THE CODE OF CANON LAW

CODEX IURIS CANONICI (1983)

BOOK VII :
PROCESSES

PART I :
TRIALS IN GENERAL

LIBER VII
DE PROCESSIBUS

PARS I
DE IUDICIIS IN GENERE

Can. 1400 - § 1. Obiectum iudicii sunt:
1° personarum physicarum vel iuridicarum iura persequenda aut vindicanda, vel facta iuridica declaranda;
2° delicta, quod spectat ad poenam irrogandam vel declarandam.
§ 2. Attamen controversiae ortae ex actu potestatis administrativae deferri possunt solummodo ad Superiorem vel ad tribunal administrativum.
Can. 1401 - Ecclesia iure proprio et exclusivo cognoscit:
1° de causis quae respiciunt res spirituales et spiritualibus adnexas;
2° de violatione legum ecclesiasticarum deque omnibus in quibus inest ratio peccati, quod attinet ad culpae definitionem et poenarum ecclesiasticarum irrogationem.
Can. 1402 - Omnia Ecclesiae tribunalia reguntur canonibus qui sequuntur, salvis normis tribunalium Apostolicae Sedis.
Can. 1403 - § 1. Causae canonizationis Servorum Dei reguntur peculiari lege pontificia.
§ 2. Iisdem causis applicantur praeterea praescripta huius Codicis, quoties in eadem lege ad ius universale remissio fit vel de normis agitur quae, ex ipsa rei natura, easdem quoque afficiunt.

TITLE I: THE COMPETENT FORUM

Can. 1404 The First See is judged by no one.
Can. 1405 §1 In the cases mentioned in Can. 1401, the Roman Pontiff alone has the right to judge:
1° Heads of State;
2° Cardinals;
3° Legates of the Apostolic See and, in penal cases, Bishops
4° other cases which he has reserved to himself.
§2 A judge cannot review an act or instrument which the RomanPontiff has specifically confirmed, except by his prior mandate.
§3 It is reserved to the Roman Rota to judge:
1° Bishops in contentious cases, without prejudice to Can. 1419 §2;
2° the Abbot primate or the Abbot superior of a monastic congregation, and the supreme Moderator of a religious institute of pontifical right;
3° dioceses and other ecclesiastical persons, physical or juridical, which have no Superior other than the Roman Pontiff.
Can. 1406 §1 If the provision of Can. 1404 is violated, the acts and decisions are invalid.
§2 In the cases mentioned in Can. 1405, the non competence of other judges is absolute.
Can. 1407 §1 No one can be brought to trial in first instance except before a judge who is competent on the basis of one of the titles determined in Cann. 1408–1414.
§2 The non competence of a judge who has none of these titles is described as relative.
§3 The plaintiff follows the forum of the respondent. If the respondent has more than one forum, the plaintiff may opt for any one of them.
Can. 1408 Anyone can be brought to trial before the tribunal of domicile or quasi-domicile.
Can. 1409 §1 A person who has not even a quasi-domicile has a forum in the place of actual residence.
§2 A person whose domicile, quasi-domicile or place of actual residence is unknown, can be brought to trial in the forum of the plaintiff, provided no other lawful forum is available.
Can. 1410 Competence by reason of subject matter means that a party can be brought to trial before the tribunal of the place where the subject matter of the litigation is located, whenever the action concerns that subject matter directly, or when it is an action for the recovery of possession.
Can. 1411 §1 Competence by reason of contract means that a party can be brought to trial before the tribunal of the place in which the contract was made or must be fulfilled, unless the parties mutually agree to choose another tribunal.
§2 If the case concerns obligations which arise from some other title, the party can be brought to trial before the tribunal of the place in which the obligation arose or in which it is to be fulfilled.
Can. 1412 A person accused in a penal case can, even though absent, be brought to trial before the tribunal of the place in which the offence was committed.
Can. 1413 A party can be brought to trial:
1° in cases concerning administration, before the tribunal of the place in which the administration was exercised;
2° in cases concerning inheritances or pious legacies, before the tribunal of the last domicile or quasi-domicile or residence of the person whose inheritance or pious legacy is at issue, in accordance with the norms of Cann. 1408–1409. If, however, only the execution of the legacy is involved, the ordinary norms of competence are to be followed.
Can. 1414 Competence by reason of connection means that cases which are inter connected can be heard by one and the same tribunal and in the same process, unless this is prevented by a provision of the law.
Can. 1415 Competence by reason of prior summons means that, if two or more tribunals are equally competent, the tribunal which has first lawfully summoned the respondent has the right to hear the case.
Can. 1416 A conflict of competence between tribunals subject to the same appeal tribunal is to be resolved by the latter tribunal. If they are not subject to the same appeal tribunal, the conflict is to be settled by the Apostolic Signatura.

TITULUS I: DE FORO COMPETENTI

Can. 1404 - Prima Sedes a nemine iudicatur.
Can. 1405 - § 1 Ipsius Romani Pontificis dumtaxat ius est iudicandi in causis de quibus in Can. 1401:
1° eos qui supremum tenent civitatis magistratum;
2° Patres Cardinales;
3° Legatos Sedis Apostolicae, et in causis poenalibus Episcopos;
4° alias causas quas ipse ad suum advocaverit iudicium.
§ 2. Iudex de actu vel instrumento a Romano Pontifice in forma specifica confirmato videre non potest, nisi ipsius praecesserit mandatum.
§ 3. Rotae Romanae reservatur iudicare:
1° Episcopos in contentiosis, firmo praescripto Can. 1419, § 2;
2° Abbatem primatem, vel Abbatem superiorem congregationis monasticae, et supremum Moderatorem institutorum religiosorum iuris pontificii;
3° dioeceses aliasve personas ecclesiasticas, sive physicas sive iuridicas, quae Superiorem infra Romanum Pontificem non habent.
Can. 1406 - § 1. Violato praescripto Can. 1404, acta et decisiones pro infectis habentur. § 2. In causis, de quibus in Can. 1405, aliorum iudicum incompetentia est absoluta.
Can. 1407 - § 1. Nemo in prima instantia conveniri potest, nisi coram iudice ecclesiastico qui competens sit ob unum ex titulis qui in Cann. 1408-1414 determinantur.
§ 2. Incompetentia iudicis, cui nullus ex his titulis suffragatur, dicitur relativa.
§ 3. Actor sequitur forum partis conventae; quod si pars conventa multiplex forum habet, optio fori actori conceditur.
Can. 1408 - Quilibet conveniri potest coram tribunali domicilii vel quasi domicilii.
Can. 1409 - § 1. Vagus forum habet in loco ubi actu commoratur.
§ 2. Is, cuius neque domicilium aut quasi domicilium neque locus commorationis nota sint, conveniri potest in foro actoris, dummodo aliud forum legitimum non suppetat.
Can. 1410 - Ratione rei sitae, pars conveniri potest coram tribunali loci, ubi res litigiosa sita est, quoties actio in rem directa sit, aut de spolio agatur.
Can. 1411 - § 1. Ratione contractus pars conveniri potest coram tribunali loci in quo contractus initus est vel adimpleri debet, nisi partes concorditer aliud tribunal elegerint.
§ 2. Si causa versetur circa obligationes quae ex alio titulo proveniant, pars conveniri potest coram tribunali loci, in quo obligatio vel orta est vel est adimplenda.
Can. 1412 - In causis poenalibus accusatus, licet absens, conveniri potest coram tribunali loci, in quo delictum patratum est.
Can. 1413 - Pars conveniri potest:
1° in causis quae circa administrationem versantur, coram tribunali loci ubi administratio gesta est;
2° in causis quae respiciunt hereditates vel legata pia, coram tribunali ultimi domicilii vel quasi domicilii vel commorationis, ad normam Cann. 1408-1409, illius de cuius hereditate vel legato pio agitur, nisi agatur de mera exsecutione legati, quae videnda est secundum ordinarias competentiae normas.
Can. 1414 - Ratione conexionis, ab uno eodemque tribunali et in eodem processu cognoscendae sunt causae inter se conexae, nisi legis praescriptum obstet.
Can. 1415 - Ratione praeventionis, si duo vel plura tribunalia aeque competentia sunt, ei ius est causam cognoscendi, quod prius partem conventam legitime citaverit.
Can. 1416 - Conflictus competentiae inter tribunalia eidem tribunali appellationis subiecta, ab hoc tribunali solvuntur; a Signatura Apostolica, si eidem tribunali appellationis non subsunt.

TITLE II: DIFFERENT GRADES AND KINDS OF TRIBUNALS

Can. 1417 §1 Because of the primacy of the Roman Pontiff, any of the faithful may either refer their case to, or introduce it before, the Holy See, whether the case be contentious or penal. They may do so at any grade of trial or at any stage of the suit.
§2 Apart from the case of an appeal, a referral to the Apostolic See does not suspend the exercise of jurisdiction of a judge who has already begun to hear a case. The judge can, therefore, continue with the trial up to the definitive judgement, unless the Apostolic See has indicated to him that it has reserved the case to itself.
Can. 1418 Every tribunal has the right to call on other tribunals for assistance in instructing a case or in communicating acts.

TITULUS II: DE VARIIS TRIBUNALIUM GRADIBUS ET SPECIEBUS

Can. 1417 - § 1. Ob primatum Romani Pontificis integrum est cuilibet fideli causam suam sive contentiosam sive poenalem, in quovis iudicii gradu et in quovis litis statu, cognoscendam ad Sanctam Sedem deferre vel apud eandem introducere.
§ 2. Provocatio tamen ad Sedem Apostolicam interposita non suspendit, praeter casum appellationis, exercitium iurisdictionis in iudice qui causam iam cognoscere coepit; quique idcirco poterit iudicium prosequi usque ad definitivam sententiam, nisi Sedes Apostolica iudici significaverit se causam advocasse.
Can. 1418 - Quodlibet tribunal ius habet in auxilium vocandi aliud tribunal ad causam instruendam vel ad actus intimandos.

CHAPTER I : THE TRIBUNAL OF FIRST INSTANCE

ARTICLE 1 : THE JUDGE
Can. 1419 §1 In each diocese and for all cases which are not expressly excepted in law, the judge of first instance is the diocesan Bishop. He can exercise his judicial power either personally or through others, in accordance with the following canons.
§2 If the case concerns the rights or temporal goods of a juridical person represented by the Bishop, the appeal tribunal is to judge in first instance.
Can. 1420 §1 Each diocesan Bishop is obliged to appoint a judicial Vicar, or ‘Officialis’, with ordinary power to judge. The judicial Vicar is to be a person distinct from the Vicar general, unless the smallness of the diocese or the limited number of cases suggests otherwise.
§2 The judicial Vicar constitutes one tribunal with the Bishop, but cannot judge cases which the Bishop reserves to himself.
§3 The judicial Vicar can be given assistants, who are called associate judicial Vicars or ‘Vice officiales’.
§4 The judicial Vicar and the associate judicial Vicars must be priests of good repute, with a doctorate or at least a licentiate in canon law, and not less than thirty years of age.
§5 When the see is vacant, they do not cease from office, nor can they be removed by the diocesan Administrator. On the coming of the new Bishop, however, they need to be confirmed in office.
Can. 1421 §1 In each diocese the Bishop is to appoint diocesan judges, who are to be clerics.
§2 The Episcopal Conference can permit that lay persons also be appointed judges. Where necessity suggests, one of these can be chosen in forming a college of Judges.
§3 Judges are to be of good repute, and possess a doctorate, or at least a licentiate, in canon law.
Can. 1422 The judicial Vicar, the associate judicial Vicars and the other judges are appointed for a specified period of time, without prejudice to the provision of Can. 1420 §5. They cannot be removed from office except for a lawful and grave reason.
Can. 1423 §1 With the approval of the Apostolic See, several diocesan Bishops can agree to establish one tribunal of first instance in their dioceses, in place of the diocesan tribunals mentioned in Cann. 1419-1421. In this case the group of Bishops, or a Bishop designated by them, has all the powers which the diocesan Bishop has for his tribunal.
§2 The tribunals mentioned in §1 can be established for all cases, or for some types of cases only.
Can. 1424 In any trial a sole judge can associate with himself two assessors as advisers; they may be clerics or lay persons of good repute.
Can. 1425 §1 The following matters are reserved to a collegiate tribunal of three judges, any contrary custom being reprobated:
1° contentious cases: a) concerning the bond of sacred ordination; b) concerning the bond of marriage, without prejudice to the provisions of Cann. 1686 and 1688;
2° penal cases: a) for offences which can carry the penalty of dismissal from the clerical state; b) concerning the imposition or declaration of an excommunication.
§2 The Bishop can entrust the more difficult cases or those of greater importance to the judgement of three or of five judges.
§3 The judicial Vicar is to assign judges in order by rotation to hear the individual cases, unless in particular cases the Bishop has decided otherwise.
§4 In a trial at first instance, if it should happen that it is impossible to constitute a college of judges, the Episcopal Conference can for as long as the impossibility persists, permit the Bishop to entrust cases to a sole clerical judge. Where possible, the sole judge is to associate with himself an assessor and an auditor.
§5 Once judges have been designated, the judicial Vicar is not to replace them, except for a very grave reason, which must be expressed in a decree.
Can. 1426 §1 A collegiate tribunal must proceed in a collegiate fashion and give its judgement by majority vote.
§2 As far as possible, the judicial Vicar or an associate judicial Vicar must preside over the collegiate tribunal.
Can. 1427 §1 If there is a controversy between religious, or houses of the same clerical religious institute of pontifical right, the judge at first instance, unless the constitutions provide otherwise, is the provincial Superior or, if an autonomous monastery is concerned, the local Abbot.
§2 Without prejudice to a different provision in the constitutions, when a contentious matter arises between two provinces, the supreme Moderator, either personally or through a delegate, will be the judge at first instance. If the controversy is between two monasteries, the Abbot superior of the monastic congregation will be the judge.
§3 Finally, if a controversy arises between physical or juridical persons of different religious institutes or even of the same clerical institute of diocesan right or of the same lay institute, or between a religious person and a secular cleric or a lay person or a non religious juridical person, it is the diocesan tribunal which judges at first instance.

CAPUT I
DE TRIBUNALI PRIMAE INSTANTIAE

Art. 1 -- DE IUDICE

Can. 1419 - § 1. In unaquaque dioecesi et pro omnibus causis iure expresse non exceptis, iudex primae instantiae est Episcopus dioecesanus, qui iudicialem potestatem exercere potest per se ipse vel per alios, secundum canones qui sequuntur.
§ 2. Si vero agatur de iuribus aut bonis temporalibus personae iuridicae ab Episcopo repraesentatae, iudicat in primo gradu tribunal appellationis.
Can. 1420 - § 1. Quilibet Episcopus dioecesanus tenetur Vicarium iudicialem seu Officialem constituere cum potestate ordinaria iudicandi, a Vicario generali distinctum, nisi parvitas dioecesis aut paucitas causarum aliud suadeat.
§ 2. Vicarius iudicialis unum constituit tribunal cum Episcopo, sed nequit iudicare causas quas Episcopus sibi reservat.
§ 3. Vicario iudiciali dari possunt adiutores, quibus nomen est Vicariorum iudicialium adiunctorum seu Vice-officialium.
§4. Tum Vicarius iudicialis tum Vicarii iudiciales adiuncti esse debent sacerdotes, integrae famae, in iure canonico doctores vel saltem licentiati, annos nati non minus triginta.
§ 5 Ipsi, sede vacante, a munere non cessant nec ab Administratore dioecesano amoveri possunt; adveniente autem novo Episcopo, indigent confirmatione.
Can. 1421 - § 1. In dioecesi constituantur ab Episcopo iudices dioecesani, qui sint clerici.
§ 2. Episcoporum conferentia permittere potest ut etiam laici iudices constituantur, e quibus, suadente necessitate, unus assumi potest ad collegium efformandum.
§ 3. Iudices sint integrae famae et in iure canonico doctores vel saltem licentiati.
Can. 1422 - Vicarius iudicialis, Vicarii iudiciales adiuncti et ceteri iudices nominantur ad definitum tempus, firmo praescripto Can. 1420, § 5, nec removeri possunt nisi ex legitima gravique causa.
Can. 1423 - § 1. Plures dioecesani Episcopi, probante Sede Apostolica, possunt concordes, in locum tribunalium dioecesanorum de quibus in Cann. 1419-1421, unicum constituere in suis dioecesibus tribunal primae instantiae; quo in casu ipsorum Episcoporum coetui vel Episcopo ab eisdem designato omnes competunt potestates, quas Episcopus dioecesanus habet circa suum tribunal.
§ 2. Tribunalia, de quibus in § 1, constitui possunt vel ad causas quaslibet vel ad aliqua tantum causarum genera.
Can. 1424 - Unicus iudex in quolibet iudicio duos assessores, clericos vel laicos probatae vitae, sibi consulentes asciscere potest.
Can. 1425 - § 1. Reprobata contraria consuetudine, tribunali collegiali trium iudicum reservantur:
1° causae contentiosae: a) de vinculo sacrae ordinationis; b) de vinculo matrimonii, firmis praescriptis Cann. 1686 et 1688;
2° causae poenales: a) de delictis quae poenam dimissionis e statu clericali secumferre possunt; b) de irroganda vel declaranda excommunicatione.
§ 2. Episcopus causas difficiliores vel maioris momenti committere potest iudicio trium vel quinque iudicum.
§ 3. Vicarius iudicialis ad singulas causas cognoscendas iudices ex ordine per turnum advocet, nisi Episcopus in singulis casibus aliter statuerit.
§4. In primo iudicii gradu, si forte collegium constitui nequeat, Episcoporum conferentia, quamdiu huiusmodi impossibilitas perduret, permittere potest ut Episcopus causas unico iudici clerico committat, qui, ubi fieri possit, assessorem et auditorem sibi asciscat.
§ 5 Iudices semel designatos ne subroget Vicarius iudicialis, nisi ex gravissima causa in decreto exprimenda.
Can. 1426 - § 1. Tribunal collegiale collegialiter procedere debet, et per maiorem suffragiorum partem sententias ferre.
§ 2. Eidem praeesse debet, quatenus fieri potest, Vicarius iudicialis vel Vicarius iudicialis adiunctus.
Can. 1427 - § 1. Si controversia sit inter religiosos vel domos eiusdem instituti religiosi clericalis iuris pontificii, iudex primae instantiae, nisi aliud in constitutionibus caveatur, est Superior provincialis, aut, si monasterium sit sui iuris, Abbas localis.
§ 2. Salvo diverso constitutionum praescripto, si res contentiosa agatur inter duas provincias, in prima instantia iudicabit per se ipse vel per delegatum supremus Moderator; si inter duo monasteria, Abbas superior congregationis monasticae.
§ 3. Si demum controversia enascatur inter religiosas personas physicas vel iuridicas diversorum institutorum religiosorum, aut etiam eiusdem instituti clericalis iuris dioecesani vel laicalis, aut inter personam religiosam et clericum saecularem vel laicum vel personam iuridicam non religiosam, iudicat in prima instantia tribunal dioecesanum.

CHAPTER II : THE TRIBUNAL OF SECOND INSTANCE

Can. 1438 Without prejudice to the provision of Can. 1444 §1, n. 1:
1° an appeal from the tribunal of a suffragan Bishop is to the metropolitan tribunal, without prejudice to the provisions of Can. 1439.
2° in cases heard at first instance in the tribunal of the Metropolitan, the appeal is to a tribunal which the Metropolitan, with the approval of the Apostolic See, has designated in a stable fashion;
3° for cases dealt with before a provincial Superior, the tribunal of second instance is that of the supreme Moderator; for cases heard before the local Abbot, the second instance court is that of the Abbot superior of the monastic congregation.
Can. 1439 §1 If a single tribunal of first instance has been constituted for several dioceses, in accordance with the norm of Can. 1423, the Episcopal Conference must, with the approval of the Holy See, constitute a tribunal of second instance, unless the dioceses are all suffragans of the same archdiocese.
§2 Even apart from the cases mentioned in §1, the Episcopal Conference can, with the approval of the Apostolic See, constitute one or more tribunals of second instance.
§3 In respect of the second instance tribunals mentioned in §§1 2, the Episcopal Conference, or the Bishop designated by it, has all the powers that belong to a diocesan Bishop in respect of his own tribunal.
Can. 1440 If competence by reason of the grade of trial, in accordance with the provisions of Cann. 1438 and 1439, is not observed, then the non competence of the judge is absolute.
Can. 1441 The tribunal of second instance is to be constituted in the same way as the tribunal of first instance. However, if a sole judge has given a judgement in first instance in accordance with Can. 1425 §4, the second instance tribunal is to act collegially.

CAPUT II: DE TRIBUNALI SECUNDAE INSTANTIAE

Can. 1438 - Firmo praescripto Can. 1444, § 1, n. 1:
1° a tribunali Episcopi suffraganei appellatur ad tribunal Metropolitae, salvo praescripto Can. 1439;
2° in causis in prima instantia pertractatis coram Metropolita fit appellatio ad tribunal quod ipse, probante Sede Apostolica, stabiliter designaverit;
3° pro causis coram Superiore provinciali actis tribunal secundae instantiae est penes supremum Moderatorem; pro causis actis coram Abbate locali, penes Abbatem superiorem congregationis monasticae.
Can. 1439 - § 1. Si quod tribunal primae instantiae unicum pro pluribus dioecesibus, ad normam Can. 1423, constitutum sit, Episcoporum conferentia debet tribunal secundae instantiae, probante Sede Apostolica, constituere, nisi dioeceses sint omnes eiusdem archidioecesis suffraganeae.
§ 2. Episcoporum conferentia potest, probante Sede Apostolica, unum vel plura tribunalia secundae instantiae constituere, etiam praeter casus de quibus in § 1.
§ 3. Quod attinet ad tribunalia secundae instantiae, de quibus in §§ 1-2, Episcoporum conferentia vel Episcopus ab ea designatus omnes habent potestates, quae Episcopo dioecesano competunt circa suum tribunal.
Can. 1440 - Si competentia ratione gradus, ad normam Cann. 1438 et 1439 non servetur, incompetentia iudicis est absoluta.
Can. 1441 - Tribunal secundae instantiae eodem modo quo tribunal primae instantiae constitui debet. Si tamen in primo iudicii gradu, secundum Can. 1425, § 4, iudex unicus sententiam tulit, tribunal secundae instantiae collegialiter procedat.

CHAPTER III : THE TRIBUNALS OF THE APOSTOLIC SEE

Can. 1442 The Roman Pontiff is the supreme judge for the whole catholic world. He gives judgement either personally, or through the ordinary tribunals of the Apostolic See, or through judges whom he delegates.
Can. 1443 The ordinary tribunal constituted by the Roman Pontiff to receive appeals is the Roman Rota.
Can. 1444 The Roman Rota judges:
1° in second instance, cases which have been judged by ordinary tribunals of first instance and have been referred to the Holy See by a lawful appeal;
2° in third or further instance, cases which have been processed by the Roman Rota itself or by any other tribunal, unless there is question of an adjudged matter.
§2 This tribunal also judges in first instance the cases mentioned in Can. 1405 §3, and any others which the Roman Pontiff, either on his own initiative or at the request of the parties, has reserved to his tribunal and has entrusted to the Roman Rota. These cases are judged by the Rota also in second or further instances, unless the rescript entrusting the task provides otherwise.
Can. 1445 §1 The supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura hears:
1° plaints of nullity, petitions for total reinstatement and other recourses against rotal judgements;
2° recourses in cases affecting the status of persons, which the Roman Rota has refused to admit to a new examination;
3° exceptions of suspicion and other cases against Auditors of the Roman Rota by reason of things done in the exercise of their office;
4° the conflicts of competence mentioned in Can. 1416.
§2 This same Tribunal deals with controversies which arise from an act of ecclesiastical administrative power, and which are lawfully referred to it. It also deals with other administrative controversies referred to it by the Roman Pontiff or by departments of the Roman Curia, and with conflicts of competence among these departments.
§3 This Supreme Tribunal is also competent:
1° to oversee the proper administration of justice and, should the need arise, to take notice of advocates and procurators;
2° to extend the competence of tribunals;
3° to promote and approve the establishment of the tribunals mentioned in Cann. 1423 and 1439.

CAPUT III: DE APOSTOLICAE SEDIS TRIBUNALIBUS

Can. 1442 - Romanus Pontifex pro toto orbe catholico iudex est supremus, qui vel per se ipse ius dicit, vel per ordinaria Sedis Apostolicae tribunalia, vel per iudices a se delegatos.
Can. 1443 - Tribunal ordinarium a Romano Pontifice constitutum appellationibus recipiendis est Rota Romana.
Can. 1444 - § 1. Rota Romana iudicat:
1° in secunda instantia, causas quae ab ordinariis tribunalibus primae instantiae diiudicatae fuerint et ad Sanctam Sedem per appellationem legitimam deferantur;
2° in tertia vel ulteriore instantia, causas ab ipsa Rota Romana et ab aliis quibusvis tribunalibus iam cognitas, nisi res iudicata habeatur.
§ 2. Hoc tribunal iudicat etiam in prima instantia causas de quibus in Can. 1405, § 3, aliasve quas Romanus Pontifex sive motu proprio, sive ad instantiam partium ad suum tribunal advocaverit et Rotae Romanae commiserit; easque, nisi aliud cautum sit in commissi muneris rescripto, ipsa Rota iudicat etiam in secunda et ulteriore instantia.
Can. 1445 - § 1. Supremum Signaturae Apostolicae Tribunal cognoscit:
1° querelas nullitatis et petititones restitutionis in integrum et alios recursus contra sententias rotales;
2° recursus in causis de statu personarum, quas ad novum examen Rota Romana admittere renuit;
3° exceptiones suspicionis aliasque causas contra Auditores Rotae Romanae propter acta in exercitio ipsorum muneris;
4° conflictus competentiae de quibus in Can. 1416.
§ 2. Ipsum Tribunal videt de contentionibus ortis ex actu potestatis administrativae ecclesiasticae ad eam legitime delatis, de aliis controversiis administrativis quae a Romano Pontifice vel a Romanae Curiae dicasteriis ipsi deferantur, et de conflictu competentiae inter eadem dicasteria.
§ 3. Supremi huius Tribunalis praeterea est:
1° rectae administrationi iustitiae invigilare et in advocatos vel procuratores, si opus sit, animadvertere;
2° tribunalium competentiam prorogare;
3° promovere et approbare erectionem tribunalium, de quibus in Cann. 1423 et 1439.

TITLE III: THE DISCIPLINE TO BE OBSERVED IN TRIBUNALS

CHAPTER I : THE DUTIES OF THE JUDGES AND OF THE OFFICERS OF THE TRIBUNAL

Can. 1446 §1 All Christ’s faithful, and especially Bishops, are to strive earnestly, with due regard for justice, to ensure that disputes among the people of God are as far as possible avoided, and are settled promptly and without rancour.
§2 In the early stages of litigation, and indeed at any other time as often as he discerns any hope of a successful outcome, the judge is not to fail to exhort and assist the parties to seek an equitable solution to their controversy in discussions with one another. He is to indicate to them suitable means to this end and avail himself of serious minded persons to mediate.
§3 If the issue is about the private good of the parties, the judge is to discern whether an agreement or a judgement by an arbitrator, in accordance with the norms of Cann. 1717–1720 [1713-1716 ], might usefully serve to resolve the controversy.
Can. 1447 Any person involved in a case as judge, promotor of justice, defender of the bond, procurator, advocate, witness or expert cannot subsequently, in another instance, validly determine the same case as a judge or exercise the role of assessor in it.
Can. 1448 §1 The judge is not to undertake the hearing of a case in which any personal interest may be involved by reason of consanguinity or affinity in any degree of the direct line and up to the fourth degree of the collateral line, or by reason of guardianship or tutelage, or of close acquaintanceship or marked hostility or possible financial profit or loss.
§2 The promotor of justice, the defender of the bond, the assessor and the auditor must likewise refrain from exercising their offices in these circumstances.
Can. 1449 §1 In the cases mentioned in Can. 1448, if the judge himself does not refrain from exercising his office, a party may object to him.
§2 The judicial Vicar is to deal with this objection. If the objection is directed against the judicial Vicar himself, the Bishop in charge of the tribunal is to deal with the matter.
§3 If the Bishop is the judge and the objection is directed against him, he is to refrain from judging.
§4 If the objection is directed against the promotor of justice, the defender of the bond or any other officer of the tribunal, it is to be dealt
with by the presiding judge of a collegial tribunal, or by the sole judge if there is only one.
Can. 1450 If the objection is upheld, the persons in question are to be changed, but not the grade of trial.
Can. 1451 §1 The objection is to be decided with maximum expedition, after hearing the parties, the promotor of justice or the defender of the bond, if they are engaged in the trial and the objection is not directed against them.
§2 Acts performed by a judge before being objected to are valid. Acts performed after the objection has been lodged must be rescinded if a party requests this within ten days of the admission of the objection.
Can. 1452 §1 In a matter which concerns private persons exclusively, a judge can proceed only at the request of a party. In penal cases, however, and in other cases which affect the public good of the Church or the salvation of souls, once the case has been lawfully introduced, the judge can and must proceed ex officio.
§2 The judge can also supply for the negligence of the parties in bringing forward evidence or in opposing exceptions, whenever this is considered necessary in order to avoid a gravely unjust judgement, without prejudice to the provisions of Can. 1600.
Can. 1453 Judges and tribunals are to ensure that, within the bounds of justice, all cases are brought to a conclusion as quickly as possible. They are to see to it that in the tribunal of first instance cases are not protracted beyond a year, and in the tribunal of second instance not beyond six months.
Can. 1454 All who constitute a tribunal or assist in it must take an oath to exercise their office properly and faithfully.
Can. 1455 §1 In a penal trial, the judges and tribunal assistants are bound to observe always the secret of the office; in a contentious trial, they are bound to observe it if the revelation of any part of the acts of the process could be prejudicial to the parties.
§2 They are also obliged to maintain permanent secrecy concerning the discussion held by the judges before giving their judgement, and concerning the various votes and opinions expressed there, without prejudice to the provisions of Can. 1609 §4.
§3 Indeed, the judge can oblige witnesses, experts, and the parties and their advocates or procurators, to swear an oath to observe secrecy. This may be done if the nature of the case or of the evidence is such that revelation of the acts or evidence would put at risk the reputation of others, or give rise to quarrels, or cause scandal or have any similar untoward consequence.
Can. 1456 The judge and all who work in the tribunal are forbidden to accept any gifts on the occasion of a trial.
Can. 1457 §1 Judges can be punished by the competent authority with appropriate penalties, not excluding the loss of office, if, though certainly and manifestly competent, they refuse to give judgement; if, with no legal support, they declare themselves competent and hear and determine cases; if they breach the law of secrecy; or if, through deceit or serious negligence, they cause harm to the litigants.
§2 Tribunal officers and assistants are subject to the same penalties if they fail in their duty as above. The judge also has the power to punish them.

TITULUS III: DE DISCIPLINA IN TRIBUNALIBUS SERVANDA

CAPUT I: DE DISCIPLINA IUDICUM ET TRIBUNALIUM MINISTRORUM

Can. 1446 - § 1. Christifideles omnes, in primis autem Episcopi, sedulo annitantur ut, salva iustitia, lites in populo Dei, quantum fieri possit, vitentur et pacifice quam primum componantur.
§ 2. Iudex in limine litis, et etiam quolibet alio momento, quotiescumque spem aliquam boni exitus perspicit, partes hortari et adiuvare ne omittat, ut de aequa controversiae solutione quaerenda communi consilio curent, viasque ad hoc propositum idoneas ipsis indicet, gravibus quoque hominibus ad mediationem adhibitis.
§ 3. Quod si circa privatum partium bonum lis versetur, dispiciat iudex num transactione vel arbitrorum iudicio, ad normam Cann. 1713-1716, controversia finem habere utiliter possit.
Can. 1447 - Qui causae interfuit tamquam iudex, promotor iustitiae, defensor vinculi, procurator, advocatus, testis aut peritus, nequit postea valide eandem causam in alia instantia tamquam iudex definire aut in eadem munus assessoris sustinere.
Can. 1448 - § 1. Iudex cognoscendam ne suscipiat causam, in qua ratione consanguinitatis vel affinitatis in quolibet gradu lineae rectae et usque ad quartum gradum lineae collateralis, vel ratione tutelae et curatelae, intimae vitae consuetudinis, magnae simultatis, vel lucri faciendi aut damni vitandi, aliquid ipsius intersit.
§ 2. In iisdem adiunctis ab officio suo abstinere debent iustitiae promotor, defensor vinculi, assessor et auditor.
Can. 1449 - § 1. In casibus, de quibus in Can. 1448, nisi iudex ipse abstineat, pars potest eum recusare.
§ 2. De recusatione videt Vicarius iudicialis; si ipse recusetur, videt Episcopus qui tribunali praeest.
§ 3. Si Episcopus sit iudex et contra eum recusatio opponatur, ipse abstineat a iudicando.
§4. Si recusatio opponatur contra promotorem iustitiae, defensorem vinculi aut alios tribunalis administros, de hac exceptione videt praeses in tribunali collegiali vel ipse iudex, si unicus sit.
Can. 1450 - Recusatione admissa, personae mutari debent, non vero iudicii gradus.
Can. 1451 - § 1. Quaestio de recusatione expeditissime definienda est, auditis partibus, promotore iustitiae vel vinculi defensore, si intersint, neque ipsi recusati sint.
§ 2. Actus positi a iudice antequam recusetur, validi sunt; qui autem positi sunt post propositam recusationem, rescindi debent, si pars petat intra decem dies ab admissa recusatione.
Can. 1452 - § 1. In negotio quod privatorum solummodo interest, iudex procedere potest dumtaxat ad instantiam partis. Causa autem legitime introducta, iudex procedere potest et debet etiam ex officio in causis poenalibus aliisque, quae publicum Ecclesiae bonum aut animarum salutem respiciunt.
§ 2. Potest autem praeterea iudex partium neglegentiam in probationibus afferendis vel in exceptionibus opponendis supplere, quoties id necessarium censeat ad vitandam graviter iniustam sententiam, firmis praescriptis Can. 1600.
Can. 1453 - Iudices et tribunalia curent ut quam primum, salva iustitia, causae omnes terminentur, utque in tribunali primae instantiae ultra annum ne protrahantur, in tribunali vero secundae instantiae, ultra sex menses.
Can. 1454 - Omnes qui tribunal constituunt aut eidem opem ferunt, iusiurandum de munere rite et fideliter implendo praestare debent.
Can. 1455 - § 1. In iudicio poenali semper, in contentioso autem si ex revelatione alicuius actus processualis praeiudicium partibus obvenire possit, iudices et tribunalis adiutores tenentur ad secretum officii servandum.
§ 2. Tenentur etiam semper ad secretum servandum de discussione quae inter iudices in tribunali collegiali ante ferendam sententiam habetur, tum etiam de variis suffragiis et opinionibus ibidem prolatis, firmo praescripto Can. 1609, § 4.
§ 3. Immo, quoties natura causae vel probationum talis sit ut ex actorum vel probationum evulgatione aliorum fama periclitetur, vel praebeatur ansa dissidiis, aut scandalum aliudve id genus incommodum oriatur, iudex poterit testes, peritos, partes earumque advocatos vel procuratores iureiurando astringere ad secretum servandum.
Can. 1456 - Iudex et omnes tribunalis administri, occasione agendi iudicii, dona quaevis acceptare prohibentur.
Can. 1457 - § 1. Iudices qui, cum certe et evidenter competentes sint, ius reddere recusent, vel nullo suffragante iuris praescripto se competentes declarent atque causas cognoscant ac definiant, vel secreti legem violent, vel ex dolo aut gravi neglegentia aliud litigantibus damnum inferant, congruis poenis a competenti auctoritate puniri possunt, non exclusa officii privatione.
§ 2. Iisdem sanctionibus subsunt tribunalis ministri et adiutores, si officio suo, ut supra, defuerint; quos omnes etiam iudex punire potest.

CHAPTER II : THE ORDERING OF THE HEARING

Can. 1458 Cases are to be heard in the order in which they were received and entered in the register, unless some case from among them needs to be dealt with more quickly than others. This is to be stated in a special decree which gives supporting reasons.
Can. 1459 §1 Defects which can render the judgement invalid can be proposed as exceptions at any stage or grade of trial; likewise, the judge can declare such exceptions ex officio.
§2 Apart from the cases mentioned in §1, exceptions seeking a delay especially those which concern persons and the manner of trial, are to be proposed before the joinder of the issue, unless they emerge only after it. They are to be decided as soon as possible.
Can. 1460 §1 If an exception is proposed against the competence of the judge, the judge himself must deal with the matter.
§2 Where the exception concerns relative non competence and the judge pronounces himself competent, his decision does not admit of appeal. However, a plaint of nullity and a total reinstatement are not prohibited.
§3 If the judge declares himself non competent, a party who complains of being adversely affected can refer the matter within fifteen canonical days to the appeal tribunal.
Can. 1461 A judge who becomes aware at any stage of the case that he is absolutely non competent, is bound to declare his non competence.
Can. 1462 §1 Exceptions to the effect that an issue has become an adjudged matter or has been agreed between the parties, and those other peremptory exceptions which are said to put an end to the suit, are to be proposed and examined before the joinder of the issue. Whoever raises them subsequently is not to be rejected, but will be ordered to pay the costs unless it can be shown that the objection was not maliciously delayed.
§2 Other peremptory exceptions are to be proposed in the joinder of the issue and treated at the appropriate time under the rules governing incidental questions.
Can. 1463 §1 Counter actions can validly be proposed only within thirty days of the joinder of the issue.
§2 Such counter actions are to be dealt with at the same grade of trial and simultaneously with the principal action, unless it is necessary to deal with them separately or the judge considers this procedure more opportune.
Can. 1464 Questions concerning the guarantee of judicial expenses or the grant of free legal aid which has been requested from the very beginning of the process, and other similar matters, are normally to be settled before the joinder of the issue.

CAPUT II: DE ORDINE COGNITIONUM

Can. 1458 - Causae cognoscendae sunt eo ordine quo fuerunt propositae et in albo inscriptae, nisi ex iis aliqua celerem prae ceteris expeditionem exigat, quod quidem peculiari decreto, rationibus suffulto, statuendum est.
Can. 1459 - § 1. Vitia, quibus sententiae nullitas haberi potest, in quolibet iudicii statu vel gradu excipi possunt itemque a iudice ex officio declarari.
§ 2. Praeter casus de quibus in § 1, exceptiones dilatoriae, eae praesertim quae respiciunt personas et modum iudicii, proponendae sunt ante contestationem litis, nisi contestata iam lite emerserint, et quam primum definiendae.
Can. 1460 - § 1. Si exceptio proponatur contra iudicis competentiam, hac de re ipse iudex videre debet.
§ 2. In casu exceptionis de incompetentia relativa, si iudex se competentem pronuntiet, eius decisio non admittit appellationem, at non prohibentur querela nullitatis et restitutio in integrum.
§ 3. Quod si iudex se incompetentem declaret, pars qua se gravatam reputat, potest intra quindecim dies utiles provocare ad tribunal appellationis.
Can. 1461 - Iudex in quovis stadio causae se absolute incompetentem agnoscens, suam incompetentiam declarare debet.
Can. 1462 - § 1. Exceptiones rei iudicatae, transactionis et aliae peremptoriae quae dicuntur litis finitae, proponi et cognosci debent ante contestationem litis; qui serius eas opposuerit, non est reiciendus, sed condemnetur ad expensas, nisi probet se oppositionem malitiose non distulisse.
§ 2. Aliae exceptiones peremptoriae proponantur in contestatione litis, et suo tempore tractandae sunt secundum regulas circa quaestiones incidentes.
Can. 1463 - § 1. Actiones reconventionales proponi valide nequeunt, nisi intra triginta dies a lite contestata.
§ 2. Eaedem autem cognoscantur simul cum conventionali actione, hoc est pari gradu cum ea, nisi eas separatim cognoscere necessarium sit aut iudex id opportunius existimaverit.
Can. 1464 - Quaestiones de cautione pro expensis iudicialibus praestanda aut de concessione gratuiti patrocinii, quod statim ab initio postulatum fuerit, et aliae huiusmodi regulariter videndae sunt ante litis contestationem.

CHAPTER III : TIME LIMITS AND POSTPONEMENTS

Can. 1465 §1 The so called canonical time limits are fixed times beyond which rights cease in law. They cannot be extended, nor can they validly be shortened except at the request of the parties.
§2 After hearing the parties, or at their request, the judge can, for a just reason, extend before they expire times fixed by himself or agreed by the parties. These times can never validly be shortened without the consent of the parties.
§3 The judge is to ensure that litigation is not unduly prolonged by reason of postponement.
Can. 1466 Where the law does not establish fixed times for concluding procedural actions, the judge is to define them, taking into consideration the nature of each act.
Can. 1467 If the day appointed for a judicial action is a holiday, the fixed term is considered to be postponed to the first subsequent day which is not a holiday.

CAPUT III: DE TERMINIS ET DILATIONIBUS

Can. 1465 - § 1. Fatalia legis quae dicuntur, id est termini perimendis iuribus lege constituti, prorogari non possunt, neque valide, nisi petentibus partibus, coarctari.
§ 2. Termini autem iudiciales et conventionales, ante eorum lapsum, poterunt, iusta intercedente causa, a iudice, auditis vel petentibus partibus, prorogari, numquam autem, nisi partibus consentientibus, valide coarctari.
§ 3. Caveat tamen iudex ne nimis diuturna lis fiat ex prorogatione.
Can. 1466 - Ubi lex terminos haud statuat ad actus processuales peragendos, iudex illos praefinire debet, habita ratione naturae uniuscuiusque actus.
Can. 1467 - Si die ad actum iudicialem indicto vacaverit tribunal, terminus intellegitur prorogatus ad primum sequentem diem non feriatum.

CHAPTER IV : THE PLACE OF TRIAL

Can. 1468 As far as possible, the place where each tribunal sits is to be an established office which is open at stated times.
Can. 1469 §1 A judge who is forcibly expelled from his territory or prevented from exercising jurisdiction there, can exercise his jurisdiction and deliver judgement outside the territory. The diocesan Bishop is, however, to be informed of the matter.
§2 Apart from the circumstances mentioned in §1, the judge, for a just reason and after hearing the parties, can go outside his own territory to gather evidence. This is to be done with the permission of, and in a place designated by, the diocesan Bishop of the place to which he goes.

CAPUT IV: DE LOCO IUDICII

Can. 1468 - Uniuscuiusque tribunalis sedes sit, quantum fieri potest, stabilis, quae statutis horis pateat.
Can. 1469 - § 1. Iudex e territorio suo vi expulsus vel a iurisdictione ibi exercenda impeditus, potest extra territorium iurisdictionem suam exercere et sententiam ferre, certiore tamen hac de re facto Episcopo dioecesano.
§ 2. Praeter casum de quo in § 1, iudex, ex iusta causa et auditis partibus, potest ad probationes acquirendas etiam extra proprium territorium se conferre, de licentia tamen Episcopi dioecesani loci adeundi et in sede ab eodem designata.

CHAPTER V : THOSE WHO MAY BE ADMITTED TO THE COURT AND THE MANNER OF COMPILING AND PRESERVING THE ACTS

Can. 1470 §1 Unless particular law prescribes otherwise, when cases are being heard before the tribunal, only those persons are to be present whom the law or the judge decides are necessary for the hearing of the case.
§2 The judge can with appropriate penalties take to task all who, while present at a trial, are gravely lacking in the reverence and obedience due to the tribunal. He can, moreover, suspend advocates and procurators from exercising their office in ecclesiastical tribunals.
Can. 1471 If a person to be interrogated uses a language unknown to the judge or the parties, an interpreter, appointed by the judge and duly sworn, can be employed in the case. Declarations are to be committed to writing in the original language, and a translation is to be added. An interpreter is also to be used if a deaf and dumb person must be interrogated, unless the judge prefers that replies to the questions he has asked be given in writing.
Can. 1472 §1 Judicial acts must be in writing, both those which refer to the merits of the case, that is, the acts of the case, and those which refer to the procedure, that is, the procedural acts.
§2 Each page of the acts is to be numbered and bear a seal of authenticity.
Can. 1473 Whenever the signature of parties or witnesses is required in judicial acts, and the party or witness is unable or unwilling to sign, this is to be noted in the acts. At the same time the judge and the notary are to certify that the act was read verbatim to the party or witness, and that the party or witness was either unable or unwilling to sign.
Can. 1474 §1 In the case of an appeal, a copy of the acts is to be sent to the higher tribunal, with a certification by the notary of its authenticity.
§2 If the acts are in a language unknown to the higher tribunal, they are to be translated into another language known to it. Suitable precautions are to be taken to ensure that the translation is accurate.
Can. 1475 §1 When the trial has been completed, documents which belong to private individuals must be returned to them, though a copy of them is to be retained.
§2 Without an order from the judge, notaries and the chancellor are forbidden to hand over to anyone a copy of the judicial acts and documents obtained in the process.

CAPUT V: DE PERSONIS IN AULAM ADMITTENDIS ET DE MODO CONFICIENDI ET CONSERVANDI ACTA

Can. 1470 - § 1. Nisi aliter lex particularis caveat, dum causae coram tribunali aguntur, ii tantummodo adsint in aula quos lex aut iudex ad processum expediendum necessarios esse statuerit.
§ 2. Omnes iudicio assistentes, qui reverentiae et oboedientiae tribunali debitae graviter defuerint, iudex potest congruis poenis ad officium reducere, advocatos praeterea et procuratores etiam a munere apud tribunalia ecclesiastica exercendo suspendere.
Can. 1471 - Si qua persona interroganda utatur lingua iudici vel partibus ignota, adhibeatur interpres iuratus a iudice designatus. Declarationes tamen scripto redigantur lingua originaria et translatio addatur. Interpres etiam adhibeatur si surdus vel mutus interrogari debet, nisi forte malit iudex quaestionibus a se datis scripto respondeatur.
Can. 1472 - § 1. Acta iudicialia, tum quae meritum quaestionis respiciunt, seu acta causae, tum quae ad formam procedendi pertinent, seu acta processus, scripto redacta esse debent.
§ 2. Singula folia actorum numerentur et authenticitatis signo muniantur.
Can. 1473 - Quoties in actis iudicialibus partium aut testium subscriptio requiritur, si pars aut testis subscribere nequeat vel nolit, id in ipsis actis adnotetur, simulque iudex et notarius fidem faciant actum ipsum de verbo ad verbum parti aut testi perlectum fuisse, et partem aut testem vel non potuisse vel noluisse subscribere.
Can. 1474 - § 1. In casu appellationis, actorum exemplar, fide facta a notario de eius authenticitate, ad tribunal superius mittatur.
§ 2. Si acta exarata fuerint lingua tribunali superiori ignota, transferantur in aliam eidem tribunali cognitam, cautelis adhibitis, ut de fideli translatione constet.
Can. 1475 - § 1. Iudicio expleto, documenta quae in privatorum dominio sunt, restitui debent, retento tamen eorum exemplari.
§ 2. Notarii et cancellarius sine iudicis mandato tradere prohibentur exemplar actorum iudicialium et documentorum, quae sunt processui acquisita.

TITLE IV: THE PARTIES IN THE CASE

CHAPTER I : THE PLAINTIFF AND THE RESPONDENT

Can. 1476 Any person, baptised or unbaptised, can plead before a court. A person lawfully brought to trial must respond.
Can. 1477 Even though the plaintiff or the respondent has appointed a procurator or advocate, each is always bound to be present in person at the trial when the law or the judge so prescribes.
Can. 1478 §1 Minors and those who lack the use of reason can stand before the court only through their parents, guardians or curators, subject to the provisions of §3.
§2 If the judge considers that the rights of minors are in conflict with the rights of the parents, guardians or curators, or that these cannot sufficiently protect the rights of the minors, the minors are to stand before the court through a guardian or curator assigned by the judge.
§3 However, in cases concerning spiritual matters and matters linked with the spiritual, if the minors have the use of reason, they can plead and respond without the consent of parents or guardians; indeed, if they have completed their fourteenth year, they can stand before the court on their own behalf; otherwise, they do so through a curator appointed by the judge.
§4 Those barred from the administration of their goods and those of infirm mind can themselves stand before the court only to respond concerning their own offences, or by order of the judge. In other matters they must plead and respond through their curators.
Can. 1479 A guardian or curator appointed by a civil authority can be admitted by an ecclesiastical judge, after he has consulted, if possible, the diocesan Bishop of the person to whom the guardian or curator has been given. If there is no such guardian or curator, or it is not seen fit to admit the one appointed, the judge is to appoint a guardian or curator for the case.
Can. 1480 §1 Judicial persons stand before the court through their lawful representatives.
§2 In a case of absence or negligence of the representative, the Ordinary himself, either personally or through another, can stand before the court in the name of juridicial persons subject to his authority.

TITULUS IV: DE PARTIBUS IN CAUSA

CAPUT I: DE ACTORE ET DE PARTE CONVENTA

Can. 1476 - Quilibet, sive baptizatus sive non baptizatus, potest in iudicio agere; pars autem legitime conventa respondere debet.
Can. 1477 - Licet actor vel pars conventa procuratorem vel advocatum constituerit, semper tamen tenetur in iudicio ipsemet adesse ad praescriptum iuris vel iudicis.
Can. 1478 - § 1. Minores et ii, qui rationis usu destituti sunt, stare in iudicio tantummodo possunt per eorum parentes aut tutores vel curatores, salvo praescripto § 3.
§ 2. Si iudex existimet minorum iura esse in conflictu cum iuribus parentum vel tutorum vel curatorum, aut hos non satis tueri posse ipsorum iura, tunc stent in iudicio per tutorem vel curatorem a iudice datum.
§ 3. Sed in causis spiritualibus et cum spiritualibus conexis, si minores usum rationis assecuti sint, agere et respondere queunt sine parentum vel tutoris consensu, et quidem per se ipsi, si aetatem quattuordecim annorum expleverint; secus per curatorem a iudice constitutum.
§4. Bonis interdicti, et ii qui minus firmae mentis sunt, stare in iudicio per se ipsi possunt tantummodo ut de propriis delictis respondeant, aut ad praescriptum iudicis; in ceteris agere et respondere debent per suos curatores.
Can. 1479 - Quoties adest tutor aut curator ab auctoritate civili constitutus, idem potest a iudice ecclesiastico admitti, audito, si fieri potest, Episcopo dioecesano eius cui datus est; quod si non adsit aut non videatur admittendus, ipse iudex tutorem aut curatorem pro causa designabit.
Can. 1480 - § 1. Personae iuridicae in iudicio stant per suos legitimos repraesentantes.
§ 2. In casu vero defectus vel neglegentiae repraesentantis, potest ipse Ordinarius per se vel per alium stare in iudicio nomine personarum iuridicarum, quae sub eius potestate sunt.

CHAPTER II : PROCURATORS AND ADVOCATES

Can. 1481 §1 A party can freely appoint an advocate and procurator for him or herself. Apart from the cases stated in §§2 and 3, however, a party can plead and respond personally, unless the judge considers the services of a procurator or advocate to be necessary.
§2 In a penal trial the accused must always have an advocate, either appointed personally or allocated by the judge.
§3 In a contentious trial which concerns minors or the public good, the judge is ex officio to appoint a legal representative for a party who lacks one; matrimonial cases are excepted.
Can. 1482 §1 A person can appoint only one procurator; the latter cannot appoint a substitute, unless this faculty has been expressly conceded.
§2 If, however, several procurators have for a just reason been appointed by the same person, these are to be so designated that there is the right of prior claim among them.
§3 Several advocates can, however, be appointed together.
Can. 1483 The procurator and advocate must have attained their majority and be of good repute. The advocate is also to be a catholic unless the diocesan Bishop permits otherwise, a doctor in canon law or otherwise well qualified, and approved by the same Bishop.
Can. 1484 §1 Prior to undertaking their office, the procurator and the advocate must deposit an authentic mandate with the tribunal.
§2 To prevent the extinction of a right, however, the judge can admit a procurator even though a mandate has not been presented; in an appropriate case, a suitable guarantee is to be given. However, the act lacks all force if the procurator does not present a mandate within the peremptory time limit to be prescribed by the judge.
Can. 1485 Without a special mandate, a procurator cannot validly renounce a case, an instance or any judicial act; nor can a procurator settle an action, bargain, promise to abide by an arbitrator’s award, or in general do anything for which the law requires a special mandate.
Can. 1486 §1 For the dismissal of a procurator or advocate to have effect, it must be notified to them and, if the joinder of the issue has taken place, the judge and the other party must be notified of the dismissal.
§2 When a definitive judgement has been given, the right and duty to appeal lie with the procurator, unless the mandating party refuses.
Can. 1487 For a grave reason, the procurator and the advocate can be removed from office by a decree of the judge given either ex officio or at the request of the party.
Can. 1488 §1 Both the procurator and the advocate are forbidden to influence a suit by bribery, seek immoderate payment, or bargain with the successful party for a share of the matter in dispute. If they do so, any such agreement is invalid and they can be fined by the judge. Moreover, the advocate can be suspended from office and, if this is not a first offence, can be removed from the register of advocates by the Bishop in charge of the tribunal.
§2 The same sanctions can be imposed on advocates and procurators who fraudulently exploit the law by withdrawing cases from tribunals which are competent, so that they may be judged more favourably by other tribunals.
Can. 1489 Advocates and procurators who betray their office because of gifts or promises, or any other consideration, are to be suspended from the exercise of their profession, and be fined or punished with other suitable penalties.
Can. 1490 As far as possible, permanent advocates and procurators are to be appointed in each tribunal and to receive a salary from the tribunal. They are to exercise their office, especially in matrimonial cases, for parties who may wish to choose them.

CAPUT II: DE PROCURATORIBUS AD LITES ET ADVOCATIS

Can. 1481 - § 1. Pars libere potest advocatum et procuratorem sibi constituere; sed praeter casus in §§ 2 et 3 statutos, potest etiam per se ipsa agere et respondere, nisi iudex procuratoris vel advocati ministerium necessarium existimaverit.
§ 2. In iudicio poenali accusatus aut a se constitutum aut a iudice datum semper habere debet advocatum.
§ 3. In iudicio contentioso, si agatur de minoribus aut de iudicio in quo bonum publicum vertitur, exceptis causis matrimonialibus, iudex parti carenti defensorem ex officio constituat.
Can. 1482 - § 1. Unicum sibi quisque potest constituere procuratorem, qui nequit alium sibimet substituere, nisi expressa facultas eidem facta fuerit.
§ 2. Quod si tamen, iusta causa suadente, plures ab eodem constituantur, hi ita designentur, ut detur inter ipsos locus praeventioni.
§ 3. Advocati autem plures simul constitui queunt.
Can. 1483 - Procurator et advocatus esse debent aetate maiores et bonae famae; advocatus debet praeterea esse catholicus, nisi Episcopus dioecesanus aliter permittat, et doctor in iure canonico, vel alioquin vere peritus et ab eodem Episcopo approbatus.
Can. 1484 - § 1. Procurator et advocatus antequam munus suscipiant, mandatum authenticum apud tribunal deponere debent.
§ 2. Ad iuris tamen extinctionem impediendam iudex potest procuratorem admittere etiam non exhibito mandato, praestita, si res ferat, idonea cautione; actus autem qualibet vi caret, si intra terminum peremptorium a iudice statuendum, procurator mandatum rite non exhibeat.
Can. 1485 - Nisi speciale mandatum habuerit, procurator non potest valide renuntiare actioni, instantiae vel actis iudicialibus, nec transigere, pacisci, compromittere in arbitros et generatim ea agere pro quibus ius requirit mandatum speciale.
Can. 1486 - § 1. Ut procuratoris vel advocati remotio effectum sortiatur, necesse est ipsis intimetur, et, si lis iam contestata fuerit, iudex et adversa pars certiores facti sint de remotione.
§ 2. Lata definitiva sententia, ius et officium appellandi, si mandans non renuat, procuratori manet.
Can. 1487 - Tum procurator tum advocatus possunt a iudice, dato decreto, repelli sive ex officio sive ad instantiam partis, gravi tamen de causa.
Can. 1488 - § 1. Vetatur uterque emere litem, aut sibi de immodico emolumento vel rei litigiosae parte vindicata pacisci. Quae si fecerint, nulla est pactio, et a iudice poterunt poena pecuniaria mulctari. Advocatus praeterea tum ab officio suspendi, tum etiam si recidivus sit, ab Episcopo, qui tribunali praeest, ex albo advocatorum expungi potest.
§ 2. Eodem modo puniri possunt advocati et procuratores qui a competentibus tribunalibus causas, in fraudem legis, subtrahunt ut ab aliis favorabilius definiantur.
Can. 1489 - Advocati ac procuratores qui ob dona aut pollicitationes aut quamlibet aliam rationem suum officium prodiderint, a patrocinio exercendo suspendantur, et mulcta pecuniaria aliisve congruis poenis plectantur.
Can. 1490 - In unoquoque tribunali, quatenus fieri possit, stabiles patroni constituantur, ab ipso tribunali stipendium recipientes, qui munus advocati vel procuratoris in causis praesertim matrimonialibus pro partibus quae eos seligere malint, exerceant.

TITLE V: ACTIONS AND EXCEPTIONS

CHAPTER I : ACTIONS AND EXCEPTIONS IN GENERAL

Can. 1491 Every right is reinforced not only by an action, unless otherwise expressly provided, but also by an exception.
Can. 1492 §1 Every action is extinguished by prescription in accordance with the law, or in any other lawful way, with the exception of actions bearing on personal status, which are never extinguished.
§2 Without prejudice to the provision of Can. 1462, an exception is always possible, and is of its nature perpetual.
Can. 1493 A plaintiff can bring several exceptions simultaneously against another person, concerning either the same matter or different matters, provided they are not in conflict with one another, and do not go beyond the competence of the tribunal that has been approached.
Can. 1494 §1 A respondent can institute a counter action against a plaintiff before the same judge and in the same trial, either by reason of the case’s connection with the principal action, or with a view to removing or mitigating the plaintiff’s plea.
§2 A counter action to a counter action is not admitted.
Can. 1495 The counter action is to be proposed to the judge before whom the original action was initiated, even though he has been delegated for one case only, or is otherwise relatively non competent.

TITULUS V: DE ACTIONIBUS ET EXCEPTIONIBUS

CAPUT I: DE ACTIONIBUS ET EXCEPTIONIBUS IN GENERE

Can. 1491 - Quodlibet ius non solum actione munitur, nisi aliud expresse cautum sit, sed etiam exceptione.
Can. 1492 - § 1. Quaevis actio extinguitur praescriptione ad normam iuris aliove legitimo modo, exceptis actionibus de statu personarum, quae numquam extinguuntur.
§ 2. Exceptio, salvo praescripto Can. 1462, semper competit et est suapte natura perpetua.
Can. 1493 - Actor pluribus simul actionibus, quae tamen inter se non confligant, sive de eadem re sive de diversis, aliquem convenire potest, si aditi tribunalis competentiam non egrediantur.
Can. 1494 - § 1. Pars conventa potest coram eodem iudice in eodem iudicio contra actorem vel propter causae nexum cum actione principali vel ad submovendam vel ad minuendam actoris petitionem, actionem reconventionalem instituere.
§ 2. Reconventio reconventionis non admittitur.
Can. 1495 - Actio reconventionalis proponenda est iudici coram quo actio prior instituta est, licet ad unam causam dumtaxat delegato vel alioquin relative incompetenti.

CHAPTER II : ACTIONS AND EXCEPTIONS IN PARTICULAR

Can. 1496 §1 A person who advances arguments, which are at least probable, to support a right to something held by another, and to indicate an imminent danger of loss of the object unless it is handed over for safekeeping, has a right to obtain from the judge the sequestration of the object in question.
§2 In similar circumstances, a person can obtain a restraint on another person’s exercise of a right.
Can. 1497 §1 The sequestration of an object is also allowed for the security of a loan, provided there is sufficient evidence of the creditor’s right.
§2 Sequestration can also extend to the assets of a debtor which, on whatever title, are in the keeping of others, as well as to the loans of the debtor.
Can. 1498 The sequestration of an object, and restraint on the exercise of a right, can in no way be decreed if the loss which is feared can be otherwise repaired, and a suitable guarantee is given that it will be repaired.
Can. 1499 The judge who grants the sequestration of an object, or the restraint on the exercise of a right, can first impose on the person to whom the grant is made an undertaking to repay any loss if the right is not proven.
Can. 1500 In matters concerning the nature and effect of an action for possession, the provisions of the civil law of the place where the thing to be possessed is situated, are to be observed.

CAPUT II: DE ACTIONIBUS ET EXCEPTIONIBUS IN SPECIE

Can. 1496 - § 1. Qui probabilibus saltem argumentis ostenderit super aliqua re ab alio detenta ius se habere, sibique damnum imminere nisi res ipsa custodienda tradatur, ius habet obtinendi a iudice eiusdem rei sequestrationem.
§ 2. In similibus rerum adiunctis obtinere potest, ut iuris exercitium alicui inhibeatur.
Can. 1497 - § 1. Ad crediti quoque securitatem sequestratio rei admittitur, dummodo de creditoris iure satis constet.
§ 2. Sequestratio extendi potest etiam ad res debitoris quae quolibet titulo apud alias personas reperiantur, et ad debitoris credita.
Can. 1498 - Sequestratio rei et inhibitio exercitii iuris decerni nullatenus possunt, si damnum quod timetur possit aliter reparari et idonea cautio de eo reparando offeratur.
Can. 1499 - Iudex potest ei, cui sequestrationem rei vel inhibitionem exercitii iuris concedit, praeviam imponere cautionem de damnis, si ius suum non probaverit, resarciendis.
Can. 1500 - Ad naturam et vim actionis possessoriae quod attinet, serventur praescripta iuris civilis loci ubi sita est res de cuius possessione agitur.

PART II :
THE CONTENTIOUS TRIAL

SECTION I:
THE ORDINARY CONTENTIOUS TRIAL

TITLE I: THE INTRODUCTION OF THE CASE

CHAPTER I : THE PETITION INTRODUCING THE SUIT

Can. 1501 A judge cannot investigate any case unless a plea, drawn up in accordance with canon law, is submitted either by a person whose interest is involved, or by the promotor of justice.
Can. 1502 A person who wishes to sue another must present a petition to a judge who is lawfully competent. In this petition the matter in dispute is to be set out and the intervention of the judge requested.
Can. 1503 §1 A judge can admit an oral plea whenever the plaintiff is impeded from presenting a petition or when the case can be easily investigated and is of minor significance.
§2 In both cases, however, the judge is to direct a notary to record the matter in writing. This written record is to be read to, and approved by, the plaintiff, and it takes the place of a petition written by the plaintiff as far as all effects of law are concerned.
Can. 1504 The petition by which a suit is introduced must:
1° state the judge before whom the case is being introduced, what is being sought and from whom it is being sought;
2° indicate on what right the plaintiff bases the case and, at least in general terms, the facts and evidence to be submitted in support of the allegations made;
3° be signed by the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s procurator, and bear the day, the month and the year, as well as the address at which the plaintiff or the procurator resides, or at which they say they reside for the purpose of receiving the acts;
4° indicate the domicile or quasi-domicile of the respondent.
Can. 1505 §1 Once he has satisfied himself that the matter is within his competence and the plaintiff has the right to stand before the court, the sole judge, or the presiding judge of a collegiate tribunal, must as soon as possible by his decree either admit or reject the petition.
§2 A petition can be rejected only if:
1° the judge or the tribunal is not legally competent;
2° it is established beyond doubt that the plaintiff lacks the right to stand before the court;
3° the provisions of Can. 1504 nn. 1– 3 have not been observed
4° it is certainly clear from the petition that the plea lacks any foundation, and that there is no possibility that a foundation will emerge from a process.
§3 If a petition has been rejected by reason of defects which can be corrected, the plaintiff can draw up a new petition correctly and present it again to the same judge.
§4 A party is always entitled, within ten canonical days, to have recourse, based upon stated reasons, against the rejection of a petition. This recourse is to be made either to the tribunal of appeal or, if the petition was rejected by the presiding judge, to the collegiate tribunal. A question of rejection is to be determined with maximum expedition.
Can. 1506 If within a month of the presentation of a petition, the judge has not issued a decree admitting or rejecting it in accordance with Can. 1505, the interested party can insist that the judge perform his duty. If, notwithstanding this, the judge does not respond within ten days of the party’s request, the petition is to be taken as having been admitted.

PARS II
DE IUDICIO CONTENTIOSO

SECTIO I
DE IUDICIO CONTENTIOSO ORDINARIO

TITULUS I: DE CAUSAE INTRODUCTIONE

CAPUT I: DE LIBELLO LITIS INTRODUCTORIO

Can. 1501 - Iudex nullam causam cognoscere potest, nisi petitio, ad normam canonum, proposita sit ab eo cuius interest, vel a promotore iustitiae.
Can. 1502 - Qui aliquem convenire vult, debet libellum competenti iudici exhibere, in quo controversiae obiectum proponatur, et ministerium iudicis expostuletur.
Can. 1503 - § 1. Petitionem oralem iudex admittere potest, quoties vel actor libellum exhibere impediatur vel causa sit facilis investigationis et minoris momenti.
§ 2. In utroque tamen casu iudex notarium iubeat scriptis actum redigere qui actori legendus est et ab eo probandus, quique locum tenet libelli ab actore scripti ad omnes iuris effectus.
Can. 1504 - Libellus, quo lis introducitur, debet:
1° exprimere coram quo iudice causa introducatur, quid petatur et a quo petatur;
2° indicare quo iure innitatur actor et generatim saltem quibus factis et probationibus ad evincenda ea quae asseruntur;
3° subscribi ab actore vel eius procuratore, appositis die, mense et anno, necnon loco in quo actor vel eius procurator habitant, aut residere se dixerint actorum recipiendorum gratia;
4° indicare domicilium vel quasi domicilium partis conventae.
Can. 1505 - § 1. Iudex unicus vel tribunalis collegialis praeses, postquam viderint et rem esse suae competentiae et actori legitimam personam standi in iudicio non deesse, debent suo decreto quam primum libellum aut admittere aut reicere.
§ 2. Libellus reici potest tantum:
1° si iudex vel tribunal incompetens sit;
2° si sine dubio constet actori legitimam deesse personam standi in iudicio;
3° si non servata sint praescripta Can. 1504, nn. 1-3;
4° si certo pateat ex ipso libello petitionem quolibet carere fundamento, neque fieri posse, ut aliquod ex processu fundamentum appareat.
§ 3. Si libellus reiectus fuerit ob vitia quae emendari possunt, actor novum libellum rite confectum potest eidem iudici denuo exhibere.
§4. Adversus libelli reiectionem integrum semper est parti intra tempus utile decem dierum recursum rationibus suffultum interponere vel ad tribunal appellationis vel ad collegium, si libellus reiectus fuerit a praeside; quaestio autem reiectionis expeditissime definienda est.
Can. 1506 - Si iudex intra mensem ab exhibito libello decretum non ediderit, quo libellum admittit vel reicit ad normam Can. 1505, pars, cuius interest, instare potest ut iudex suo munere fungatur; quod si nihilominus iudex sileat, inutiliter lapsis decem diebus a facta instantia, libellus pro admisso habeatur.

CHAPTER II : THE SUMMONS AND THE INTIMATION OF JUDICIAL ACTS

Can. 1507 §1 In the decree by which a plaintiff’s petition is admitted, the judge or the presiding judge must call or summon the other parties to court to effect the joinder of the issue; he must prescribe whether, in order to agree the point at issue, they are to reply in writing or to appear before him. If, from their written replies, he perceives the need to convene the parties, he can determine this by a new decree.
§2 If a petition is deemed admitted in accordance with the provisions of Can. 1506, the decree of summons to the trial must be issued within twenty days of the request of which that canon speaks.
§3 If the litigants in fact present themselves before the judge to pursue the case, there is no need for a summons; the notary, however, is to record in the acts that the parties were present at the trial.
Can. 1508 §1 The decree of summons to the trial must be notified at once to the respondent, and at the same time to any others who are obliged to appear.
§2 The petition introducing the suit is to be attached to the summons, unless for grave reasons the judge considers that the petition is not to be communicated to the other party before he or she gives evidence.
§3 If a suit is brought against a person who does not have the free exercise of personal rights, or the free administration of the matters in dispute, the summons is to be notified to, as the case may be, the guardian, the curator, the special procurator, or the one who according to law is obliged to undertake legal proceedings in the name of such a person.
Can. 1509 §1 With due regard to the norms laid down by particular law, the notification of summonses, decrees, judgements and other judicial acts is to be done by means of the public postal service, or by some other particularly secure means.
§2 The fact and the manner of notification must be shown in the acts.
Can. 1510 A respondent who refuses to accept a document of summons, or who circumvents the delivery of a summons, is to be regarded as lawfully summoned.
Can. 1511 Without prejudice to the provision of Can. 1507 §3, if a summons has not been lawfully communicated, the acts of the process are null.
Can. 1512 Once a summons has been lawfully communicated, or the parties have presented themselves before a judge to pursue the case:
1° the matter ceases to be a neutral one;
2° the case becomes that of the judge or of the tribunal, in other respects lawfully competent, before whom the action was brought;
3° the jurisdiction of a delegated judge is established in such a way that it does not lapse on the expiry of the authority of the person who delegated;
4° prescription is interrupted, unless otherwise provided;
5° the suit begins to be a pending one, and therefore the principle immediately applies ‘while a suit is pending, no new element is to be introduced’.

CAPUT II: DE CITATIONE ET DENUNTIATIONE ACTORUM IUDICIALIUM

Can. 1507 - § 1. In decreto, quo actoris libellus admittitur, debet iudex vel praeses ceteras partes in iudicium vocare seu citare ad litem contestandam, statuens utrum eae scripto respondere debeant an coram ipso se sistere ad dubia concordanda. Quod si ex scriptis responsionibus perspiciat necessitatem partes convocandi, id potest novo decreto statuere.
§ 2. Si libellus pro admisso habetur ad normam Can. 1506, decretum citationis in iudicium fieri debet intra viginti dies a facta instantia, de qua in eo canone.
§ 3. Quod si partes litigantes de facto coram iudice se sistant ad causam agendam, opus non est citatione, sed actuarius significet in actis partes iudicio adfuisse.
Can. 1508 - § 1. Decretum citationis in iudicium debet statim parti conventae notificari, et simul ceteris, qui comparere debent, notum fieri.
§ 2. Citationi libellus litis introductorius adiungatur, nisi iudex propter graves causas censeat libellum significandum non esse parti, antequam haec deposuerit in iudicio.
§ 3. Si lis moveatur adversus eum qui non habet liberum exercitium suorum iurium, vel liberam administrationem rerum de quibus disceptatur, citatio denuntianda est, prout casus ferat, tutori, curatori, procuratori speciali, seu ei qui ipsius nomine iudicium suscipere tenetur ad normam iuris.
Can. 1509 - § 1. Citationum, decretorum, sententiarum aliorumque iudicialium actorum notificatio facienda est per publicos tabellarios vel alio modo qui tutissimus sit, servatis normis lege particulari statutis.
§ 2. De facto notificationis et de eius modo constare debet in actis.
Can. 1510 - Conventus, qui citatoriam schedam recipere recuset, vel qui impedit quominus citatio ad se perveniat, legitime citatus habeatur.
Can. 1511 - Si citatio non fuerit legitime notificata, nulla sunt acta processus, salvo praescripto Can. 1507, § 3.
Can. 1512 - Cum citatio legitime notificata fuerit aut partes coram iudice steterint ad causam agendam:
1° res desinit esse integra;
2° causa fit propria iudicis illius aut tribunalis ceteroquin competentis, coram quo actio instituta est;
3° in iudice delegato firma redditur iurisdictio, ita ut non expiret resoluto iure delegantis;
4° interrumpitur praescriptio, nisi aliud cautum sit;
5° lis pendere incipit; et ideo statim locum habet principium "lite pendente, nihil innovetur".

TITLE II: THE JOINDER OF THE ISSUE

Can. 1513 §1 The joinder of the issue occurs when the terms of the controversy, as derived from the pleas and the replies of the parties, are determined by a decree of the judge.
§2 The pleas and the replies of the parties may be expressed not only in the petition introducing the suit, but also either in the response to the summons, or in statements made orally before the judge. In more difficult cases, however, the parties are to be convened by the judge, so as to agree the question or questions to which the judgement must respond.
§3 The decree of the judge is to be notified to the parties. Unless they have already agreed on the terms, they may within ten days have recourse to the same judge to request that the decree be altered. This question, however, is to be decided with maximum expedition by a decree of the judge.
Can. 1514 Once determined, the terms of the controversy cannot validly be altered except by a new decree, issued for a grave reason, at the request of the party, and after the other parties have been consulted and their observations considered.
Can. 1515 Once the joinder of the issue has occurred, the possessor of another’s property ceases to be in good faith. If, therefore, the judgement is that he or she return the property, the possessor must return also any profits accruing from the date of the joinder, and must compensate for damages.
Can. 1516 Once the joinder of the issue has occurred, the judge is to prescribe an appropriate time within which the parties are to present and to complete the evidence.

TITULUS II: DE LITIS CONTESTATIONE

Can. 1513 - § 1. Contestatio litis habetur cum per iudicis decretum controversiae termini, ex partium petitionibus et responsionibus desumpti, definiuntur.
§ 2. Partium petitiones responsionesque, praeterquam in libello litis introductorio, possunt vel in responsione ad citationem exprimi vel in declarationibus ore coram iudice factis; in causis autem difficilioribus partes convocandae sunt a iudice ad dubium vel dubia concordanda, quibus in sententia respondendum sit.
§ 3. Decretum iudicis partibus notificandum est; quae nisi iam consenserint, possunt intra decem dies ad ipsum iudicem recurrere, ut mutetur; quaestio autem expeditissime ipsius iudicis decreto dirimenda est.
Can. 1514 - Controversiae termini semel statuti mutari valide nequeunt, nisi novo decreto, ex gravi causa, ad instantiam partis et auditis reliquis partibus earumque rationibus perpensis.
Can. 1515 - Lite contestata, possessor rei alienae desinit esse bonae fidei; ideoque, si damnatur ut rem restituat, fructus quoque a contestationis die reddere debet et damna sarcire.
Can. 1516 - Lite contestata, iudex congruum tempus partibus praestituat probationibus proponendis et explendis.

TITLE III: THE TRIAL OF THE ISSUE

Can. 1517 The trial of the issue is initiated by the summons. It is concluded not only by the pronouncement of the definitive judgement, but also by other means determined by law.
Can. 1518 If a litigant dies, or undergoes a change in status, or ceases from the office in virtue of which he or she was acting:
1° if the case has not yet been concluded, the trial is suspended until the heir of the deceased, or the successor, or a person whose interest is involved, resumes the suit
2° if the case has been concluded, the judge must proceed to theremaining steps of the case, having first summoned the procurator, if there is one, or else the heir or the successor of the deceased.
Can. 1519 §1 If the guardian or the curator or the procurator required in accordance with Can. 1481 §§1 and 3, ceases from office, the trial is suspended for the time being.
§2 However, the judge is to appoint another guardian or curator as soon as possible. He can appoint a procurator ad litem if the party has neglected to do so within the brief time prescribed by the judge himself.
Can. 1520 If over a period of six months, no procedural act is performed by the parties, and they have not been impeded from doing so, the trial is abated. Particular law may prescribe other time limits for abatement.
Can. 1521 Abatement takes effect by virtue of the law itself, and it is effective against everyone, even minors and those equivalent to minors; moreover, it must be declared even ex officio. This, however, is without prejudice to the right to claim compensation against those guardians, curators, administrators and procurators who have not proved that they were without fault.
Can. 1522 Abatement extinguishes the acts of the process, but not the acts of the case. The acts of the case may indeed be employed in another instance, provided the case is between the same persons and about the same matter. As far as those outside the case are concerned, however these acts have no standing other than as documents.
Can. 1523 When a trial has been abated, the litigants are to bear the expenses which each has incurred.
Can. 1524 §1 The plaintiff may renounce a trial at any stage or at any grade. Likewise, both the plaintiff and the respondent may renounce the acts of the process either in whole or only in part.
§2 To renounce the trial of an issue, guardians and administrators of juridical persons must have the advice or the consent of those whose agreement is required to conduct negotiations which exceed the limits of ordinary administration.
§3 To be valid, a renunciation must be in writing, and must be signed either by the party, or by a procurator who has been given a special mandate for this purpose; it must be communicated to the other party, who must accept or at least not oppose it; and it must be admitted by the judge.
Can. 1525 Once a renunciation has been admitted by the judge, it has the same effects for the acts which have been renounced as has an abatement of the trial. Likewise, it obliges the person renouncing to pay the expenses of those acts which have been renounced.

TITULUS III: DE LITIS INSTANTIA

Can. 1517 - Instantiae initium fit citatione; finis autem non solum pronuntiatione sententiae definitivae, sed etiam aliis modis iure praefinitis.
Can. 1518 - Si pars litigans moriatur aut statum mutet aut cesset ab officio cuius ratione agit:
1° causa nondum conclusa, instantia suspenditur donec heres defuncti aut successor aut is, cuius intersit, litem resumat;
2° causa conclusa, iudex procedere debet ad ulteriora, citato procuratore, si adsit, secus defuncti herede vel successore.
Can. 1519 - § 1. Si a munere cesset tutor vel curator vel procurator, qui sit ad normam Can. 1481, §§ 1 et 3 necessarius, instantia interim suspenditur.
§ 2. Alium autem tutorem vel curatorem iudex quam primum constituat; procuratorem vero ad litem constituere potest, si pars neglexerit intra brevem terminum ab ipso iudice statutum.
Can. 1520 - Si nullus actus processualis, nullo obstante impedimento, ponatur a partibus per sex menses, instantia perimitur. Lex particularis alios peremptionis terminos statuere potest.
Can. 1521 - Peremptio obtinet ipso iure et adversus omnes, minores quoque aliosve minoribus aequiparatos, atque etiam ex officio declarari debet, salvo iure petendi indemnitatem adversus tutores, curatores, administratores, procuratores, qui culpa se caruisse non probaverint.
Can. 1522 - Peremptio exstinguit acta processus, non vero acta causae; immo haec vim habere possunt etiam in alia instantia, dummodo causa inter easdem personas et super eadem re intercedat; sed ad extraneos quod attinet, non aliam vim obtinent nisi documentorum.
Can. 1523 - Perempti iudicii expensas, quas quisque ex litigantibus fecerit, ipse ferat.
Can. 1524 - § 1. In quolibet statu et gradu iudicii potest actor instantiae renuntiare; item tum actor tum pars conventa possunt processus actis renuntiare sive omnibus sive nonnullis tantum.
§ 2. Tutores et administratores personarum iuridicarum, ut renuntiare possint instantiae, egent consilio vel consensu eorum, quorum concursus requiritur ad ponendos actus, qui ordinariae administrationis fines excedunt.
§ 3. Renuntiatio, ut valeat, peragenda est scripto, eademque a parte vel ab eius procuratore, speciali tamen mandato munito, debet subscribi, cum altera parte communicari, ab eaque acceptari vel saltem non impugnari, et a iudice admitti.
Can. 1525 - Renuntiatio a iudice admissa, pro actis quibus renuntiatum est, eosdem parit effectus ac peremptio instantiae, itemque obligat renuntiantem ad solvendas expensas actorum, quibus renuntiatum fuit.

TITLE IV: PROOFS

Can. 1526 §1 The onus of proof rests upon the person who makes an allegation.
§2 The following matters do not require proof:
1° matters which are presumed by the law itself;
2° facts alleged by one of the litigants and admitted by the other, unless their proof is nevertheless required either by law or by the judge.
Can. 1527 §1 Any type of proof which seems useful for the investigation of the case and is lawful, may be admitted.
§2 If a party submits that proof, which has been rejected by the judge, should be admitted, the judge is to determine the matter with maximum expedition.
Can. 1528 If a party or a witness refuses to testify before the judge, that person may lawfully be heard by another, even a lay person, appointed by the judge, or asked to make a declaration either before a public notary or in any other lawful manner.
Can. 1529 Unless there is a grave reason, the judge is not to proceed to collect the proofs before the joinder of the issue.

TITULUS IV: DE PROBATIONIBUS

Can. 1526 - § 1. Onus probandi incumbit ei qui asserit.
§ 2. Non indigent probatione:
1° quae ab ipsa lege praesumuntur;
2° facta ab uno ex contendentibus asserta et ab altero admissa, nisi iure vel a iudice probatio nihilominus exigatur.
Can. 1527 - § 1. Probationes cuiuslibet generis, quae ad causam cognoscendam utiles videantur et sint licitae, adduci possunt.
§ 2. Si pars instet ut probatio a iudice reiecta admittatur, ipse iudex rem expeditissime definiat.
Can. 1528 - Si pars vel testis se sistere ad respondendum coram iudice renuant, licet eos audire etiam per laicum a iudice designatum aut requirere eorum declarationem coram publico notario vel quovis alio legitimo modo.
Can. 1529 - Iudex ad probationes colligendas ne procedat ante litis contestationem nisi ob gravem causam.

CHAPTER I : THE DECLARATIONS OF THE PARTIES

Can. 1530 The judge may always question the parties the more closely to elicit the truth. He must do so if requested by one of the parties, or in order to prove a fact which the public interest requires to be placed beyond doubt.
Can. 1531 §1 A party who is lawfully questioned is obliged to respond and to tell the whole truth.
§2 If a party has refused to reply, it is for the judge to evaluate what, as far as the proof of the facts is concerned, can be deduced therefrom.
Can. 1532 Unless a grave reason suggests otherwise, in cases in which the public good is at stake the judge is to administer to the parties an oath that they will tell the truth, or at least that what they have said is the truth. In other cases, it is left to the prudent discretion of the judge to determine whether an oath is to be administered.
Can. 1533 The parties, the promotor of justice and the defender of the bond may submit to the judge propositions upon which a party is to be questioned.
Can. 1534 The provisions of Cann. 1548, § 2, n. 1, 1552 and 1558–1565 concerning witnesses are to be observed, with the appropriate qualifications, in the questioning of the parties.
Can. 1535 A judicial confession is an assertion of fact against oneself, concerning a matter relevant to the trial, which is made by a party before a judge who is legally competent; this is so whether the assertion is made in writing or orally, whether spontaneously or in response to the judge’s questioning.
Can. 1536 §1 In a private matter and where the public good is not at stake, a judicial confession of one party relieves the other parties of the onus of proof.
§2 In cases which concern the public good, however, a judicial confession, and declarations by the parties which are not confessions, can have a probative value that is to be weighed by the judge in association with the other circumstances of the case, but the force of full proof cannot be attributed to them unless there are other elements which wholly corroborate them.
Can. 1537 It is for the judge, having considered all the circumstances, to evaluate the weight to be given to an extra judicial confession which is introduced into the trial.
Can. 1538 A confession, or any other declaration of a party, is devoid of all force if clearly shown to be based on an error of fact or to have been extracted by force or grave fear.

CAPUT I: DE PARTIUM DECLARATIONIBUS

Can. 1530 - Iudex ad veritatem aptius eruendam partes interrogare semper potest, immo debet, ad instantiam partis vel ad probandum factum quod publice interest extra dubium poni.
Can. 1531 - § 1. Pars legitime interrogata respondere debet et veritatem integre fateri.
§ 2. Quod si respondere recusaverit, iudicis est aestimare quid ad factorum probationem exinde erui possit.
Can. 1532 - In casibus, in quibus bonum publicum in causa est, iudex partibus iusiurandum de veritate dicenda aut saltem de veritate dictorum deferat, nisi gravis causa aliud suadeat; in aliis casibus, potest pro sua prudentia.
Can. 1533 - Partes, promotor iustitiae et defensor vinculi possunt iudici exhibere articulos, super quibus pars interrogetur.
Can. 1534 - Circa partium interrogationem cum proportione serventur, quae in Cann. 1548, § 2, n. 1, 1552 et 1558-1565 de testibus statuuntur.
Can. 1535 - Assertio de aliquo facto, scripto vel ore, coram iudice competenti, ab aliqua parte circa ipsam iudicii materiam, sive sponte sive iudice interrogante, contra se peracta, est confessio iudicialis.
Can. 1536 - § 1. Confessio iudicialis unius partis, si agatur de negotio aliquo privato et in causa non sit bonum publicum, ceteras relevat ab onere probandi.
§ 2. In causis autem quae respiciunt bonum publicum, confessio iudicialis et partium declarationes, quae non sint confessiones, vim probandi habere possunt, a iudice aestimandam una cum ceteris causae adiunctis, at vis plenae probationis ipsis tribui nequit, nisi alia accedant elementa quae eas omnino corroborent.
Can. 1537 - Quoad extraiudicialem confessionem in iudicium deductam, iudicis est, perpensis omnibus adiunctis, aestimare quanti ea sit facienda.
Can. 1538 - Confessio vel alia quaevis partis declaratio qualibet vi caret, si constet eam ex errore facti esse prolatam, aut vi vel metu gravi extortam.

CHAPTER II : DOCUMENTARY PROOF

Can. 1539 In every type of trial documentary proof is admitted, whether the documents be public or private.

CAPUT II: DE PROBATIONE PER DOCUMENTA

Can. 1539 - In quolibet iudicii genere admittitur probatio per documenta tum publica tum privata.

ARTICLE 1: THE NATURE AND RELIABILITY OF DOCUMENTS
Can. 1540 §1 Public ecclesiastical documents are those which an official person draws up in the exercise of his or her function in the Church a