CHAPTER III. Process for the Dispensation of a Marriage Ratum et Non Consummatum

Can. 1697 Only the spouses, or one of them even if the other is unwilling, have the right to petition for the favor of

a dispensation from a marriage ratum et non consummatum.

Can. 1698 §1. Only the Apostolic See adjudicates the fact of the non-consummation of a marriage and the

existence of a just cause to grant a dispensation.

§2. Only the Roman Pontiff, however, grants the dispensation.

Can. 1699 §1. The person competent to accept a libellus seeking a dispensation is the diocesan bishop of the

domicile or quasi-domicile of the petitioner, who must arrange for the instruction of the process if the petition is well

founded.

§2. If the proposed case has special difficulties of the juridical or moral order, however, the diocesan bishop

is to consult the Apostolic See.

§3. Recourse to the Apostolic See is available against a decree by which a bishop rejects a libellus.

Can. 1700 §1. Without prejudice to the prescript of can. 1681, the bishop is to entrust the instruction of these

processes either in a stable manner or in individual cases to his tribunal, that of another diocese, or a suitable priest.

§2. If a judicial petition to declare the nullity of the same marriage has been introduced, however, the

instruction is to be entrusted to the same tribunal.

Can. 1701 §1. The defender of the bond must always intervene in these processes.

§2. A legal representative is not admitted, but because of the difficulty of a case, a bishop can permit the

petitioner or the respondent to have the assistance of a legal expert.

Can. 1702 In the instruction each spouse is to be heard, and the canons on the collection of proofs in the ordinary

contentious trial and in cases of the nullity of marriage are to be observed insofar as possible, provided that they can

be reconciled with the character of these processes.

Can. 1703 §1. There is no publication of the acts. If the judge perceives that the proofs brought forward seriously

hinder the request of the petitioner or the exception of the respondent, however, he is prudently to inform the

interested party.

§2. The judge can show a document introduced or a testimony received to a party who requests it and set a

time to present observations.

Can. 1704 §1. When the instruction has been completed, the instructor is to give all the acts along with a suitable

report to the bishop, who is to prepare a votum on the veracity of the fact of the non-consummation, the just cause

for the dispensation, and the suitability of the favor.

§2. If the instruction of the process has been entrusted to another tribunal according to the norm of can. 1700,

the observations in favor of the bond are to be made in the same forum; the votum mentioned in §1, however,

pertains to the entrusting bishop, to whom the instructor is to hand over a suitable report together with the acts.

Can. 1705 §1. The bishop is to transmit to the Apostolic See all the acts together with his votum and the observations

of the defender of the bond.

§2. If supplemental instruction is required in the judgment of the Apostolic See, this requirement will be

communicated to the bishop with an indication of the points on which the instruction must be completed.

§3. If the Apostolic See replies that non-consummation has not been established from the materials presented,

then the legal expert mentioned in can. 1701, §2 can inspect the acts of the process, though not the votum of the

bishop, at the tribunal to consider whether any grave reason can be brought forth in order to resubmit the petition.

Can. 1706 The Apostolic See transmits the rescript of the dispensation to the bishop who will notify the parties about

the rescript and also as soon as possible will order the pastor both of the place where the marriage was contracted

and of the place of baptism to note the granting of the dispensation in the marriage and baptismal registers.