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What is an annulment?

Catholic.id Editors · Reviewed against the Catechism

The Sacraments

The short answer

An annulment (a "declaration of nullity") is a finding by a Church tribunal that a marriage, though it appeared valid, was missing something essential from the start — so a true sacramental marriage never came into being. It is not a "Catholic divorce," and it does not mean the relationship was not real or that children are illegitimate.

Marriage is permanent

Jesus taught: "what God has joined together, no human being must separate" (Mark 10:9). The Church therefore holds that a valid, consummated sacramental marriage cannot be dissolved by any human power (CCC 1640). That is why the Church cannot "grant a divorce."

What an annulment actually examines

For a marriage to be valid, certain things must be present on the wedding day (CCC 1625-1629):

  • Free consent — no force or grave fear.
  • Capacity — each person able to understand and fulfil the essential obligations of marriage.
  • Intention — to marry for life, faithfully, and open to children.
  • Proper form — for Catholics, ordinarily a wedding before a priest or deacon and two witnesses.

If a tribunal finds, after careful investigation, that one of these was seriously lacking, it declares that the marriage was null from the beginning.

What it does not mean

  • Children of the union remain legitimate.
  • It does not deny that there was love, a home, or a shared life.
  • It is not a judgement of who was to blame.

The process

A person speaks with their parish priest, completes a written account, and names witnesses. The tribunal hears both spouses. Since 2015 the process has been simplified and many dioceses charge little or nothing. It usually takes several months to a year.

Why it matters

An annulment allows someone to marry in the Church and to receive the sacraments with peace of conscience.

The Sacramentsmarriageannulmentdivorcematrimonymarriage and family

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