The Judicial Vicar is the Executive Director of the Department of Canonical Services. The Judicial Vicar must be a canon lawyer. This department is staffed by five members (four are degreed in Canon Law). The staff includes judges, defenders of the bond, advocates, and the promoter of justice. Support staff includes an office manager, notaries and secretaries.

The services of this department include: matrimonial permissions and dispensations, declarations of matrimonial invalidity and conciliation services. In addition, this department assists priests and deacons in their applications for dispensations from the obligations of Holy Orders from the Holy See.