Annulment Outcomes

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Since becoming a regular on CAF I’ve very often come across posters commenting on their annulment. I’ve been wondering how often those who contemplate annulment are “successful” and how often not. Hence this poll.
 
I have not personally been involved in an annulment but, recently found out a friend’s son had his marriage annulled. She told me that it took @18 months for it to happen. So, I did not answer your poll but thought I would share.
 
Rau said:
Since becoming a regular on CAF I’ve very often come across posters commenting on their annulment. I’ve been wondering how often those who contemplate annulment are “successful” and how often not. Hence this poll.
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I voted. Mine took less than a year. 🙂
 
Mine took five weeks because he had a prior bond so it was an administrative review only.
 
My annulment was nearly 30 years ago but it was successful. I filed as soon as my (first) marriage broke up, even before I filed for divorce. I was informed that the process could take well over a year, because after a ruling was made by the Marriage Tribunal in my diocese it then had to be ratified in Ottawa. It actually took less than a year and I found it relatively painless.
 
My marriage took place in Canada, and now I’m American, been here 15 years. I applied for annulment aug 2012 and was told after it was sent to the local diocese that it would have to go to Canada as that is where the marriage took place. It was sent to Canada Oct 2012. In Oct 2013 i finally recieved a letter stating it was affirmed and now going to Ottawa. The letter stated an answer from Ottawa should take approximately 30 business days. Hmmm now almost 90 days and patiently waiting.
 
Rau said:
Not many replies…none from persons unable to secure annulment…
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This is actually not too surprising. Those who do not have a good case, do not apply. Many do not take their faith serious enough to apply, be denied AND post on CAF…🤷

It’s one of the problems with such polls. The pool of potential respondents is somewhat skewed…
Such threads can still be interesting…but not definitive.

Peace
James
 
Rau said:
Not many replies…none from persons unable to secure annulment…
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You posted it at 1 AM Central time, and waited 1/2 hour. You’re not going to get many replies in that time.
 
JRKH said:
This is actually not too surprising. Those who do not have a good case, do not apply. Many do not take their faith serious enough to apply, be denied AND post on CAF…🤷

It’s one of the problems with such polls. The pool of potential respondents is somewhat skewed…
Such threads can still be interesting…but not definitive.

Peace
James
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This. Priests often screen out those which have little chance before a tribunal these days.
 
I went through a lot of soul searching and applied for an annullment and was granted it. This was years ago, but it is truly a healing process that made me aware of what a sacrament marriage really is. God does give special graces to those faithful to the teachings of the Church.
 
I am still waiting on mine. I started the process before I was even divorced (Ex moved out and is now actively homosexual… he and his boyfriend might even marry). Anyway, I was told first I had to be divorced. So I filed for divorce and that took a year. Then I met again with a priest and started the actual annulment paper work (this would be March 2012).

Things have gone smoothly, but slowly. Last I heard my marriage was found “null and void” but that it had to be reviewed by another Diocese tribunal and that would take up to 30 days. This was two months ago. I hope to have final word soon.

I imagine a lot of people give up and leave the Church. I know I was tempted to give up a lot. It’s a healing process, but it’s like a burn patient’s healing process. It’s full of pain and people often don’t sympathize because they can’t understand what it is to go though. It’s not an easy thing to go though. Especially when you are a woman and you watch your last fertile years slip away. Don’t get me wrong, I have a child and I love her very much… but I always wanted to have more children. My Ex was never interested in sex… go figure why. It’s amazing I even became pregnant. I kind of hoped when I started the process I would meet someone, re-marry, live a good happy marriage and be blessed with more children. I’ve kind of given up on that dream.

Anyway, back to the annulments. The first step is to meet with a priest and a lot of potential filings are stopped right there, before they even happen because people don’t have a case. I wonder what the real stats would be if they let everyone file–of course, that would add to the already backlogged system.

My point being, since they only allow the strong cases to even file, of course there is going to be a higher success rate. I would be curious to see the final answers here. Maybe at some point I will be able to give my answer to the question. But for not, I am still waiting.
 
Cojuanco said:
This. Priests often screen out those which have little chance before a tribunal these days.
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Understood, which is why I included a poll option to capture that scenario.

I also recognise the skewed nature of the sample space here on CAF.
 
Rau said:
Understood, which is why I included a poll option to capture that scenario.

I also recognise the skewed nature of the sample space here on CAF.
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Yes, this sample is problematic. (But who cares really :D)

Also I would add a controversial reason to not find many people with annulment denied here. I am drafting a hypothesis that it would be hard to someone not get the annulment and still remain Catholic, hence not even in CAF. This would be a hard testing on faith.
 
I wish I could respond to the poll, but I am still waiting. I filed at the end of June. Allegedly, the whole process will take approximately 12-18 months. Time sure does crawl watching everyone else take Communion. This Easter I will see my RCIA classmates be received into the Church while I must continue to wait. Maybe God is trying to teach me patience and obedience to the Church.

Anyways, when I decided to convert I was told to begin the annulment process as soon as possible. I arranged to meet with our priest the following week. In the meantime, I went to the diocese website and downloaded the forms. Then I filled them out and brought the completed forms on a flash drive and all required paperwork (marriage license, divorce papers, Baptismal certificate) with me to the meeting. Father got a chuckle out of how eager I was and actually appreciated that i took the time to research on my own. :o Father interviewed me and then took the time to read over my application. He specifically said he wouldn’t send it on unless he was relatively certain the marriage was invalid.

I’d be willing to bet a lot of folks have been told their annulments didn’t have much of a chance and left the Church. I’d also be willing to bet a lot of folks knew they were in valid marriages and didn’t bother to even ask about the possibility of annulment. And, while I’m betting, I’d bet that there is a significant portion of the Catholic population that doesn’t understand the annulment process at all and don’t ask about it.
 
Canuck000 said:
My marriage took place in Canada, and now I’m American, been here 15 years. I applied for annulment aug 2012 and was told after it was sent to the local diocese that it would have to go to Canada as that is where the marriage took place. It was sent to Canada Oct 2012. In Oct 2013 i finally recieved a letter stating it was affirmed and now going to Ottawa. The letter stated an answer from Ottawa should take approximately 30 business days. Hmmm now almost 90 days and patiently waiting.
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Heard that my annulment went through today! I contacted my priest and he’s excited for my husband and I. Planning now, to have a sacramental blessing very soon. I am so thankful, first to God, and my wonderful husband of 15 years, and also to the best priest ever!
 
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