Tribunal Advocates

The Tribunal Advocate Program is a group of trained deacons and laypersons who provide canonical counsel to the lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Atlanta seeking a declaration of nullity in our Tribunal. Advocates have a formal role in the canonical trial and work to defend their party’s rights and advance their interests in the marriage nullity process.

Scroll down to find a complete list of commissioned Advocates and their contact information.

To become an Advocate, you must complete the Tribunal Advocate Training Program. Click on the link in the next paragraph to apply. The curriculum consists of seven sessions covering marriage law, grounds of marital invalidity, and the annulment process. The first and last lessons will be taught in person, all other lessons will be emailed to you weekly, usually from the beginning of November through the end of January, with breaks during the holidays. Those candidates deemed apt will be commissioned at a ceremony at the Chancery sometime after the final lesson. We use a remote learning method, so it is paramount you are very proactive and take responsibility for your own formation. You are responsible for studying the materials, learning the content, and asking all the questions that you may have. You will have homework assignments and be tested. We will provide you with a mentor, who will be available for you and will help you to achieve the goals of the course.  Qualified candidates will possess the following skills: organized, responsible, good pastoral/interpersonal skills, strong reading and writing ability, professional demeanor, capacity to maintain confidentiality, ability to meet deadlines, and be in good standing with the Catholic Church. Those with a background in civil law are particularly well suited for this ministry. Advocates must possess a computer and internet connection for their advocate work and be comfortable using Outlook for email, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Teams.

You can apply to become a Tribunal Advocate Here. Along with your application, you will need to submit a letter of recommendation from your pastor. You will also need to complete the VIRTUS safe environment program and a background check. All applicants must have a social security number to be background checked. Taxpayer identification numbers are insufficient for performing a background check. If you are an active volunteer at your parish, you may have already fulfilled these requirements. To sign up for the VIRTUS program please use this link https://www.virtusonline.org/virtus/.

If you have any questions, please call the Metropolitan Tribunal at 404-920-7500 or Tribunal@archatl.com.

Below is a list of Advocates commissioned to serve in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.  All Advocates have completed an extensive training curriculum covering marriage law, grounds of marital invalidity and the annulment process. If you are interested in petitioning for a declaration of nullity or just wish to learn more about the annulment process, please contact the Advocate in closest proximity to you.