Question on Lack of Form

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robertjohnson

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I recently re-connected with my Sister in Law Phyllis after many years. Since we hit it off quite well we wanted to find out if she is free to marry in the Church. Here are the basics.
  1. She was baptized and confirmed Catholic as a young girl. She married my brother in her 20s but they were married by a justice of the peace without any approval by the Catholic Church (CC). Not sure if he was baptized and probably impossible to determine that.
  2. They had two children together, but were divorced shortly afterwards.
  3. She married another man who was a Jehovah’s Witness and she converted to that sect, again without any approval by the CC.
  4. They had two children but were later divorced.
  5. She married another man who died, and my brother subsequently died as well.
Would her marriage to the surviving ex-husband be considered invalid due to lack of form?

Thanks,
Robert
 
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robertjohnson said:
Would her marriage to the surviving ex-husband be considered invalid due to lack of form?
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Based on the information you gave, there would be no valid marriage in this scenario. She would have to provide paperwork including her sacramental records and on her various attempts at marriage. There is a process for declaring her free to marry-- that varies from place to place, but in the US it involves sending the paperwork to the tribunal to review it.
 
The facts you give mean your sister-in-law is not validly married to any man.

However, these facts need to be proven. Speak to the parish priest (pastor) and he will advise on the process required.
 
Thank you very much, Thomas!

God bless,

Robert
 
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