Annulments

When a marriage ends in a civil divorce, checking in with a Catholic Annulment Advocate is the next correct step to take. Your story and history are unique to you and the Catholic Church invites you to pursue individual healing, closure, and restoration with God as soon as you can. We will pray with you, listen to you, and help guide you toward spiritual healing options.

If you are interested in getting clear information on healing through a declaration of nullity, call the parish office at 763.784.1329 to make an appointment with Deacon Joe Frederick who has been assisting individuals with annulments for over 28-years, he will explain in clear language the process, steps, purpose, and reasons you may want an annulment. If you do not yet belong to a Catholic parish, please contact us anyway, we will do our best to assist you with the necessary information and forms and will be happy to explain the process and answer your questions. Healing is closer than you think because HE is closer than your middle name.

Questions concerning annulment in the Catholic Church? —  we have a variety of resources and information that can help you understand what a catholic annulment is, and how you apply for one. When searching for reliable resources on the annulment process, please consider your resources carefully, looking only for Catholic sources. Below are 16 useful FAQs taken from https://togetherforlifeonline.com/catholic-annulment/

1. So, what is an annulment?

An annulment, formally called “a declaration of nullity,” is an official declaration by the Roman Catholic Church that a marriage did not meet the requirements for validity. Validity means that the desired outcome (in this case, marriage) has actually taken place as recognized by the Church.

Although to all outward appearances, a wedding was properly celebrated before a priest, bishop or deacon in a Catholic church, etc., there is much more needed for the wedding to be understood as a sacred union. For instance, the internal dispositions of the parties and a proper understanding of what marriage is all about are also requirements for a valid marriage.

This determination is based on a thorough examination of the marriage in question by the local diocesan tribunal. The Metropolitan tribunal–the formal name for our church court–looks at information submitted by one or both of the former spouses to see if all the requirements for a valid marriage were present in their union.

2. Annulment vs. Divorce: What is the difference between a Church annulment and a divorce?

A civil divorce in Minnesota is the dissolving of the marriage relationship by the State in which the parties live. The Church holds that marriage is a sacramental union of a man and woman that can be dissolved only by the death of one of the spouses. In the annulment procedure the Church examines whether the union did in fact reach its fullness and become all that the Church believes a marriage to be.

3. When is an annulment needed?

In order for a Roman Catholic to re-marry it is necessary that a previous marriage be nullified. The Church believes that “marriage enjoys the favor of the law” and is therefore presumed to be valid, unless the contrary is proven. In short, if a Catholic who has been married and divorced wants to enter into a valid Church marriage, an annulment is needed.

4. What is required to get an annulment?

Although the basic annulment requirements are standardized, the exact procedures for the obtaining of a declaration of nullity can vary from diocese to diocese. In our archdiocese, an application form must be completed along with some additional documentation, including recently issued baptismal certificate, a copy of the Minnesota civil divorce papers, and the Catholic marriage certificate.

5. Are annulments granted very often? How long does it take?

The number of annulments granted and the time frame it takes for the tribunal to make a determination varies. Many factors influence the timing of annulments granted including: the size of the diocese, the number of staff members employed by the tribunal, and the number of applications that are submitted.

6. What are some reasons why an annulment may be granted?

Part of the process for preparing the case for the tribunal will be establishing the “grounds” on which the tribunal will examine the case in question. In order for a marriage to be valid in the eyes of the Church, there must be at least:

• a minimal knowledge of what constitutes sacramental marriage
• adequate maturity on the part of the spouse to understand the seriousness of lifelong commitment
• the ability to make a mature and responsible decision in accepting the duties that are to be assumed with marriage
• freedom from internal or external pressures and fears

7. How much will it cost to obtain an annulment? Why is there a fee?

Much of the direct cost is subsidized by the Saint Paul and Minneapolis Archdiocese, however subsidies rarely cover the total costs of the tribunal office. An applicant is asked to provide $200 at the start of the process and an additional $400 when the case is accepted for trial. A Catholic annulment cannot be refused or delayed on the basis of an inability to pay the tribunal.

8. Can I apply for an annulment even if I don’t have enough money to pay for it?

The tribunal can make some type of financial arrangements with those who cannot cover the costs of the expenses, allowing an extended time for the payment of fees or even the waiver of fees under certain circumstances. We will help you check with our Metropolitan Tribunal for payment policies.

9. What will I be asked to do in the Catholic application process?

At Saint Timothy’s, the process normally begins at the parish offices with our deacon. Guidance with completing the forms that summarizes basic information about the applicant and the former spouse. Some questionnaires attempt to clarify possible grounds that might be pursued in the annulment. Our tribunal requests a type of self-inventory or history to be written by you, (the petitioner), which touches on issues related to early background of the applicant, courtship, marriage, and married life.

10. Does my former spouse have to cooperate?

Every effort must be made to obtain the contact information of the former spouse (“respondent”). It is important that the respondent be given the opportunity to share perspectives on the former union. The unwillingness of the respondent to testify to the tribunal does not prohibit the case from moving forward.

11. Do my family and friends need to be involved?

As the petitioner, you would be asked to provide the names of several witnesses who knew at least one of the two parties (preferably both) and preferably during the early stages of the union who can provide the court with some insights and observations concerning the marital union. Most often these individuals are asked to submit a written statement, the length of which is usually determined by how well acquainted they are with the marriage and the relationship of the spouses prior to the marriage.

12. Are there documents I have to submit with the annulment application?

The petition will include a recently issued baptismal certificate for the applicant, a copy of the Minnesota divorce papers, and a marriage certificate from the marriage under review.
 

13. If I am granted an annulment, will that mean the Church sees my children as illegitimate?

It is the understanding of the Church that children born of a union that is later declared an invalid marriage (annulled) are not illegitimate if at least one of the parties entered into the union with good faith.

14. I am marrying a person of another faith who is divorced. Does he (she) need an annulment?

Non-Catholics are not bound by the canon law of the Catholic Church except when they wish to marry a member of the Catholic Church. If the non-Catholic has been divorced, the marriage, in most circumstances is presumed to be valid, and therefore the person must obtain an annulment from a Catholic marriage tribunal before the Catholic wedding may take place. We will help you discern this.

15. I was married by a justice of the peace (or official of another faith tradition), do I need an annulment?

The Catholic Church requires that its members exchange their vows or consent before a Catholic priest or deacon and two witnesses. Sometimes when a Catholic marries a member of another Christian tradition, an unbaptized member of another faith (for example a Jewish or Muslim person), or a person not affiliated with any religion, the Catholic person’s pastor requests a “dispensation from form” from the local bishop. This allows the priest or deacon to receive the couple’s vows in the name of the Catholic Church.

If a Catholic is married by someone other than a Catholic priest or deacon and in the presence of two witnesses but doesn’t have the required dispensation, the marriage is considered invalid. Should this union end in divorce and the Catholic seek to remarry in the Catholic Church, it will be necessary to obtain a declaration of freedom to marry by completing a form and providing documentation that establishes the baptism of the Catholic party, that the marriage was performed by someone other than a Catholic priest or deacon, and that the party has been civilly divorced in Minnesota or another state.

You should talk with our deacon about the procedure and the appropriate paperwork that is required.

16. How do I begin the annulment process?

The person interested in obtaining a declaration of nullity should make an appointment with our deacon, If you do not yet belong to a parish, call us anyway, we will be happy to help you. You may also contact the Metropolitan Tribunal directly at 651.291.4466. In most instances, we will have the necessary forms for an annulment at the parish and can explain the process and answer questions that arise as you get started. When you are interested in obtaining a declaration of nullity, call Saint Timothy’s parish office at 763.784.1329 to make an appointment with our deacon for more information and assistance.

Finally, here is a link to 12 Myths of Annulments - click here.