What is a declaration of nullity?
A declaration of nullity (sometimes referred to as an “annulment” or a “declaration of invalidity”) is a statement by the Catholic Church that at the time two people exchanged marital consent, there was something essential missing that prevented a valid marriage bond from being formed. The three essential things that are necessary for valid marital consent is the capacity of the parties for making such a commitment and fulfilling the obligations of marriage, their intention to enter into marriage as the Church understands marriage, and their knowledge both of marriage itself and of the person they are marrying.
