Annulment Qustions

[justineAnne]

Would a woman who was divorced 25 years ago with a son, and has lived with her current boyfriend for 11 years, likely be able to get an annulment?

What are typically the requirements and timeframe of an annulment?

 

[1ke]

Would a woman who was divorced 25 years ago with a son, and has lived with her current boyfriend for 11 years, likely be able to get an annulment?

Hi Justine Anne, you are asking the wrong question here. How long ago you divorced, whether you have a child, and who you live with now are not relevant to whether or not your first marriage was valid.

I suggest you go talk to your local Catholic pastor now about your first marriage and your desire to be free to marry in the Church. There are many factors the Church will look at including the circumstances of the wedding. For example, if you or he were Catholic did you get married in the Catholic Church?

What are typically the requirements and timeframe of an annulment?

Those vary greatly from place to place and individual situation to situation. So we cannot tell you this. But your local pastor can tell you average time frames in your diocese- your case may be shorter or longer depending on the particular details.

I encourage you to take that first step now.

 

[KildareBrigid]

You definitely need to talk to a Priest about this because annulments are very specific to the particular marriages in question. The previous poster was correct in saying your current situation will not have an impact on your annulment. Also, the reason for your divorce will play a very small to non existent role. What will be examined is what the situation was when the marriage occurred.

 

[7_Sorrows]

I am in the process of getting an annulment from a marriage in 1981 that lasted 4 years. I don’t think how long ago matters in regards to asking for the annulment. you need to speak to your priest or to the person who handles the annulment process and talk with them as to whether the Catholic Church recognizes your marriage as valid or invalid. If they say it was a valid marriage you will have to go through the annulment process.

 

[ToeInTheWater]

I am in the process of getting an annulment from a marriage in 1981 that lasted 4 years. I don’t think how long ago matters in regards to asking for the annulment. you need to speak to your priest or to the person who handles the annulment process and talk with them as to whether the Catholic Church recognizes your marriage as valid or invalid. If they say it was a valid marriage you will have to go through the annulment process.

Uh, I thought the idea was, that if whoever vets the case say it WAS a valid marriage, then they would prohibit, or at least discourage, the person from going through the annulment process. Because the Church cannot “make” a valid marriage invalid through the nullity process, it can only examine the conditions at the time of marriage, to “find out” if it was valid or not.

Unless, of course, you yourself think that essentially all Catholics who apply for annulment are guaranteed to get one.

 

[Catholic1954]

Would a woman who was divorced 25 years ago with a son, and has lived with her current boyfriend for 11 years, likely be able to get an annulment?

What are typically the requirements and timeframe of an annulment?

Annulments are granted on a case by case basis, there is no time limit. You need to make an appointment with a wise and holy priest who can advise you and get the annulment paperwork started, if needed.

 

[7_Sorrows]

Uh, I thought the idea was, that if whoever vets the case say it WAS a valid marriage, then they would prohibit, or at least discourage, the person from going through the annulment process. Because the Church cannot “make” a valid marriage invalid through the nullity process, it can only examine the conditions at the time of marriage, to “find out” if it was valid or not.

Unless, of course, you yourself think that essentially all Catholics who apply for annulment are guaranteed to get one.

I did not have a church wedding - married by justice of the peace and married someone outside of mainstream Christianity. neither of us were practicing any religion at the time, but I was baptized and confirmdd in another church. the church still recognizes my marriage as valid so I need an annulment.

No one is guaranteed an annulment.

 

[Anglewannabe]

ummm…living with a current boyfriend does NOT increase your chances of getting an annulment.

If you are serious about the faith, I think the first step is to quit living with your boyfriend

 

[7_Sorrows]

I don’t have one. in the process of doing the paperwork to be turned over to tribunal.

 

[Phemie]

Uh, I thought the idea was, that if whoever vets the case sayl it WAS a valid marriage, then they would prohibit, or at least discourage, the person from going through the annulment process. Because the Church cannot “make” a valid marriage invalid through the nullity process, it can only examine the conditions at the time of marriage, to “find out” if it was valid or not.

Unless, of course, you yourself think that essentially all Catholics who apply for annulment are guaranteed to get one.

I think was 7Sorrows meant was if your marriage is presumed valid then you have to petition for a decree of nullity. If, however, your marriage is not presumed valid (say you were a Catholic who married outside the Church without a dispensation), then there would only be a small amount of clerical work and you would be deemed “free to marry.”

 

[7_Sorrows]

I think was 7Sorrows meant was if your marriage is presumed valid then you have to petition for a decree of nullity. If, however, your marriage is not presumed valid (say you were a Catholic who married outside the Church without a dispensation), then there would only be a small amount of clerical work and you would be deemed “free to marry.”

yes. that is what I meant.

 

[RC1947]

A valid marriage cannot be annulled. A declaration of nullity states that there was no marriage whatsoever.

 

[1ke]

A valid marriage cannot be annulled. A declaration of nullity states that there was no marriage whatsoever.

The word people are looking for is putative marriage.

 

[justineAnne]

Thank you for your answers.

This is not for me, but for a loved one we fear may be being taken advantage of.

The situation is complicated and I don’t really know how to put it in words… if I did then I would be asking a better question haha, but I have a followup question and appreciate all answers (and I understand based on the answers already that this would vary case by case)

How long would an annulment process typically take? And, if granted an annulment, would that have any bearing on the pre-cana time frames if she wanted to get remarried? If someone has not yet been granted the annulment but are certain that they will be, can they start the pre-cana process early?

Thank you, everyone

 

[Phemie]

Thank you for your answers.

This is not for me, but for a loved one we fear may be being taken advantage of.

The situation is complicated and I don’t really know how to put it in words… if I did then I would be asking a better question haha, but I have a followup question and appreciate all answers (and I understand based on the answers already that this would vary case by case)

How long would an annulment process typically take? And, if granted an annulment, would that have any bearing on the pre-cana time frames if she wanted to get remarried? If someone has not yet been granted the annulment but are certain that they will be, can they start the pre-cana process early?

Thank you, everyone

How long it takes is affected by so many variables that it’s difficult to give you a timeline. It depends on how busy a particular Tribunal is, how long it takes to argue it, how long it takes at the court of second instance, etc.

Generally, the diocesan or regional Tribunal argues a case, a decision is reached, the couple is notified, the case goes to the Court of Second Instance (in Canada that’s the national tribunal that reviews every case in the country), the case is reviewed and argued, a decision is reached, the couple is notified. If the decree is granted, then the two are now free to marry. If this was done in preparation for another wedding, then the petitioner can now begin “marriage preparation”. The rule is that the priest is not supposed to do anything until the decree is granted.

You can see why in my friend’s case. He petitioned for an annulment, the priest was sure it would come through so they set a date and he prepared them. He was notified that the court of first instance had granted the decree but the second instance decision didn’t come in in time for them to be married in the Church so they married civilly and then married validly some 2 years later in a 10 minute ceremony after Sunday Mass.

 

[1ke]

How long would an annulment process typically take?

Again, we cannot answer this. The amount of time it takes depends on the diocese (and how many cases they have pending ahead of hers), the type of case it is, how quickly all the facts can be gathered and paperwork turned in, etc.

There are many factors. We cannot tell you a timeframe.

And, if granted an annulment, would that have any bearing on the pre-cana time frames if she wanted to get remarried?

It could.

If someone has not yet been granted the annulment but are certain that they will be, can they start the pre-cana process early?

In most cases, no. Premarital investigation and preparation can only go so far before a decree of nullity is in hand.

Thank you, everyone

Your friend just needs to go talk to her pastor and stop speculating. It won’t do her any good.

 

[kdbueno]

Talk to your canon lawyer, he can help you in a sense of divine and true achievement.