Annulment with Missing Information

[T700]

I have become fully convinced of the teachings of the Catholic church and want very much to convert. The only thing holding me back is that I am remarried (my present wife is a Catholic).

I am pursuing an annulment, but I have had no contact with my former spouse for more than 15 years. I don’t know where she is, how to contact her, or if she is even alive. We had no children. Other than my brother, I can produce no witnesses that knew us both. The priest advising me is of the opinion that the petition will be denied due to this lack of information. What suggestions could you offer me? Your prayers would also be very much appreciated.

Paul

 

[Ailina]

Did your ex not want children? That is grounds for annulment because it meant neither of you were open to life in the marital sense.

 

[T700]

She was strongly opposed to children. That is one of the primary reasons upon which I am basing the petition. My concern is that it will basically be only my word. I have virtually no witnesses and do not know where she is.

 

[hosemonkey]

I have become fully convinced of the teachings of the Catholic church and want very much to convert. The only thing holding me back is that I am remarried (my present wife is a Catholic).

I am pursuing an annulment, but I have had no contact with my former spouse for more than 15 years. I don’t know where she is, how to contact her, or if she is even alive. We had no children. Other than my brother, I can produce no witnesses that knew us both. The priest advising me is of the opinion that the petition will be denied due to this lack of information. What suggestions could you offer me? Your prayers would also be very much appreciated.

As a part of the annulment process, you will be asked to provide a narrative history of your marriage. Be as thorough and and as honest as you can in answering the questions and topics in the questionaire. As to the lack of contact with your former spouse, very often the former spouse will be hostile or uncooperative with the tribunal’s investigation. Her simply not responding to the investigation will not impede the progress of the inquiry. The facts in your narrative and the interview with your brother and any other witnesses are what will be considered by the tribunal. There are several very good books on this subject available, check them out before you do your narrative. There are several available on Amazon very cheaply. There are many factors to consider in discerning wether or not a marriage is sacramental or not and the tribunal will look at all those things. I’ve been there and I know how it works. PM me if you need more info.
Zwack, Joseph P.
Your chance to remarry within the Catholic Church
Harper & Row
ISBN 0-06-250990-X

 

[T700]

As a part of the annulment process, you will be asked to provide a narrative history of your marriage. Be as thorough and and as honest as you can in answering the questions and topics in the questionaire. As to the lack of contact with your former spouse, very often the former spouse will be hostile or uncooperative with the tribunal’s investigation. Her simply not responding to the investigation will not impede the progress of the inquiry. The facts in your narrative and the interview with your brother and any other witnesses are what will be considered by the tribunal. There are several very good books on this subject available, check them out before you do your narrative. There are several available on Amazon very cheaply. There are many factors to consider in discerning wether or not a marriage is sacramental or not and the tribunal will look at all those things. I’ve been there and I know how it works. PM me if you need more info.
Zwack, Joseph P.
Your chance to remarry within the Catholic Church
Harper & Row
ISBN 0-06-250990-X

Thank you very much for the advice. I will PM you if I run into problems. Updates to follow as the process progresses.

 

[Liberanosamalo]

Do you not have her Social Security number? With that information and the date of her birth, you could have a professional run a records check to find out if she is still alive. If she isn’t, you simply apply for a death certificate and you don’t need an annulment.

That would be my starting point, to find out if the point is moot.

 

[hosemonkey]

Do you not have her Social Security number? With that information and the date of her birth, you could have a professional run a records check to find out if she is still alive. If she isn’t, you simply apply for a death certificate and you don’t need an annulment.

That would be my starting point, to find out if the point is moot.

Good advice. You can find out for free if you have her DOB and SSN. The Social Security Administration has a
Death Registry that you can access. You can also run a records check at a website called Ancestors.com, which is a fee search but offers a two-week free trial. If you cancel before two weeks are up, it costs nothing. Give that a try. If she is deceased, you don’t need the annulment.

 

[T700]

Do you not have her Social Security number? With that information and the date of her birth, you could have a professional run a records check to find out if she is still alive. If she isn’t, you simply apply for a death certificate and you don’t need an annulment.

That would be my starting point, to find out if the point is moot.

Try not to think too badly of me, but I have not really thought of her for more than 15 years. I think I can remember her birth month and year, but not the day. I have no idea her SSN. I’ve searched the net and scoured old paperwork, but I can’t find anything to point to her whereabouts.

 

[hosemonkey]

Try not to think too badly of me, but I have not really thought of her for more than 15 years. I think I can remember her birth month and year, but not the day. I have no idea her SSN. I’ve searched the net and scoured old paperwork, but I can’t find anything to point to her whereabouts.

Her SSN will be on old tax records if you can access them. On Ancestry.com, if you have her full name and birth month and year, this will get you well into the ballpark.

 

[Liberanosamalo]

usa-people-search.com/

Have you tried a search engine like this? As you look through them, you might find family members she’s with that would put you on the right track.

Her SSN should be on your marriage certificate or your divorce decree.

 

[mrsfrazier]

Try not to think too badly of me, but I have not really thought of her for more than 15 years. I think I can remember her birth month and year, but not the day. I have no idea her SSN. I’ve searched the net and scoured old paperwork, but I can’t find anything to point to her whereabouts.

Doesn’t your old marriage license have her ss# and dob on it? If you don’t have a copy, you could order one from the place you got married.