WHAT IS THE SACRAMENT OF ? The Petitioner is responsible for submitting marriage from the start. This declaration does HOW DO I BEGIN? correct and complete addresses of witnesses. not deny that a real relationship may have The teachings of the Catholic Church describe existed, nor does it always imply that the union The Tribunal will send questionnaires to Parties who believe that their marriage is invalid marriage as a community of life and , an was entered into with ill will or moral fault. witnesses regardless of where they live. should contact their parish priest or another enduring and exclusive partnership between a Rather, an states that the union parish minister for the initial interview. You will man and a woman for the giving and receiving lacked at least one of the elements seen as The following may be witnesses: experts (e.g., be asked to submit a typed report drawn up of love and for the procreation and education of essential for a true, valid Christian marriage. An counselors, psychiatrists, etc.); and according to the outline printed in this brochure. children. Every marriage between two baptized annulment does not seek to establish guilt or relatives; neighbors; friends; employers and innocence, but rather validity or invalidity. In addition, the church witness will fill out an persons is a sacrament. In addition, the Church co-workers; party; and clergy. The application with you to introduce the case and recognizes the validity of the of non- names of expert witnesses should be submitted In the United States, a Church annulment has forward it to the proper Tribunal. baptized persons. The Church teaches that only if seen within the last seven years. The absolutely no civil effects. The granting of an certain elements must be present in order for a Tribunal will send the Petitioner a release form annulment will not affect anything that is marriage to be valid. Some of these elements before contacting any expert witness. determined by civil law such as alimony, child are: adequate maturity; a personal commitment WHAT DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED? custody, visitation rights, division of property, to marriage and to the other party; emotional The Petitioner is responsible for listing etc. Church law itself ensures the legitimacy of stability; a belief that marriage is a lifelong an witnesses on behalf of the Respondent also. children born of a marriage that has been The following documents must be submitted faithful union; an openness to children; and These should not be the same witnesses who declared invalid (canon 1137). with the annulment application form: sufficient evaluative judgment in entering are listed for the Petitioner. marriage. • While recognizing that occurs, it is most Your baptismal record (if baptized); Children born of the union of the Petitioner and

important to realize also that not every marriage Respondent may not be listed as witnesses • The other party’s baptismal record (if can be declared invalid. In fact, Catholic Church even if they are adults at the time the petition is available); WHAT IS A TRIBUNAL? law protects the marriage bond and favors it. presented to the Tribunal.

• The civil marriage license

The Church is aware of the stress and suffering application/record (long form); experienced by separated, divorced and WHO MAY APPLY? DOES THE RESPONDENT remarried people. The Church expresses its • The civil divorce/dissolution decree (final pastoral concern in different ways, especially PARTICIPATE? Every divorced Catholic has the right to apply for decree with legal seal; through the ministry of the Diocesan Tribunal. a declaration of matrimonial invalidity. Persons The Tribunal is comprised of trained personnel • The Church marriage record. The other party in a marriage case is known as who are not members of the Catholic Church whose responsibility is to determine whether the Respondent. Church law requires that often pursue an annulment in order to establish the divorced person, who may be civilly These documents, along with your case every possible effort be made to contact the their freedom to marry a Catholic. remarried or intending marriage, is bound by a history and application, must be given to the Respondent and give him/her the opportunity to valid, previous marriage bond. The law of the church witness at the parish. testify. The Petitioner should provide the last The individual applying for an annulment is Church requires that each diocese have a known address of the Respondent. If this called the PETITIONER and does so through the functioning Tribunal. proves to be impossible, the Tribunal will Church witness at the parish level. The other request that the Petitioner submit the name and party is called the RESPONDENT. In order to WHO MAY BE WITNESSES? address of a or close relative of the make an application, the Petitioner submits an Respondent. The Tribunal will write directly to WHAT IS AN ANNULMENT? application to the Tribunal that has the proper Church law requires that the testimony of the the Respondent with information about the jurisdiction for the case. This can be the Petitioner be corroborated by witnesses. proceeding, giving the Respondent an Tribunal of the diocese where the marriage took An annulment, or in Church language, a Witnesses in a marriage case are not character opportunity to testify. place, the Tribunal of the diocese where the declaration of matrimonial invalidity, is a witnesses. Rather, they are individuals who Respondent lives, the Tribunal of the diocese decision of the Tribunal concerning the knew the parties before the marriage and can The Respondent, along with the Petitioner, will where the Petitioner lives, or the Tribunal of the invalidity of a particular union. It means that in testify concerning the union from its beginning. be permitted to review testimony within a case. diocese where the majority of proofs can be the eyes of the Church, an essential element Six or more people are to be listed as witnesses. The Respondent has the right to object to the gathered. was missing from the union in question from The Tribunal will contact the witnesses directly annulment and may appeal the final decision of the very beginning, thus invalidating the by mail. the Tribunal.

HOW LONG IS THE PROCESS? PLEASE NOTE : The Tribunal is unable to promise that a case will be completed within a specific time frame. No wedding date can be set until the • When you met; length of courtship; what Moreover, not every petition results in an Petitioner receives written notification attracted you to one another; problems; breakups; The affirmative decision. Many different factors from the Youngstown Tribunal that a reconciliations; attitudes toward children; doubts may delay its conclusion, such as the ability to declaration of matrimonial invalidity has about marriage; hesitancy to wed; wedding secure the testimony of witnesses or an been issued here. preparations; opposition to marry; pressures to Declaration increased workload for the Tribunal. The better marry; previous and why terminated; prepared your case is at the parish level, the more efficiently it will proceed at the Tribunal. overall attitudes and beliefs about the institution of Inquiries regarding a case should be made of marriage, e.g., beliefs about the permanence through your church witness at the parish. of marriage, children and fidelity within marriage. Matrimonial Wedding day and honeymoon:

WHAT IS THE EXPENSE? • Any unusual circumstances or events. Invalidity

While the Tribunal is subsidized generously by A SUGGESTED OUTLINE FOR Marriage problems: (Be specific) the Diocese of Youngstown, in an effort to THE CASE HISTORY (Annulment Process) make access to the annulment process less • Initial signs of marital discord; physical/emotional burdensome, as of July 23, 2015, all fees for The case history should be six pages, mistreatment; money; alcohol; gambling; ; -- Revised September, 2015 – the annulment process are eliminated. With typed and double spaced. irresponsibility; communication; in-laws; sex; the elimination of fees, it is hoped that anyone attitude toward children; separations; when who may have been reluctant to approach the Petitioner’s life and personality: problems arose; professional help. Tribunal will now feel welcome to submit their case. Children born of the union: • Childhood; adolescence; school experiences;

military life; health (physical and mental); • Names(s); date(s) of birth; civil custody. WHEN CAN A WEDDING BE parental influences; relationships with and friends; emotional problems in . PLANNED? Breakup of marriage: • Any unusual fears as a child, teen or adult; At times the Tribunal will place a prohibition on selfishness; self-confidence; suspiciousness; • Details of reasons for breakup; life of each party a person’s right to marry in the Church misinterpretation of others; nervousness or since breakup. because of testimony presented in the case. moodiness; ability to make or keep friends; This prohibition may require that the person inappropriate fits of anger; tantrums; outbreaks receive professional counseling, along with of crying; stubbornness; lying; stealing; etc. careful remarriage preparation at the parish, to (Please illustrate comments by examples.) insure, with the grace of God, the success of a future union. The officiating priest of a future • Life goals; job history; problems with gambling, marriage should contact the Tribunal as to the drugs, alcohol; handling of money; arrests; reason for the prohibition. After the imprisonments. TRIBUNAL Tribunal requirements have been met, only the Tribunal 141 West Rayen Avenue may lift the prohibition and declare the person Diocese of Youngstown Youngstown, Ohio 44503 is free to marry. Respondent’s life and personality: 141 West Rayen Avenue Phone: 330-744-8451 Youngstown, Ohio 44503 • Same as Petitioner’s outline. Fax: 330-742-6450 www.doy.org