What is an a declaration of invalidity?
An annulment, or more properly, a declaration of invalidity is a judgment given by the Church that a union of two people was not a valid marriage from its very beginnings, according to the understanding of marriage held by the Church. This declaration says nothing about the civil effects of the relationship. The process of obtaining a declaration of nullity is a judicial process in the eyes of the Church and is conducted according to the laws and jurisprudence of the Church. As a judicial process, the invalidity of the marriage must be proven before the Tribunal, the court system of the Church.
