Divorce prior to conversion

  • Thread starter Thread starter JamesV
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
JulianN said:
In your case, though, it’s your ex-wife’s first marriage that is presumed valid. When you had your wedding to her, the Church would presume you were not free to marry, because she was married to someone else.
Click to expand...
In a ligamen case, the petitioner has to establish that there is a prior bond impediment through documentation and witnesses. There isn’t a presumption of validity, exactly, it has to be established and proven. And, if either party in the first marriage were baptized Catholics, then form of marriage and whether any decree of nullity were issued also becomes part of the equation.
 
JamesV said:
Should be an interesting endeavor to dig up documentation
Click to expand...
If it is not possible to document a Ligamen case, then it would proceed to a full tribunal nullity case. But in many cases it is possible to document the Ligamen case using public records and witness affidavits. Sacramental records would be needed also if either party were Catholic.

Again, it is unique to the people involved and best to talk to the pastor and take it one step at a time.
 
Actually, finding edivence of her first marriage was ridiculously simple…by luck I remembered what parish (Louisiana, not implying any catholic connection) we married in and sure enough, her marriage to husband #1 and #3 show up as well.
 
Yes – I was assuming that there was proof of the first marriage. You’re right, of course, that needs to be in place, as well as all the elements of form.
 
Of course…a friend of mine who converted to Catholicism some time ago said it was a marathon, not a sprint. Which is fine by me. The more important the decision, the more careful one should be in making it.
 
Are they both baptized? What was the condition of their marriage? Was it coerced? Are there any children from that union? It’s not a simple question to answer.
 
No idea what their baptismal state is…
What do you mean condition of their marriage?
Coerced? Doubtful.
They did have 2 children.
 
Hi James…is your wife going to convert as well…if not do you think she would be willing to submit to an annulment process…it can be quite a lengthy process and very personal.which she may not be comfortable with…it can take upwards of 18 months if annulment is the option you need…of course as some other posters have said there may be other factors to take into consideration…I’m only asking if it turns out the annulment process is what is required
 
I think there may have been some miscommunication…for the sake of clarification:
    1. I married a woman who was previously divorced with 2 children. It was her 2nd marriage and my first.
    1. We later divorced with no children of our own.
    1. Now (several years after my divorce), conversion is an option for myself.
I’m just trying to determine if the church will view my marriage as valid or invalid.
 
Last edited:
1ke said:
Again, it is unique to the people involved and best to talk to the pastor and take it one step at a time.
Click to expand...
This is your answer. The priest would be in the best position to parse things out and get the ball rolling for you.
 
ok…my apologies…yes…as others have said …you need to talk to a priest
 
That’s the conclusion I reached. I have no reason to be anything but optimistic, and I’m just waiting for a local priest to get back to me.
 
Coerced actually would be grounds for an annulment, because it wasn’t a conscious decision.
 
I have no reason to believe that her first marriage happened due to coercion of any kind.

Either way, I’ll take it up with a local priest at the earliest opportunity.
 
Good luck…I pray that one day you’ll be welcomed home to the church founded by Jesus Christ…the Catholic Church…you’ll never regret that decision
 
You are getting many responses here, some good, some confusing. Speaking to the priest is the best answer. I will tell you your marriage situation should be easily remedied with some documentation. You would only need to prove she had a previous marriage that was not annulled prior to your marriage, nothing more.

I had the same situation. I had to provide my ex husbands previous marriage certificate and his divorce decree. Within a few weeks I was granted a decree of freedom.
 
I think in my case, since I can’t find her divorce decree from her first marriage, I can show that her first and second marriage (the one to me) happened in the same parish (County), so that would hopefully suffice. Either way, not gonna be too concerned about it.
 
ASK YOUR PRIEST, for 10

welcome home 🙂
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top