What is involved in getting an annulment (declaration of nullity) for a previous marriage?
A person who has previously been married cannot re-marry in the Catholic Church, even if he or she has obtained a civil divorce, because marriage is an irrevocable covenant that the Church does not have the authority to dissolve (see Catechism #1639-1640). A new marriage is permitted, however, if a Church marriage tribunal determines that the previous marriage was invalid from the beginning. The process of investigating the validity of the marriage begins when one of the parties to the marriage petitions the diocesan marriage tribunal—a sort of “court” set up to judge such cases. The tribunal then investigates the validity of the marriage by interviewing the parties to the marriage as well as any witnesses; any supporting documentation is also reviewed. If necessary, a sort of trial may take place, with advocates arguing both for and against the validity of the marriage. A marriage may be found to be invalid if the basic requirements for a valid marriage did not exist at the time of th
