How long does a Catholic annulment take?
Asked by: Dr. Stan Stehr DVM | Last update: January 17, 2026Score: 4.4/5 (37 votes)
Getting a Catholic Annulment The process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, on average.
What percentage of Catholic annulments are granted?
The short answer is perhaps between 80–90%. The long answer is more complicated. According to Pew Research, 26% of all divorced Catholics in the US have sought an annulment.
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.
Are Catholic annulments hard to get?
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 Catholics date while waiting on an annulment?
But truth be told, you shouldn't be dating, in a serious relationship, or engaged unless you have a decree of nullity in hand.
Pope Francis Simplifies Catholic Annulment Rules
What is the timeline for Catholic annulment?
How Long Does an Annulment Take? Since every case is different, it's difficult to put a timeline on the annulment process. That said, the most extensive cases can take anywhere from nine to 18 months, while some of the shorter ones take a matter of weeks.
How often are Catholic annulments 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.
What is the cost of a Catholic annulment?
It varies. The fees for the annulment investigation are typically set by the diocese. In many places, there is no fee. In others, the fee is a few hundred dollars and only helps defray the actual cost of an individual's case.
Can a Catholic remarry without an annulment?
The Catholic Church teaches that marriages are unbreakable unions, and thus remarrying after a divorce (without an annulment) is a sin.
What is the most common reason for Catholic annulment?
Some common grounds for annulment requests include that a petitioner never intended to be permanently married or faithful, and that mental illness or substance abuse prevented them from consenting to a lifelong marriage.
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 is the disadvantage of annulment?
Disadvantages of an Annulment
Issues or fault are highly probative in an annulment proceeding. Unlike divorce, where fault is not an issue, in an annulment proceeding fault can have a huge impact on how property is split, whether support is issued and how attorney fees are paid. There is no per se community property.
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.
Why would an annulment be denied?
At the time of the marriage, either party was already legally married. At the time of the marriage, either party was ruled incapacitated, incapable of making the decision to marry. At the time of the marriage, either spouse was a minor and did not have parental or court permission to marry.
Who approves a Catholic annulment?
Who Can Grant an Annulment? The Church tribunal, which is a group made up of Church-appointed judges, will go through all of the testimony provided. They may call upon individuals to provide further information in order to make their decision.
On what grounds can you get an annulment in the Catholic Church?
- Lack of capacity in one or both of the parties –– including mental health conditions or a history of substance abuse.
- Lack of consent from one of the parties.
- Lack of formal Catholic proceedings.
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.
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.
What documents do I need for a Catholic annulment?
- Copies of baptismal certificates for all Catholic parties involved.
- A copy of the civil marriage license.
- A copy of the church marriage certificate.
- A copy of the divorce decree that is either certified or signed by the judge.
- Make Sure You Can Afford It.
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.
How many witnesses do you need for a Catholic annulment?
You are asked to contact two or more people who are willing to help with your case. A valuable witness is someone who knew you and your ex-spouse before and after the wedding day.
What are the most common reasons for Catholic annulment?
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.
Can I get an annulment without my spouse knowing?
If a judge finds good reason to annul a marriage – and the judge has the support of one spouse or their representatives – then the judge will not need the consent of the other person to issue an annulment.
Are annulments hard to get?
Proving these grounds in court is not always easy. It requires substantial evidence, and the burden of proof lies on the party seeking the annulment. For this reason, civil annulments are quite rare and hard to get. It is often much “easier” to get a divorce.