Though the annulment process is primarily a legal process in the Church, a person goes through it for his or her own spiritual and emotional well-being. The church lawyers can take care of the church legalities. However as you move through the annulment process take advantage of some resources that are available for your spiritual and emotional well-being.
Here are a couple of options:
Spiritual Healing… This is a great book on spiritual healing after a divorce and as you contemplate an annulment: "Catholic Annulment - Spiritual Healing," by Dennis and Kay Flowers. Check it out on Amazon.com
Emotional Healing… This is THE best selling book on Catholic annulments that not only gives you an understanding of how the process works, but also talks about how you can use the process to your advantage to emotionally heal from the pains of divorce: "Annulment – The Wedding That Was," by Michael Foster. Check it out on Amazon.com
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
What is happening to my case?
The tribunal investigation can take anywhere from 9 to 15 months on average. This is due to time frames built into the investigation, as well as your tribunal's caseload and the number of staff working at the tribunal. You may experience weeks or months of not hearing anything from the tribunal.
These delays can cause some people anxiety and concern. Some people wonder, what is going on with my case; is something wrong; is there something I should be doing? To alleviate any of your concerns while your case is underway at the tribunal don’t hesitate to check on its status.
If you have not heard from the tribunal within a four-week timeframe, I suggest checking on the status of your case. Following up once a month will help ease any anxiety or concerns you may have wondering what’s going on with your case.
Some tribunals will tell you up front whether they prefer telephone inquiries or written inquiries. If you telephone the tribunal, always have your case name and protocol number handy because the operator will ask for that information to check on your case file. Many tribunals are automated so that information pulls your case file up on the computer right away. If you write to the tribunal, include your case name and protocol number in every letter. This will prevent your letter from being misplaced.
But remember, do not hesitate or think that you are going to hurt your case by checking on its status. You should have a sense of what is going on with your case every month or so. The tribunal personnel are there to assist you, they do not want you to be anxious.
These delays can cause some people anxiety and concern. Some people wonder, what is going on with my case; is something wrong; is there something I should be doing? To alleviate any of your concerns while your case is underway at the tribunal don’t hesitate to check on its status.
If you have not heard from the tribunal within a four-week timeframe, I suggest checking on the status of your case. Following up once a month will help ease any anxiety or concerns you may have wondering what’s going on with your case.
Some tribunals will tell you up front whether they prefer telephone inquiries or written inquiries. If you telephone the tribunal, always have your case name and protocol number handy because the operator will ask for that information to check on your case file. Many tribunals are automated so that information pulls your case file up on the computer right away. If you write to the tribunal, include your case name and protocol number in every letter. This will prevent your letter from being misplaced.
But remember, do not hesitate or think that you are going to hurt your case by checking on its status. You should have a sense of what is going on with your case every month or so. The tribunal personnel are there to assist you, they do not want you to be anxious.
Friday, October 8, 2010
How Do I Find my Ex-spouse?
When applying for an annulment you will need to let the tribunal know where your former spouse presently lives.
If you do not know that information, here is a great resource. Please go to the website www.consentmakesmarriage.com .
On the left hand side of the homepage it states "How to Find My Ex-spouse" - and it lists almost all of the means available.
Letting your tribunal know that you have attempted to find your ex-spouse through these means will show that you have exhausted the potential sources and done everything possible to find your former spouse. It also shows good faith on your part.
Your search will help the tribunal decide that your former spouse is indeed unlocatable. In most instances once that decision is made your annulment application will move forward.
If you do not know that information, here is a great resource. Please go to the website www.consentmakesmarriage.com .
On the left hand side of the homepage it states "How to Find My Ex-spouse" - and it lists almost all of the means available.
Letting your tribunal know that you have attempted to find your ex-spouse through these means will show that you have exhausted the potential sources and done everything possible to find your former spouse. It also shows good faith on your part.
Your search will help the tribunal decide that your former spouse is indeed unlocatable. In most instances once that decision is made your annulment application will move forward.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Where do I apply for church annulment?
You really have 4 options. Almost every diocese in the United States has a tribunal – which is a church court – that accepts annulment applications.
You can apply to the tribunal in the diocese:
1. Where you were married
2. Where your ex-spouse now lives
3. Where you now live [for this option your ex-spouse must live in the United States]
4. The diocese where the “majority” of the case testimonies will be coming from – yours, your ex-spouse' and 3 to 5 witnesses [for this option your ex-spouse must live in the United States]
Most people choose to apply to either option 1, 2 or 3.
I suggest going online to look at the tribunal's application papers to decide which option is best for you. If the tribunal does not have its annulment application online, you can call the marriage tribunal and ask them to send you the paperwork.
Once you see what the individual tribunals are asking for up front YOU are in a better position to make a choice.
You can apply to the tribunal in the diocese:
1. Where you were married
2. Where your ex-spouse now lives
3. Where you now live [for this option your ex-spouse must live in the United States]
4. The diocese where the “majority” of the case testimonies will be coming from – yours, your ex-spouse' and 3 to 5 witnesses [for this option your ex-spouse must live in the United States]
Most people choose to apply to either option 1, 2 or 3.
I suggest going online to look at the tribunal's application papers to decide which option is best for you. If the tribunal does not have its annulment application online, you can call the marriage tribunal and ask them to send you the paperwork.
Once you see what the individual tribunals are asking for up front YOU are in a better position to make a choice.
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