What do we do: Our team of clergy, tribunal advocates and lay people can guide you through the process of submitting a petition to the tribunal for a declaration of nullity.

• Divorce is unique among life experiences. Divorce is a process not an event. The ending of any marriage is a traumatic experience. The adjustment which follows can be either positive or negative; it is always difficult.

• A valid Catholic marriage results from five elements: (1) the spouses are free to marry; (2) they freely exchange their consent; (3) in consenting to marry, they have the intention to marry for life, to be faithful to one another and be open to children; (4) they intend the good of each other; and (5) their consent is given in the presence of two witnesses and before a properly authorized Church minister.

• The Church presumes that every marriage between a man and a woman who are free to marry, (Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Non-Believer, etc.) to be a valid marriage until the opposite is proven. Therefore, unless the ex-spouse has died, anyone who is divorced, Catholic or non-Catholic, needs to obtain a Catholic declaration of nullity or dissolution before re-marrying. The tribunal process seeks to determine if something essential was missing from the couple’s relationship from the moment of consent, that is, the time of the wedding. If so, then the Church can declare that a valid marriage was never actually brought about on the wedding day.

Who we can help:   The most common reason folks seek an annulment is because they seek  a sacramental marriage or they wish to make a civil marriage, a catholic marriage - a process known as Convalidation.  Some people have no plans to marry again, but would like to seek an annulment to clear their path for their own personal well being.

How to begin the process:  You can start the process, by filling out an online form.  We will ask you information about you and your ex-spouse, complete as much as the form as you can.  Submit it even if you don't have all the information we ask for and we will contact you within a week to schedule a conversation.

We always recommend that you work with an advocate or clergy to submit a case and have your questions answered, but for those who would like to learn more we provide the information below:

Resources: To obtain additional helpful information about the tribunal and the procedure to submit a petition for a declaration of nullity, click on links below to download documents containing explanations.

• An  Introduction to the Tribunal and the process .

• Canon Law allows for a number of valid reasons to declare a marriage null.  This document reviews the common grounds.

• The Tribunal classifies its cases into two categories: Formal and Informal. The timing varies for each of these types of cases.  This document discusses the types of cases and expectations.