ANNULMENTS
 

"We [bishops] understand the pain of those for whom divorce seemed the only recourse...We urge them to make frequent use of the sacraments, especially the Sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation…We encourage divorced persons who wish to marry in the Catholic Church to seek counsel about the options that exist to remedy their situation, including the suitability of a declaration of nullity when there is no longer any hope of reconciliation of the spouses."  - USCCB, Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan, 2009

What is often referred to as a “marriage annulment” in the Church is actually a declaration by a Church tribunal (a Catholic Church court) that a marriage thought to be valid according to Church law actually fell short of at least one of the essential elements required for a binding union.  The process for obtaining such a declaration is frequently misunderstood.  The USCCB website and For Your Marriage links will explain the process, its effects, and Catholic teaching about divorce.

Please see the "Documents" section for forms and needed documentation, that will be helpful to gather and bring to the initial appointment. 

Questions? Please email [email protected] and a case sponsor will contact you or you may fill out the contact form below to set up an initial appointment.

Glossary:
Petitioner: the person that applies for the Annulment / Declaration of Nullity
Respondent: the former spouse of the Petitioner
Case Sponsor: parish staff member who will assist the Petitioner in gathering the necessary documents to begin the process.
Advocate: person assigned to handle annulment case from beginning until the Tribunal issues a decision; the Advocate will contact the Petitioner to start the case once all of the paperwork is received by the Tribunal.