Union Convalidations
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Marriage Convalidation
Congratulations on your intention to have you marriage recognized in the Catholic Church!
The staff at Church of the Annunciation are excited to assist you as you prepare for the graces you will receive to live out the vocation of Christian marriage.
Marriage convalidation includes marriage preparation.
Please refer to the pages with information regarding the wedding and marriage preparation. [include links.]
What is Marriage Convalidation?
Convalidation is a remedy for those couples who did not marry in the Catholic Church or something has been found lacking in their Catholic marriage preparation and/or wedding. Catholic couples want to make their marriage sacramentally valid and recognized by the Church and receive the sacrament graces for them and their family.
A convalidation is a new act of consent. In the eyes of the Church, it constitutes the beginning of a new marriage.
Do we need to have our marriage validated in the Catholic Church?
There are many reasons Catholics may need to have their marriage convalidated. If any of the following scenarios apply to you, or if you suspect your marriage is not valid, contact your local parish and ask to speak with a priest, deacon, or other staff familiar with marriage.
Wedding did not take place in a Catholic Church or in front of a priest
A precept of the church is that Catholics must observe the marriage laws of the Church. The wedding must be in a Catholic Church and the vows must be said in the presence of a bishop, priest, or deacon and two witnesses.
If you married at the court house, in a non-Catholic religious building, in a garden, et cetera it is likely you do not have a valid marriage. This could have been done out of convenience or expediency. While married according to the civil law, Catholics are not married according to Church law and should seek to marry in the Catholic Church.
If there was not a Catholic priest or deacon present when you “married”, you will need to inquire about convalidation.
Permissions/Dispensations missing
Catholics who enter into a civil union or wedded in a non-Catholic ceremony without the proper dispensation or permission will need to seek convalidation.
Catholics marrying baptized non-Catholics need permission to marry. Similarly, Catholics marrying non-Christians need dispensation. This is the Holy Mother Church caring for her children.
Sometimes, the paperwork is lost or it was not filed properly or errors were made during the marriage preparation period. If you suspect this, contact your local parish marriage staff/team for assistance.
Prior marriage of one or both spouses
Any prior civil non-Catholic marriage must be receive a formal “Declaration of Nullity” or it must be declared “Null due to Lack of Canonical Form”. If this did not happen, talk to a priest or deacon at your local/home parish.
A wedding date cannot be set until the couple is free to marry in the Church.
Marriage preparation and or nuptial rite incorrect.
You suspect something was not done correctly when you married in the Catholic Church. Contact the priest or deacon at your local/home parish.
How to prepare for a Marriage Convalidation? Why?
Marriage preparation for Marriage Convalidation is similar to the preparation done by couples who have not been civilly married. (Please refer to “Marriage Preparation”) There may be some minor differences depending on the situation. When you meet with your priest or deacon about getting married in the Catholic Church, he will direct you in your preparation taking into consideration you current marital status. Marriage preparation is a necessary because the Church views your convalidation as a new act of the will, a new marriage in the Church.
Describe the Nuptial Mass/Ceremony
Simple
Elaborate
Is a marriage convalidation binding?
Yes, it is binding. It is a new act of consent and in the eyes of the Church a new, valid marriage.
Declaration of Nullity
If you are married and want to inquire about the process of filing a Petition for Declaration of Nullity, we can help.
No matter the circumstances, we are here to assist you.
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Gather Necessary Paperwork and Documents
You will need the following: baptismal records, evidence or testimony of freedom to marry in the church, a copy of civil marriage, and normal pre-marital paperwork.
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If necessary, seek a Declarity of Nullity from any previous marriage, if the former spouse is not deceased.
Before a convalidation ceremony can be set, the couple needs approval. A priest or someone else will assist them with this.
If a Catholic wasn't married by a Catholic priest or with proper permission, they can opt for a shorter process without a formal Declarity of Nullity.
The diocesan tribunal usually processes this quickly and issues a declaration of nullity due to a "lack of canonical form."
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Participate in Marriage Preparation
Canon law also requires some kind of preparation before receiving the Sacrament of Matrimony.
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Determine the date and most suitable type of ceremony.
Most couples opt for a simple ceremony where they renew their consent to the marriage, reaffirming their continued love and commitment before God and the Church.
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Celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Attend the sacrament of reconciliation to confess and repent.
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