Complicated Marriage And Nullification

[Captainjason]

My ex-wife and I are contemplating getting back together. We have a child and are trying to unite our family. She has recently converted to Catholicism. She was married before me and has asked the church to nullify that marriage. Even though we are civilly divorced, does this mean that if her marriage before me is nullified that her and I are still married in the eyes of God? What if she got married after we got a divorce and has also divorced that person? Is our original marriage considered valid since it would be the one directly after the previous one that was nullified? Sounds like a Jerry Springer show I know.

 

[TheLittleLady]

There is a lot to unpack, and this will be best done with an Advocate from the tribunal.

First question, are you a baptized Catholic?

 

[Captainjason]

I am not. I am currently Methodist.

 

[TheLittleLady]

At a very basic level, knowing that there could be other issues here, she married Mr X first.

Assuming he was free to marry (had no prior bonds, was not baptized Catholic, etc.) and she was free to marry, the Church will presume that marriage valid until an investigation is done (this is what is colloquially called “asking the Church to nullify”). Should the exchange of consent at that wedding be found to have been invalid, they will issue a decree of Nullity.

Then, after this first marriage, you and she married, had a child then divorced.

The next question, when you say she recently converted to Catholicism, was she formally received into the Church or is this a process she has begun, a conversion of heart so to speak? Did she marry you before or after the conversion?

 

[Captainjason]

She was formally accepted into the Catholic Church after we were married and divorced.

 

[TheLittleLady]

That adds some clarity.

The Tribunal will investigate her first marriage.

If that marriage is found to be null, then your Pastor/Advocate will look at your options. That is not until after the matter of the first marriage is clarified.

Then, after that, you may ask about Radical Sanitation, or, if they find you were both free to marry at your original wedding, then it may simply be a matter of getting legally married again.

The Tribunal will have the answers.

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