Annulment
An annulment is a declaration that despite all outward appearances, no marriage ever took place. The declaration does not break an existing sacramental bond; it is judgment that no such bond ever came into existence in the first place.
Roman Catholic Canon Law
Lack of Canonical Form
For a marriage of a Catholic to be a sacrament, the vows must be received by a minister of the Church in the presence of witnesses (canons 1108-1123).
Impediments
Defect of Consent
Grounds for annulment in secular law
Lack of capacity for marriage
- Existing marriage.
- Legal prohibition against one partner marrying.
- Under age of consent (varies from place to place).
- Lack of parental consent for a minor to marry.
- Force or fear.
- Mental incapacitation at the time of marriage
- Temporary or permanent insanity .
- Intoxication (drugs or alcohol) at the time of the marriage.
- Impotence (lack of consummation).
- Incest (whole or half siblings, first cousins, parents, grandchildren, uncles, aunts, and the like).
Some type of fraud
- Fraudulent statements or actions by the other party.
- Lack of intention to marry.
- Deception about identity.
- Using the marriage for some other purpose (e.g., gaining citizenship or inheritance rights, financial gain).
Annulments in Catholicism
- Handout on annulment.
- DivorcedCatholic.org: Providing answers and insights for divorced Catholics.