Does the Catholic Church charge for an annulment?

Asked by: Dr. Veronica Runolfsdottir  |  Last update: September 14, 2025
Score: 5/5 (23 votes)

One does not pay for an annulment. These non-refundable fees are only to assist in covering the procedural cost which is incurred regardless of the outcome of the case.

How much does it cost to get an annulment in Catholic Church?

The Cost of an Annulment in the Catholic Church

Though annulments can cost upwards of $1,000, Pope Francis asked dioceses to subsidize tribunal services, so they're free of charge for those seeking an annulment. Based on the amount that the diocese is able to subsidize, petitioners might have to pay a fee.

Is it hard to get an annulment in the Catholic Church?

The reality is more complex. An annulment is not easy by any means, and the church will examine your circumstances with an eye towards reconciliation and repair.

Can a divorced Catholic remarry without an annulment?

The Catholic Church does not recognize divorce and in most cases you can not remarry in the Church if you get a divorce. You need to seek an annulment from the Bishop first.

What are the two most common grounds for annulment?

An annulment is a court ruling that a marriage was never valid. The most common ground for annulment is fraud and misrepresentation. For example, one person may not have disclosed to the other a prior divorce, a criminal record, an infectious disease, or an inability to engage in sex or have children.

Pope Francis Simplifies Catholic Annulment Rules

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How long after marriage can you annul?

For example, in California, annulment requests should generally be filed within four years for fraud. However, states like Texas may require annulment petitions within a shorter time frame for specific grounds.

What invalidates a Catholic marriage?

the person intends the marriage to be something contrary to God's law about marriage; or. the person is psychologically incapable of fulfilling the obligations of marriage.

Is cheating grounds for Catholic annulment?

Wondering whether you can get a Catholic annulment after you've discovered your spouse has committed adultery is a common reaction. However, in most cases, adultery does not serve as grounds for a Catholic annulment in a marriage. A Catholic annulment completely nullifies your marriage, almost as if it never existed.

Can a divorced Catholic receive communion without an annulment?

Divorced people are full members of the Church and are encouraged to participate in its activities. May a divorced Catholic receive Holy Communion? Yes. Divorced Catholics in good standing with the Church, who have not remarried or who have remarried following an annulment, may receive the sacraments.

What percentage of annulments are denied?

Now, according to Vatican figures, about 50,000 annulments are granted annually by U.S. tribunals _ more than two-thirds of all annulments worldwide _ and less than 10 percent of annulment applications are denied.

How long does the average Catholic annulment take?

The time an annulment takes may be affected by things like an incompleted form, multiple marriages & whether the original service was a civil ceremony, in which case it could take just a few months.. But as a general rule, upto 2 years.

What are examples of grounds for Catholic annulment?

If, at the time of the marriage ceremony, one or both parties lack the capacity, either due to mental illness, intoxication, age, or coercion, an annulment can be processed.

What is the pauline exception?

Defining Pauline Privilege. 1 Corinthians 7:12-14a, 15-16. If a Christian has an unbaptized wife, and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her; and a woman who has an unbaptized husband willing to live with her must not divorce her husband.

Why would someone want a Catholic annulment?

Marriage is considered a sacrament in the Catholic Church, and Catholics who seek an annulment usually do so in order to remarry in the church.

How many Catholic marriages end in annulment?

Among Catholics who have gone through a divorce, about a quarter (26%) say they or their former spouse sought to have their marriage annulled by the church.

Do both parties have to agree to an annulment?

You don't need the agreement of both parties for an annulment to happen, but you do need persuasive evidence to prove to the courts why your marriage should be declared null and void.

What are the requirements for a Catholic annulment?

  • Step 1: Request for a Declaration of Nullity. The first step in a Catholic annulment is for one, or both, of the spouses to request a Declaration of Nullity. ...
  • Step 2: Written Testimony & Witnesses. ...
  • Step 3: The Ex-Spouse Is Contacted. ...
  • Step 4: Each Party Appoints a Church Advocate & the Annulment Process Begins.

What is a mortal sin in the Catholic Church?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines a mortal sin as follows: "Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God's law; it turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to him." (

Can a divorced Catholic have a funeral mass?

For example, if you are divorced but not remarried, you may... attend Mass and receive Holy Communion unless otherwise impaired by mortal sin. celebrate the other sacraments (except Marriage or Holy Orders). have a Catholic funeral and be buried in a Catholic cemetery.

Can a Catholic remarry if she has gone through a divorce and an annulment?

But an annulment – a declaration from the church that a marriage was never valid – makes it possible for divorced Catholics to enter a new marriage and still be eligible to receive Communion.

What is the most common ground for annulment?

Here are the most common reasons why spouses seek a marriage annulment: Fraud/misrepresentation: When a spouse lied about important issues relating to the marriage, the other spouse could seek to annul the union.

What happens if an annulment is denied?

If your request for an annulment is denied by the court, you can file an amended petition that changes your request for annulment to a request for divorce or legal separation. After submitting this amended petition, you will follow the standard steps required to obtain a divorce or legal separation.

What are the two common grounds for annulment Catholic?

These reasons may include fraud, mental incapacity, failure to consummate the marriage, or the concealment of vital information from either party before the wedding took place. Other than this, an annulment may also be sought when one of the parties is not following the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Is divorce still a sin in the Catholic Church?

The Catholic Church does not prohibit civil divorce; however, a Catholic may not remarry after a civil divorce unless they have received an annulment (a finding that the marriage was not canonically valid) under a narrow set of circumstances.

What nullifies a Catholic marriage?

Both Spouses Had the Intention to Marry for Life

If one of the spouses did not intend the marriage to last, was unfaithful, or did not want to have children, this may be grounds for an annulment in the Church.