Normae “Quammaxime decet”Romanae Rotae Tribunalis,18.IV.1994 in AAS 86 (1994) 508-540

Caput IV

De Advocatis et Procuratoribus

Art.47

Advocati aut procuratoris munere apud Rotae Romanae Tribunal fungi poterunt qui in Albo proprio inscripti sunt.

Art.48

§ 1. In Advocatorum Albo admittuntur qui, laurea doctorali saltem in iure canonico donati, advocati rotalis diploma adepti sunt.

§ 2. In Procuratorum autem Albo inscribi poterunt ii qui, laurea saltem in iure canonico praediti, exercitationes et pericula per biennium penes Studium Rotale superaverint.

§ 3. Qui in Urbe fixam non habent moram causarum patrocinium suscipere poterunt. At procuratoris munus ii tantum exercere valent qui Urbem continenter incolunt.

In cases of nullity of marriage, the parties may use the assistance of a cleric lawyer. However, the rules governing the practice as an ecclesiastical advocate  differ depending whether the case is carried out before an ordinary courts or before the Court of the Apostolic Roman Rota.

In order to catty on the case before the Apostolic Tribunal of the Roman Rota it is necessary to have achieved the title of  Rota Lawyer and to be inscribed in the dedicated register.

The path leading to the title of Rota Lawyer includes obtaining the doctoral degree in canon law and the attendance of a three-year course at  the Studio Rotale. The subjects under study are: Judicial Ethics,  Rota Law  with particular reference to the canon law of marriage and judicial practice both in ordinary and in administrative matters. Then there are courses in psychology, psychiatry, anthropology. There are monthly and annual oral and written exercises, and at the end of this period, after passing all the written and oral examinations, candidates must pass a written examination in the presence of the Rota Board. The exam can not be sustained for more than two times. Knowledge of Latin is considered indispensable. The registration allows one to practice before all courts of the ecclesiastical world, including of course the Roman Rota and the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura. To bring on cases before this Courtan appropriate register has been issued (m.p.Iusti iudicis AAS (80 (1988) 1258-1261).