How to Get a Catholic Annulment

It's no secret that the divorce rate is raising at an alarming rate, yet almost a quarter of the American population is Catholic, despite the religion's strict beliefs on marriage. A Catholic can reunite themselves with the sacraments after experiencing a troubled marriage by going through the process of an annulment.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Make an appointment with a priest, deacon or designated staff member from a church in the diocese that you live in to obtain an application. Be sure to inquire about the length of the process and any fees involved.

2. Fill out the application and questionnaire asking for details about the relationship leading up to the marriage as well as during the marriage. The questionnaire will also go into great detail about your life from early childhood as well as that of your ex-spouse.

3. Provide the church with witnesses who are willing to testify, normally by responding in a questionnaire through the mail, about the marriage and what they observed.

4. Return the completed paperwork to the marriage tribunal and be prepared to wait. Annulments frequently take more than a year to investigate and process. There are many details the church goes through to ensure a fair outcome is reached, but staying in contact with the advocate in your home parish will help ease you through the situation.

5. Inform your witnesses that they will be contacted and ask them to fill out the return paperwork as quickly as possible so as not to delay the process any longer. Ensuring you and your witnesses are prepared will move the process along smoothly.

6. Speak with your advocate again once a decision has been reached. They will recommend the next course of action for you if the annulment is granted. If a negative decision was reached, they can council you on whether or not to proceed with an appeal or if another course of action would be more appropriate.

Tips & Warnings

• Catholic annulments are not valid divorce decrees for civil cases. A civil divorce must be obtained before a Catholic annulment can be sought.
• A divorce can affect a Catholic's ability to receive sacraments and marry in the Catholic religion. Speak with a local priest or annulment advocate from your church to learn the specific requirements for your situation.