8 Worrisome Myths About Divorce And Annulments Most Catholics Don’t Realize Are Bogus

8.    The Annulment Process Dissolves A Valid Marriage Bond

False. The purpose of the annulment process is to determine whether or not a valid marriage took place on the day of a couple’s wedding. Scripture clearly states the only thing that can dissolve a valid/sacramental marriage bond is death (Matthew 19:6).

This is one of the most commonly misunderstood facts about the annulment process. It’s important to know the difference between a valid marriage bond being dissolved (again, only the death of one or both of the spouses can do this) and the bond being “declared” it was never brought into being in the first place.

A couple can have all the appearances of a valid marriage without it actually being one. This is why the annulment process exists, to make that determination.