Canon 1676. §1 After receiving the libellus, the judicial vicar, if he considers that it has some basis, admits it and, by a decree appended to the bottom of the libellus itself, is to order that a copy be communicated to the defender of the bond and, unless the libellus was signed by both parties, to the respondent, giving them a period of fifteen days to express their views on the petition.

§2 After the above-mentioned deadline has passed, and after the other party has been admonished to express his or her views if and insofar as necessary, and after the defender of the bond has been heard, the judicial vicar is to determine by his decree the formula of the doubt and is to decide whether the case is to be treated with the ordinary process or with the briefer process according to can. 1683-1687. This decree is to be communicated immediately to the parties and the defender of the bond.

§3 If the case is to be handled through the ordinary process, the judicial vicar, by the same decree, is to arrange the constitution of a college of judges or of a single judge with two assessors according to can. 1673, §4.

§4 However, if the briefer process is decided upon, the judicial vicar proceeds according to the norm of can. 1685.

§5 The formula of doubt must determine by which ground or grounds the validity of the marriage is challenged.

§1. Recepto libello, Vicarius iudicialis si aestimet eum aliquo fundamento niti, eum admittat et, decreto ad calcem ipsius libelli apposito, praecipiat ut exemplar notificetur defensori vinculi et, nisi libellus ab utraque parte subscriptus fuerit, parti conventae, eidem dato termino quindecim dierum ad suam mentem de petitione aperiendam.

§2. Praefato termino transacto, altera parte, si et quatenus, iterum monita ad suam mentem ostendendam, audito vinculi defensore, Vicarius iudicialis suo decreto dubii formulam determinet et decernat utrum causa processu ordinario an processu breviore ad mentem can. 1683-1687 pertractanda sit. Quod decretum partibus et vinculi defensori statim notificetur.

§3. Si causa ordinario processu tractanda est, Vicarius iudicialis, eodem decreto, constitutionem iudicum collegii vel iudicis unici cum duobus assessoribus iuxta can. 1673, §4 disponat.

§4. Si autem processus brevior statutus est, Vicarius iudicialis agat ad normam can. 1685.

§5. Formula dubii determinare debet quo capite vel quibus capitibus nuptiarum validitas impugnetur.

Canon 1677. §1 The defender of the bond, the legal representatives of the parties, as well as the promoter of justice, if involved in the trial, have the following rights: 1° to be present at the examination of the parties, the witnesses, and the experts, without
prejudice to the prescript of can. 1559; 2° to inspect the judicial acts, even those not yet published, and to review the documents presented by the parties.

§2 The parties cannot be present at the examination mentioned in §1, n. 1.

§1. Defensori vinculi, partium patronis et, si in iudicio sit, etiam promotori iustitiae ius est:

1° examini partium, testium et peritorum adesse, salvo praescripto can. 1559;

2° acta iudicialia, etsi nondum publicata, invisere et documenta a partibus producta recognoscere.

§2. Examini, de quo in §1, n. 1, partes assistere nequeunt.