A friend of mine is recently divorced and has just been informed that her ex-husband is getting remarried and wants an annulment. Is this something that she must grant him? She has 3 grown children, and is very distraught about this request. Any answers to this would be very greatful...

Thank you

-- Dianne Hanson (seperrrs@yahoo.com), May 22, 2003

Answers

Diane,

This is a topic that has been discussed on this BB in some depth...

-you can look here to find some of the discussion:

Annulment/Nullity

I would recommend your friend start researching the Marriage Tribunal process.

I will answer your question as best I can...

"Is this something that she must grant him?"

NO -because it is not something she can or can not grant -it involves an investigation by a Church Tribunal in the validity of the marriage -she may or may not choose to participate in the investigation/process...

"She has 3 grown children, and is very distraught about this request."

Would I be correct to assume your friend is distraught because she believes her marriage valid?

-- Daniel Hawkenberry (dlm@catholic.org), May 22, 2003.

Dianne...

From the text of your message, it sounds as if your friend may be concerned about the legitimacy of her children. Annulments are not a form of divorce, only a declaration that a marriage was never a valid sacrament. Accordingly, it has no effect on the legitimacy of the children since that's entirely a legal matter. Hope this helps...

-- Gary

-- Gary Chambers (gc22@lucent.com), May 25, 2003.