Family
Canonical marriage, nullity instead of divorce
Marriage is governed by the 1983 Code of Canon Law, which treats a consummated sacramental marriage as indissoluble. There is no divorce; a marriage can only be declared null, or dissolved in narrow canonical situations.
Key rules
- Canonical marriage requires consent, capacity and canonical form before a competent minister.
- Nullity is declared by ecclesiastical tribunals, with appeal and recourse to the Roman Rota.
- The 2015 Mitis Iudex reform created a shorter nullity process before the diocesan bishop.
Governing law
- Code of Canon Law, cc. 1055-1165 (1983)
- Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus (2015)
In practice
A canonical nullity has no civil effect by itself; civil consequences depend on the concordat or private international law of the country concerned.