SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE - FORMAL TRIAL OF NULLITY
Speak with your priest before completing the info below
[Please use 8 ½ x 11 " paper to respond to these questions]
Background
1.	Briefly state your educational background and the educational  background of the
respondent. What kind of students were you?
2.	Give a brief resume of your previous employment, and that of the respondent, and indicate
your present employment.
3.	Please describe your own family life and your growing up years, particularly your
relationship with your parents.
4.	Please describe the respondent's family life and his/her growing up years, particularly the
relationship with the parents.
Courtship
5.	Describe your dating and courtship, i.e., when did you meet, for how long a period did you
date, and how frequently.
6.	Please state your motivation for marrying the respondent when you did.   What do you
believe the respondent's motivation was for marrying you?
7.	What was the attitude of the parents of each party to the proposed marriage?
8.	Were there any unusual circumstances immediately before, during, or immediately after the
wedding? Please explain.
9.	Please describe any circumstances or indicate any reasons that may have negatively affected
true and binding marital consent, such as:   a) an intention not to have children;   b) a
conviction that divorce dissolves a marriage;    c) undue pressure from any person or
circumstance;   d) a hastily made decision to marry;   e) any emotional or physical health
problems.
The Marriage
10.	What was the first serious problem in the marriage and when did it occur? How did the two
of you handle it?
11.	What were the major areas of disagreement between you and the respondent?   Please
explain how you and the respondent dealt with such disagreements and the extent to which
you were able to resolve them.
The Marriage - cont.
12.	Please explain how you and the respondent settled the balance of power between you during
the marriage.
13.	Please explain the extent to which you and the respondent were able to communicate
honestly and effectively with each other and the degree to which each of you were able to
share and express your feelings to one another.
14.	Describe the extent to which you and the respondent felt and expressed trust and confidence
in each other and the degree to which each of you felt and demonstrated respect for
yourselves and one another.
15.	To what extent were you and the respondent able to exchange affection, to give and receive
expressions of warmth and closeness? Was your sexual life together satisfactory? If there
were problems in these matters, please explain.
16.	Explain the extent to which you and the respondent were able to handle the everyday
responsibilities of living with each other and of dealing with the practical aspects of married
life, e. g.,   a) financial;  b) shared leisure time;  c) household responsibilities;   d) care of
children; e) individual careers.
17.	To what extent was your ability to live happily with one another impaired by interference
from the parents and family of either party? Please explain.
18.	Did you or the respondent have any history of or difficulty with: a) alcohol abuse; b) drug
addiction; c) emotional, physical, or sexual abuse; d) the law? Please explain.
The Separation
19.	Were there separations in the marriage other than the final separation?  Explain in some
detail the chief reason(s) for the breakup of the marriage?
20.	Explain what efforts, if any, were made to get professional or pastoral counseling.
Conclusion
21.	Please add any other useful information that you believe would be helpful.