Religious Annulment Basics, Reasons, and Legal Help

A religious annulment is not legally binding and has no legal authority. Religious annulments or religious dissolution of the marriage apply only to the sacred aspect of marriage. The Roman Catholic Church holds the exchange of consent between the spouses to be the element that makes the marriage. If a church tribunal finds consent was lacking, they can issue a Decree of Nullity.

Grounds for Annulment

The grounds for annulment of a marriage may include the following reasons:

One party had another living husband or wife at the time of marriage
One party being under the age of consent at the time of marriage
Being forced or threatened into marriage
Mental incapacitation, temporary or permanent insanity, intoxication at time of marriage
Fraudulent marriage; i.e. marriage for purpose of gaining citizenship
Impotency and/or incest
Marriage was never consummated

Grounds for annulment also include unions between two people who are re too close in relation such as whole or half siblings, first cousins, parents, grandchildren and the like. You can file for an annulment after divorce if an ex-spouse wants to marry again the Catholic Church. Because an annulment means the marriage never existed, there can be no claims for alimony, religious alimony or spousal support.

Religious Annulment Legal Help

The laws regarding civil annulments vary in each state. Anyone considering an annulment of marriage should seek competent legal counsel before taking any action. You should contact an attorney who specializes in divorce law.

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