Typically, parents, brothers and sisters, childhood neighbors or other relatives and friends make good witnesses. A minimum of three witnesses will be contacted by mail and asked to give their personal observations. A former spouse must be contacted and given the opportunity to present his or her views of the marriage as well as to introduce witnesses. This is required by the law of the Church. It is therefore necessary to have a current address.
Justice demands a good faith effort to locate the former spouse.
Since both spouses are equal partners in the marriage, both enjoy the same rights in cases which may result in a declaration of invalidity. Even in cases where the former spouse is not Catholic and may not be interested in the Church's process, the party has rights before the Church. The former spouse does not have the option of preventing the process. The spouses are never scheduled to appear at the same time. The law recognizes the right of the Respondent to fully participate in the process if the Respondent so chooses.