Getting a divorce is one of the most difficult things that you could go through in life. Emotions are high, feelings may be hurt, and divorce can be all consuming. After all, the union of a man and a woman is breaking apart — something that you thought would last forever. When anything breaks, the result is often tragic.
Catholic Annulment - Another Chance offers help to those filing for Catholic annulment. While a civil divorce is making your separation legal in the government's eyes, a Catholic annulment is making your separation legal in the church's eyes. Annulments are based on the fact that when you got married, some vital element was missing, such as the intent to stay together for life or that consent was not freely given. This process can be confusing and time-consuming. Our team of former judges have decades of experience in the Catholic annulment process, and we're here to offer you advice and help to make your Catholic annulment as smooth as possible. Many people are confused about Catholic annulments. Below, we'll offer five common myths of Catholic annulments we see all the time. Catholic Annulment - Another Chance offers free 30-minute consultations. Call and begin healing today!
5 COMMON MYTHS OF A CATHOLIC ANNULMENT
Myth #1: A Catholic Annulment Erases Your Divorce
Many people believe that a Catholic marriage annulment means that their marriage never existed. This is just not the case. You can think of a Catholic annulment like a voided transaction. It took place; but then it was voided out, erasing the mistake. A Catholic annulment, otherwise known as a Declaration of Nullity, is the process of saying that your marriage was never legal in the first place because a certain element was not present. Instead, your marriage was what is known as a putative marriage, which means that the marriage was entered into by good faith on both parties, but there was technical impediment, such as one person's marriage to someone else not being finalized, that thus nullifies this one. In the end, a Catholic annulment is just saying your marriage was not legal in the first place.
Myth #2: A Catholic Annulment is a Divorce for Catholics
Many people get divorce and annulment confused. Thus, if you hear someone say that an annulment is just a divorce for Catholics, they are completely wrong. A divorce is the civil proceedings for separating permanently from your spouse. A divorce also never says the marriage was never invalid. A divorce ends the marriage from the day it is finalized onward; whereas, a Catholic annulment examines the beginning of the divorce for legality. Depending on where you live, a Catholic annulment may be all you need for civil matters as well. Our judges at Catholic Annulment - Another Chance can help you decipher your state's laws and advise you accordingly. Call us for a free consultation today!
Myth #3: A Catholic Annulment Makes Your Children Illegitimate
Because people think a Catholic annulment means the marriage never took place, they believe that this makes their children illegitimate. This is just not the case. A Catholic annulment takes place between the two parties involved and has no repercussions on the children. If you receive a Catholic annulment, your responsibility as a parent does not dissipate. Because you entered into the marriage in good faith, your children are part of that agreement. That being said, since a Catholic marriage annulment has nothing to do with the children, a civil case must be used to determine the children, such as child support, child custody, and more.
It's good to keep in mind that a Catholic annulment preserves the sanctity of marriage. God deems that a marriage is between one woman and one man, and once you testify to each other, declaring who you will be with and you consummate the marriage, you are joined together for life. A Catholic annulment preserves your purity if you were never truly married in the first place. Your children are wonderful byproducts of your good faith. You will not be excommunicated or ostracized from the church in any way. When you are in the midst of a Catholic annulment, you may have a hard time seeing the big picture. Catholic Annulment - Another Chance is here to help you keep a healthy perspective. Call today for a free 30 minute consultation!
Myth # 4: A Catholic Annulment Takes Years
In the past, a Catholic annulment frequently took years. This was because many people simply didn't have the resources available to them to speed up the process. They had their documentation wrong, and without the internet, papers could become lost and misplaced, and a myriad of other things that could happen after you filed for a Catholic annulment. Today, with the help of the Internet and judges like ours, you can speed up your Catholic annulment drastically. That being said, the process could still take a year or more. We here at Catholic Annulment - Another Chance understand that you want to heal and having your Catholic annulment processed in a timely manner can help you move on with your life. Our Catholic annulment services help you to have your petition correct the first time you file, as well as have your diocese correct. We help prevent errors that lead to delays in your Catholic annulment. Call us for a free 30 minute consultation to learn more.
Myth #5: Both Spouses Have to Agree to a Catholic Annulment
A Catholic annulment remember looks to the facts of your marriage and speaks to if all of the elements were present in order for it to have been valid. This means that if at least one of those elements was not present, the marriage is declared invaild. Thus, it only takes one person to file the Catholic annulment for this to be realized. Once a reason is found to make the marriage invalid, the marriage is annulled, whether both parties agree or not. This can be disconcerting to the other party, which is why having a quick Catholic marriage annulment process is important. Call our judges for your free consultation, and find out how we can help.
CHOOSE CATHOLIC ANNULMENT - ANOTHER CHANCE TODAY
Catholic Annulment - Another Chance offers compassionate help for those thinking about a Catholic annulment, those going through a Catholic annulment, or those needing help filing for a Catholic annulment. We understand that the Catholic annulment process can be confusing and even more so with emotions running high. Our experienced current and former church judges are here to offer up expert advice and help with your petition. There are several steps in the Catholic annulment process, including your initial petition for the annulment (known as the declaration of nullity). This is a written testimony about your marriage. You also have to find witnesses willing to attest to the state of your marriage. Your information goes before the Tribunal, who then decide the next steps, which include:
A standard judicial process
Involving the Bishop
A documentary process
Roman court process
We here at Catholic Annulment - Another Chance understand that the entire Catholic marriage annulment process can be daunting. We are here for you every step of the way through the Catholic annulment process. Let us help. Call for a free 30 minute consultation today!
