What are some grounds of nullity for declaring a marriage invalid?
One essential requirement for a valid marriage is that it is entered with true freedom. If a person were to marry under serious fear or the threat of force, it is doubtful that valid consent was given. Also, if someone married with the deliberate intention of excluding indissolubility, fidelity, the right to have children, or the good of the spouses, this would eliminate an essential element of marriage. One or both spouses may have lacked the required maturity, mental or emotional stability and discretion to enter into such a serious and permanent commitment. Or there may have been serious circumstances that brought about the marriage such as an unplanned pregnancy or the desire to escape an abusive home life. These are examples of defective consent. Click here for a more detailed description of the GROUNDS OF NULLITY. Are there any civil effects to a church annulment? In the United States, where church and state are separated, there are no civil effects. An annulment does not affect
