A marriage outside the Catholic Church is legally valid but not recognized by the Church. Couples in invalid marriages miss out on God's graces, such as receiving the Eucharist or being godparents or sponsors in sacraments.

Some couples are unaware of the issue, in a rush, or have drifted from their Catholic faith. Others may marry without seeking an annulment after a divorce. The Church presumes the first marriage valid, requiring an annulment before remarrying in the Church.

Validating a marriage brings spiritual benefits, including God’s blessing, sacramental grace, and full recognition from the Church. Couples can receive the Eucharist and participate fully in parish life. Validation also provides peace of mind and strengthens relationships with God.

If you were married outside the Church, consider: Do I want to make my marriage valid? 

God offers us free will, and it’s up to us to respond to His love.

To begin, contact our Marriage Coordinator, Andrea Sanchez. She will assist you in choosing the best process for you and your spouse, guide you through each step, and help you complete the necessary forms.

An annulment (decree of nullity) is a declaration by the Catholic Church that a marriage was not valid because one or both partners could not make a mature, lifelong commitment or withheld essential elements of marriage, like openness to children. 

If God did NOT join the couple together, the Church has the right and the responsibility to recognize that the marriage was not valid if a spouse petitions the Church to investigate the marriage.

The Church sees this marriage as an exclusive, lifelong union that exists for the good of both spouses and for the procreation and nurturing of children.

But the marriage is not valid if the man or the woman were not mature enough to make a permanent commitment, if they felt pressured, or if there were psychological impediments. Both must be open to the possibility of children. There must be no fraud or deceit. If these conditions were not met when the vows were exchanged, grounds for an annulment may exist.

Divorced individuals who don’t plan to remarry don’t need an annulment. It’s only necessary if someone wants to marry again in the Catholic Church or have a second marriage validated. Non-Catholics marrying Catholics may also need an annulment.

To start the annulment process, you must wait until your divorce is finalized. After that, please contact our Marriage Coordinator, Andrea Sanchez. She will assist you in gathering the necessary information, completing the forms, and providing witnesses. Keep in mind that the process may take some time, depending on the responses from the witnesses.