No one marries expecting to divorce, and getting divorced can be particularly challenging if you are a member of the Catholic Church. To have your divorce recognized by the church, and thereby annulled, you must follow several important steps.
Steps to Getting a Religious Annulment
After divorce, there are several steps you need to take if you want to obtain an annulment from the Catholic Church. You must:
- Be Legally Divorced
To apply for a religious annulment through the Catholic Church, you must have already completed the process of legally divorcing your spouse. Be advised, if you intend to remarry in the Catholic Church, you will need to have your original marriage religiously annulled.
- Inform Your Ex-Husband or Ex-Wife
To receive a religious annulment, you must apprise your ex-husband or ex-wife that you are beginning the annulment process and give him or her a chance to respond. They will be informed, usually in the form of a letter, and they need not agree to or take part in the process. The Catholic Church simply wants them informed.
- Gather Important Information
You will need several important documents to proceed with an annulment, including copies of your baptism records within the Church, a copy of your original marriage license, a copy of your original marriage certificate from the Church, and a certified copy of your divorce agreement.
- File Your Petition for Annulment
You can either file your annulment petition with a local Parish or with a regional tribunal. Ask at your local Parish, or contact your regional tribunal, to determine which filing best suits your needs and the requirements of the Church in your case.
- Collect Witnesses
You may be asked to have several witnesses, who may be family or friends, to comment on your marriage relationship. They may not need to answer questions in as rigid an environment as traditional court. In cases of religious annulment, they usually can speak more candidly.
- Know What to Expect from the Process
A judge, or several judges, will consider all of your information and your witness testimony. They will also consider input from the Defender of Bond, who acts as a representative for your marriage and may defend the marriage’s validity. Once both sides have been heard, the judges will make a decision regarding the annulment and inform you and your former spouse in writing.
The process can take over a year to complete, but can be expedited if the petitioner has all necessary documents and witnesses in order. The cost of a religious annulment also varies, but is usually around $500. No one is turned away due to their inability to pay the fee, as payment arrangements and support are available.
Getting Help
An experienced divorce attorney can help you with any concerns both before and after divorce. He can assist you in making sure your legal divorce goes through without a hitch and can present you with the divorce papers and any other documents you need in order to interface with your church and end your marriage from the religious end as well.
