How Does a Catholic Annulment Work?

The Catholic Church has a process for seeking an annulment. The person seeking it generally has to pay an average of $500 to the church to receive the annulment. A deacon or priest will hear the request for an annulment.

Facts

The Catholic Church will not annul a marriage until the couple has legally divorced. A person usually gets an annulment because she wants to be remarried to someone else, and she needs an annulment to be remarried in a Catholic Church. Anyone who gets married in a Catholic Church and later decides she wants a divorce can apply for an annulment.

Steps Needed

When someone files an annulment, the church sends the ex spouse a letter to notify him of the impending annulment. The ex spouse has a right to respond to the request for an annulment, but he does not have to be part of the annulment process. The ex spouse does not have to want an annulment. When filing for annulment, the person seeking it will have to submit a copy of the marriage license, the church's marriage certificate, the signed divorce decree and the birth certificates of both parties. The request for an annulment must be presented to either a priest or the tribunal. The person seeking the annulment is required to provide two people who knew about the marriage and specifically knew what happened directly before and after the wedding. Once the case for an annulment has been made, a judge or group of judges will decide whether the marriage was invalid from day one.

Considerations

The Defender of the Bond must also participate in the annulment. This person's job is to present the judges with reasons why the marriage was valid and why an annulment should not take place. The average wait time to receive an annulment after requesting it is 16 months.