Catholic Annulment Process

A Catholic annulment is a declaration that a marriage was not valid from the start. The process begins with one spouse petitioning the local bishop. The church examines factors like consent, mental capacity, and understanding of marriage at the time of the vows. A tribunal, or church court, reviews evidence and may interview witnesses. If the tribunal finds grounds for annulment, the marriage is declared null, meaning it was never valid in the eyes of the Church. This allows individuals to marry again within the Church. The process can vary in duration and complexity depending on individual circumstances.