùc naøo ñeå xin xöû laïi vuï aùn chieáu theo quy taéc cuûa ñieàu 1644, baèng caùch tröng ra nhöõng chöùng cöù môùi hay nhöõng lyù do môùi vaø quan troïng trong thôøi haïn nhaát ñònh laø ba möôi ngaøy, keå töø ngaøy noäp ñôn khaùng aùn.
Ñieàu 1682
1. Sau khi baûn aùn tuyeân boá hoân nhaân baát thaønh coù hieäu löïc thi haønh, thì nhöõng ngöôøi maø hoân nhaân cuûa hoï ñöôïc tuyeân boá laø baát thaønh coù theå taùi hoân, tröø khi leänh caám taùi hoân ñöôïc aán ñònh theâm bôûi chính baûn aùn hoaëc bôûi Ñaáng Baûn Quyeàn ñòa phöông.
2. Ngay sau khi baûn aùn coù hieäu löïc thi haønh, vò Ñaïi Dieän Tö phaùp phaûi thoâng baùo baûn aùn ñoù cho Ñaáng Baûn Quyeàn ñòa phöông nôi hoân nhaân ñaõ ñöôïc cöû haønh. Vò naøy phaûi quan taâm, sôùm heát söùc, ghi chuù vieäc coâng boá hoân nhaân khoâng thaønh vaø nhöõng leänh caám keøm theo, neáu coù, vaøo soå hoân phoái vaø soå röûa toäi.
Tieát 5: Toá Tuïng Hoân Nhaân Ngaén Goïn Hôn Tröôùc Giaùm Muïc
Ñieàu 1683
Chính Giaùm Muïc giaùo phaän coù thaåm quyeàn xeùt xöû nhöõng vuï aùn hoân nhaân baát thaønh vôùi thuû tuïc ngaén goïn hôn moãi khi:
10 Ñôn thænh caàu ñöôïc caû hai ngöôøi phoái ngaãu ñeä trình hay do moät trong hai beân, vôùi söï ñoàng yù cuûa beân kia;
20 Nhöõng söï kieän veà ngöôøi vaø veà söï vieäc, ñöôïc xaùc thöïc bôûi caùc chöùng cöù hoaëc taøi lieäu maø khoâng caàn phaûi ñieàu tra hay thaåm cöùu kyõ löôõng hôn, vaø chuùng phaûi laøm cho söï baát thaønh ñöôïc saùng toû.
Ñieàu 1684
Ñôn thænh caàu ñöôïc xeùt xöû theo thuû tuïc ngaén goïn hôn, ngoaøi nhöõng ñieàu ñöôïc lieät keâ ôû ñieàu 1504, phaûi:
10 trình baøy vaén taét, ñaày ñuû vaø roõ raøng nhöõng söï kieän laøm neàn taûng cho söï thænh caàu;
20 chæ ra caùc chöùng cöù maø thaåm phaùn coù theå thu thaäp ñöôïc ngay;
30 ñính keøm nhöõng taøi lieäu laøm caên cöù cho thænh caàu.
Ñieàu 1685
Vò Ñaïi dieän tö phaùp, baèng cuøng moät saéc leänh, phaûi aán ñònh theå thöùc nghi vaán, chæ ñònh thaåm cöùu vieân vaø hoäi thaåm vaø trieäu taäp taát caû nhöõng ai phaûi tham döï cho moät giai ñoaïn phaûi ñöôïc tieán haønh theo nguyeân taéc ñieàu 1686 khoâng quaù ba möôi ngaøy sau.
Ñieàu 1686
Thaåm cöùu vieân, phaûi coá gaéng heát söùc thu thaäp caùc chöùng cöù chæ trong moät giai ñoaïn, vaø phaûi aán ñònh thôøi haïn möôøi laêm ngaøy ñeå trình baûn caùc yù kieán baûo veä daây hoân phoái vaø baûn bieän hoä cuûa caùc beân, neáu coù.
Ñieàu 1687
1. Sau khi nhaän ñöôïc caùc aùn töø, Giaùm Muïc Giaùo phaän tham khaûo yù kieán cuûa thaåm cöùu vieân vaø hoäi thaåm, caân nhaéc caùc yù kieán cuûa baûo heä vieân cuõng nhö nhöõng bieän hoä neáu coù cuûa caùc beân, vaø neáu thaáy ñaït ñeán söï chaéc chaén luaân lyù veà söï baát thaønh cuûa hoân nhaân, thì ngaøi tuyeân boá baûn aùn. Neáu khoâng thaáy, ngaøi ñöa vuï aùn veà laïi thuû tuïc thoâng thöôøng.
2. Toaøn boä baûn aùn vôùi caùc lyù do phaûi ñöôïc thoâng baùo sôùm heát söùc cho caùc beân.
3. Ñeå choáng laïi baûn aùn cuûa Giaùm Muïc thì ñöôïc khaùng aùn leân toøa aùn cuûa Toång Giaùm muïc giaùo tænh hay leân Toøa Thöôïng Thaåm Roma; neáu baûn aùn do Toång Giaùm muïc giaùo tænh ban haønh, thì ñöôïc khaùng aùn leân toøa aùn cuûa Giaùm Muïc cao nieân hôn trong giaùo tænh; vaø choáng laïi baûn aùn cuûa moät Giaùm Muïc maø khoâng coù beà treân naøo döôùi Ñöùc Giaùo Hoaøng Roma, thì ñöôïc khaùng aùn toøa aùn cuûa Giaùm Muïc ñaõ ñöôïc ngaøi chæ ñònh caùch coá ñònh.
4. Neáu roõ raøng chæ laø khaùng aùn trì hoaõn, Toång Giaùm Muïc giaùo tænh hay Giaùm Muïc noùi ôû ~3, hoaëc Nieân Tröôûng toøa Thöôïng Thaåm Roma, phaûi ra saéc leänh khöôùc töø ngay töø ñaàu; ngöôïc laïi, neáu khaùng aùn ñöôïc chaáp nhaän, thì göûi traû vuï aùn veà xöû ôû caáp hai theo thuû tuïc thoâng thöôøng.
Tieát 6: Toá Tuïng Döïa Treân Taøi Lieäu
Ñieàu 1688
Sau khi ñaõ nhaän moät ñôn thænh caàu chieáu theo quy taéc cuûa ñieàu 1676, Giaùm Muïc giaùo phaän hay Ñaïi Dieän tö phaùp hoaëc vò thaåm phaùn ñöôïc chæ ñònh, boû qua nhöõng theå thöùc cuûa toá tuïng thoâng thöôøng, tröø vieäc trieäu taäp caùc beân ra toøa vaø söï can thieäp cuûa baûo heä vieân, coù theå tuyeân boá hoân nhaân baát thaønh baèng moät baûn aùn, neáu coù moät taøi lieäu khoâng theå bò phaûn ñoái hay khöôùc bieän chöùng minh raèng chaéc chaén coù moät ngaên trôû tieâu hoân hay thieáu theå thöùc giaùo luaät, mieãn laø taøi lieäu naøy phaûi hieån nhieân vaø phaûi xaùc tín raèng ngaên trôû ñaõ khoâng ñöôïc mieãn chuaån hoaëc ngöôøi ñaïi dieän ñaõ khoâng coù uûy nhieäm thö höõu hieäu.
Ñieàu 1689
1. Neáu baûo heä vieân, nhaän ñònh caùch khoân ngoan raèng nhöõng thieáu soùt ñöôïc noùi ôû ñieàu 1688 hoaëc vieäc thieáu pheùp chuaån laø ñieàu khoâng chaéc chaén, thì phaûi khaùng aùn leân thaåm phaùn cuûa toøa aùn caáp hai; caùc aùn töø phaûi ñöôïc chuyeån leân thaåm phaùn toøa aùn caáp hai, vaø phaûi thoâng baùo baèng vaên baûn cho vò naøy bieát ñoù laø moät toá tuïng döïa treân taøi lieäu.
2. Beân naøo caûm thaáy mình bò thieät hai, thì beân ñoù coù toaøn quyeàn khaùng aùn.
Ñieàu 1690
Vôùi söï can thieäp cuûa baûo heä vieân vaø sau khi nghe caùc beân, thaåm phaùn toøa aùn caáp hai phaûi quyeát ñònh cuõng moät caùch thöùc noùi ñeán ôû ñieàu 1688, xem coù phaûi xaùc nhaän baûn aùn hay khoâng hoaëc coù phaûi giaûi quyeát vuï aùn theo caùch thoâng thöôøng cuûa luaät hay khoâng, trong tröôøng hôïp naøy, thaåm phaùn gôûi traû vuï aùn veà toøa aùn caáp moät.
Tieát 7: Nhöõng Quy Taéc Toång Quaùt
Ñieàu 1691
1. Trong baûn aùn, phaûi nhaéc nhôû cho caùc beân bieát nhöõng nghóa vuï luaân lyù hay caû nhöõng nghóa vuï daân söï maø beân naøy phaûi coù ñoái vôùi beân kia vaø ñoái vôùi con caùi hoï trong vieäc caáp döôõng vaø giaùo duïc.
2. Khoâng ñöôïc aùp duïng vieäc xöû aùn hoä söï khaåu bieän cho nhöõng vuï aùn tuyeân boá hoân nhaân baát thaønh ñöôïc noùi ñeán ôû nhöõng ñieàu 1656-1670.
3. Trong nhöõng vaán ñeà khaùc lieân quan ñeán thuû tuïc, phaûi aùp duïng nhöõng ñieàu luaät veà nhöõng vieäc xöû aùn noùi chung vaø veà vieäc xöû aùn hoä söï thoâng thöôøng, tröø khi baûn chaát söï vieäc khoâng cho pheùp, mieãn laø vaãn giöõ nguyeân nhöõng quy taéc ñaëc bieät lieân quan ñeán nhöõng vuï aùn veà tình traïng nhaân thaân vaø nhöõng vuï aùn coù dính daùng tôùi coâng ích.
Laøm taïi Roma, Ñeàn Thaùnh Pheâroâ, ngaøy 15 thaùnh 8, leã Ñöùc Meï Leân Trôøi naêm 2015, naêm thöù ba Giaùo Hoaøng.
Phanxicoâ
(Chuyeån dòch Vieät ngöõ do Lm. JB Leâ Ngoïc Duõng
Ñaïi Dieän Tö Phaùp Gp. Nha Trang
Taùi chænh söûa ngaøy 23-3-2016)
Art. 1: The Competent Forum and Tribunals
The Competent Forum
Can. 1671
1. Marriage cases of the baptized belong to the ecclesiastical judge by proper right.
2. Cases regarding merely the civil effects of marriage belong to a civil magistrate, unless the particular law establishes that such cases, if carried out in an incidental or accessory manner, can be recognized by and determined by an ecclesiastical judge.
Can. 1672. In cases regarding the nullity of marriage not reserved to the Apostolic See, the competencies are: 10 the tribunal of the place in which the marriage was celebrated; 20 the tribunal of the place in which either or both parties have a domicile or a quasi-domicile; 30 the tribunal of the place in which in fact most of the proofs must be collected.
Can. 1673
1. In each diocese, the judge in first instance for cases of nullity or marriage for which the law does not expressly make an exception is the diocesan bishop, who can exercise judicial power personally or through others, according to the norm of law.
2. The bishop is to establish a diocesan tribunal for his diocese to handle cases of nullity of marriage without prejudice to the faculty of the same bishop to approach another nearby diocesan or interdiocesan tribunal.
3. Cases of nullity of marriage are reserved to a college of three judges. A judge who is a cleric must preside over the college, but the other judges may be laypersons.
4. The bishop moderator, if a collegial tribunal cannot be constituted in the diocese or in a nearby tribunal chosen according to the norm of ~2, is to entrust cases to a sole clerical judge who, where possible, is to employ two assessors of upright life, experts in juridical or human sciences, approved by the bishop for this task; unless it is otherwise evident, the same single judge has competency for those things attributed to the college, the praeses, or the ponens.
5. The tribunal of second instance must always be collegiate for validity, according to the prescript of the preceding ~3.
6. The tribunal of first instance appeals to the metropolitan tribunal of second instance without prejudice to the prescripts of cann. 1438-1439 and 1444.
Art. 2: The Right to Challenge a Marriage
Can. 1674
1. The following are qualified to challenge a marriage: 10 the spouses; 20 the promoter of justice when nullity has already become public, if the convalidation of the marriage is not possible or expedient.
2. A marriage which was not accused while both spouses were living cannot be accused after the death of either one or both of the spouses unless the question of validity is prejudicial to the resolution of another controversy either in the canonical forum or in the civil forum.
3. If a spouse dies while the case is pending, however, can. 1518 is to be observed.
Art. 3: The Introduction and Instruction of the Case
Can. 1675. The judge, before he accepts a case, must be informed that the marriage has irreparably failed, such that conjugal living cannot be restored.
Can. 1676
1. After receiving the libellus, the judicial vicar, if he considers that it has some basis, admits it and, by a decree appended to the bottom of the libellus itself, is to order that a copy be communicated to the defender of the bond and, unless the libellus was signed by both parties, to the respondent, giving them a period of fifteen days to express their views on the petition.
2. After the above-mentioned deadline has passed, and after the other party has been admonished to express his or her views if and insofar as necessary, and after the defender of the bond has been heard, the judicial vicar is to determine by his decree the formula of the doubt and is to decide whether the case is to be treated with the ordinary process or with the briefer process according to cann. 1683-1687. This decree is to be communicated immediately to the parties and the defender of the bond.
3. If the case is to be handled through the ordinary process, the judicial vicar, by the same decree, is to arrange the constitution of a college of judges or of a single judge with two assessors according to can. 1673, ~4.
4. However, if the briefer process is decided upon, the judicial vicar proceeds according to the norm of can. 1685.
5. The formula of doubt must determine by which ground or grounds the validity of the marriage is challenged.
Can. 1677
1. The defender of the bond, the legal representatives of the parties, as well as the promoter of justice, if involved in the trial, have the following rights: 10 to be present at the examination of the parties, the witnesses, and the experts, without prejudice to the prescript of can. 1559; 20 to inspect the judicial acts, even those not yet published, and to review the documents presented by the parties.
2. The parties cannot be present at the examination mentioned in ~1, n. 1.
Can. 1678
1. In cases of the nullity of marriage, a judicial confession and the declarations of the parties, possibly supported by witnesses to the credibility of the parties, can have the force of full proof, to be evaluated by the judge after he has considered all the indications and supporting factors, unless other elements are present which weaken them.
2. In the same cases, the testimony of one witness can produce full proof if it concerns a qualified witness making a deposition concerning matters done ex officio, or unless the circumstances of things and persons suggest it.
3. In cases of impotence or defect of consent because of mental illness or an anomaly of a psychic nature, the judge is to use the services of one or more experts unless it is clear from the circumstances that it would be useless to do so; in other cases the prescript of can. 1574 is to be observed.
4. Whenever, during the instruction of a case, a very probable doubt arises as to whether the marriage was ever consummated, the tribunal, having heard both parties, can suspend the case of nullity, complete the instruction for a dispensation super rato, and then transmit the acts to the Apostolic See together with a petition for a dispensation from either one or both of the spouses and the votum of the tribunal and the bishop.
Art. 4: The Judgment, its Appeals and its Effects
Can. 1679. The sentence that first declared the nullity of the marriage, once the terms as determined by cann. 1630-1633 have passed, becomes executive.
Can. 1680
1. The party who considers himself or herself aggrieved, as well as the promoter of justice and the defender of the bond, have the right to introduce a complaint of nullity of the judgment or appeal against the sentence, according to cann. 1619-1640.
2. After the time limits established by law for the appeal and its prosecution have passed, and after the judicial acts have been received by the tribunal of higher instance, a college of judges is established, the defender of the bond is designated, and the parties are admonished to put forth their observations within the prescribed time limit; after this time period has passed, if the appeal clearly appears merely dilatory, the collegiate tribunal confirms the sentence of the prior instance by decree.
3. If an appeal is admitted, the tribunal must proceed in the same manner as the first instance with the appropriate adjustments.
4. If a new ground of nullity of the marriage is alleged at the appellate level, the tribunal can admit it and judge it as if in first instance.
Can. 1681. If a sentence has become effective, one can go at any time to a tribunal of the third level for a new proposition of the case according to the norm of can. 1644, provided new and grave proofs or arguments are brought forward within the peremptory time limit of thirty days from the proposed challenge.
Can. 1682
1. After the sentence declaring the nullity of the marriage has become effective, the parties whose marriage has been declared null can contract a new marriage unless a prohibition attached to the sentence itself or established by the local ordinary forbids this.
2. As soon as the sentence becomes effective, the judicial vicar must notify the local ordinary of the place in which the marriage took place. The local ordinary must take care that the declaration of the nullity of the marriage and any possible prohibitions are noted as soon as possible in the marriage and baptismal registers.
Art. 5: The Briefer Matrimonial Process before the Bishop
Can. 1683. The diocesan bishop himself is competent to judge cases of the nullity of marriage with the briefer process whenever:
10 the petition is proposed by both spouses or by one of them, with the consent of the other;
20 circumstance of things and persons recur, with substantiating testimonies and records, which do not demand a more accurate inquiry or investigation, and which render the nullity manifest.
Can. 1684. The libellus introducing the briefer process, in addition to those things enumerated in can. 1504, must: 10 set forth briefly, fully, and clearly the facts on which the petition is based; 20 indicate the proofs, which can be immediately collected by the judge; 30 exhibit the documents, in an attachment, upon which the petition is based.
Can. 1685. The judicial vicar, by the same decree which determines the formula of the doubt, having named an instructor and an assessor, cites all who must take part to a session, which in turn must be held within thirty days according to can. 1686.
Can. 1686. The instructor, insofar as possible, collects the proofs in a single session and establishes a time limit of fifteen days to present the observations in favor of the bond and the defense briefs of the parties, if there are any.
Can. 1687
1. After he has received the acts, the diocesan bishop, having consulted with the instructor and the assessor, and having considered the observations of the defender of the bond and, if there are any, the defense briefs of the parties, is to issue the sentence if moral certitude about the nullity of marriage is reached. Otherwise, he refers the case to the ordinary method.
2. The full text of the sentence, with the reasons expressed, is to be communicated to the parties as swiftly as possible.
3. An appeal against the sentence of the bishop is made to the metropolitan or to the Roman Rota; if, however, the sentence was rendered by the metropolitan, the appeal is made to the senior suffragan; if against the sentence of another bishop who does not have a superior authority below the Roman Pontiff, appeal is made to the bishop selected by him in a stable manner.
4. If the appeal clearly appears merely dilatory, the metropolitan or the bishop mentioned in ~3, or the dean of the Roman Rota, is to reject it by his decree at the outset; if the appeal is admitted, however, the case is remitted to the ordinary method at the second level.
Art. 6: The Documentary Process
Can. 1688. After receiving a petition proposed according to the norm of can. 1677, the diocesan bishop or the judicial vicar or a judge designated by him can declare the nullity of a marriage by sentence if a document subject to no contradiction or exception clearly establishes the existence of a diriment impediment or a defect of legitimate form, provided that it is equally certain that no dispensation was given, or establishes the lack of a valid mandate of a proxy. In these cases, the formalities of the ordinary process are omitted except for the citation of the parties and the intervention of the defender of the bond.
Can. 1689
1. If the defender of the bond prudently thinks that either the flaws mentioned in can. 1688 or the lack of a dispensation are not certain, the defender of the bond must appeal against the declaration of nullity to the judge of second instance; the acts must be sent to the appellate judge who must be advised in writing that a documentary process is involved.
2. The party who considers himself or herself aggrieved retains the right of appeal.
Can. 1690. The judge of second instance, with the intervention of the defender of the bond and after having heard the parties, will decide in the same manner as that mentioned in can. 1688 whether the sentence must be confirmed or whether the case must rather proceed according to the ordinary method of law; in the latter event the judge remands the case to the tribunal of first instance.
Art. 7: General Norms
Can. 1691
1. In the sentence the parties are to be reminded of the moral and even civil obligations binding them toward one another and toward their children to furnish support and education.
2. Cases for the declaration of the nullity of a marriage cannot be treated in the oral contentious process mentioned in cann. 1656-1670.
3. In other procedural matters, the canons on trials in general and on the ordinary contentious trial must be applied unless the nature of the matter precludes it; the special norms for cases concerning the status of persons and cases pertaining to the public good are to be observed.
* * *
The provision of can. 1679 will apply to sentences declaring the nullity of marriage published starting from the day this motu proprio comes into force.
Attached and made part hereof are the procedural rules that we considered necessary for the proper and accurate implementation of this new law, which must be observed diligently to foster the good of the faithful.
What we have established by means of this motu proprio, we deem valid and lasting, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, even those worthy of meriting most special mention.
We confidently entrust to the intercession of the blessed and glorious ever Virgin Mary, Mother of mercy, and of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, the active implementation of this new matrimonial process.
Given in Rome, near the tomb of Saint Peter, on the 15th day of August, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the year 2015, the third of our pontificate.
Francis