Seeking Healing and Wholeness: The Annulment Process
At St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, we know that the journey after divorce can be painful and complex. If you are seeking clarity, healing, or a new beginning, we want you to know that you are not alone.
As a parish that forms missionary disciples to transform the world by creating welcoming communities and providing life-changing encounters with Jesus Christ, we walk with each person in love and compassion—especially during difficult chapters of life. The annulment process is one way the Church accompanies those seeking peace and renewal following the end of a marriage.
As our bishops have expressed:
“We [bishops] understand the pain of those for whom divorce seemed the only recourse...We urge them to make frequent use of the sacraments, especially the Sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation…We encourage divorced persons who wish to marry in the Catholic Church to seek counsel about the options that exist to remedy their situation, including the suitability of a declaration of nullity when there is no longer any hope of reconciliation of the spouses.”
— USCCB, Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan, 2009
What is a Declaration of Nullity?
Often referred to as an “annulment,” a Declaration of Nullity is a statement by a Church tribunal (a Catholic Church court) that a marriage, believed to be valid according to Church law, lacked one or more of the essential elements required for a binding union.
This process is frequently misunderstood. To better understand how the Church approaches divorce and annulments, we encourage you to visit the USCCB and For Your Marriage websites, which offer helpful resources and clear explanations.
Getting Started
To begin, please visit the Documents section where you’ll find the forms and documentation needed for your initial appointment.
If you have questions or would like to set up an appointment, please email [email protected] and a Case Sponsor will contact you. You may also fill out the contact form below.