The Saint Joseph Foundation has prepared dozens of them and they range from dossiers two or three inches thick down to three or four pages. Most are relatively easy to prepare but the course of the process itself may turn out to be complex and lengthy. Another point to be made about administrative recourse to the Holy See is that separate appeals sometimes have a cumulative effect. In other words, even though the results in individual cases may not be favorable, a well prepared, well argued appeal is usually not forgotten and may motivate the competent office in Rome to look to a broader solution to the problem. Another advantage is the low cost.
Most canon lawyers charge relatively modest fees in comparison with civil lawyers.
Another option is to challenge a diocesan law, if there is one, which the pastor says that he is bound to obey. If you want to challenge a law, then you cannot use administrative recourse but, instead, can petition the Pontifical Council for the Authentic Interpretation of Legislative Texts to review the diocesan law and amend or revoke any portions which are in conflict with the universal law of the Church. Frankly, this possibility was suggested only recently by several of our consulting canon lawyers and the Foundation has never assisted in such a step. Finally, it might be possible to seek a judicial remedy for damages before the Roman Rota. However, you must be represented there by an accredited Rotal Advocate.