Home | Contact Parish Info | Diocese Map | Clergy Assignments | Pastoral Center Offices | Local Catholic Organizations | Jobs | Links How does one begin a Study?   What is the Study of a Marriage?   What is the Tribunal?   What About the Former Spouse?   Who Reviews the Study Information?   What is the Next Step?   How Long Does the Entire Process Take?   Is Remarriage in the Catholic Church Allowed?   Is there a Fee for Tribunal Services?   What is Marriage?   What is an Annulment?   Office of the Tribunal > What is an Annulment? A church annulment is a declaration from the Catholic Church that a particular union presumably begun in good faith and thought by all to be a marriage, was, in fact, an invalid union as the church defines marriage. There is no attempt in this study or hearing to impute guilt or to punish persons. On the contrary, the purpose of the annulment procedure is to serve one's conscience and reconcile persons to full saramental participation in the community of the church. What are the civil effects of an annulment? There are absolutely no civil effects to a church annulment in the United States. It should be pointed out, first of all, that the church does not deny the fact that there was a civil marriage which carried with it legal responsibilities and implications under civil law. For example, the legitimacy of children born of this marriage, the decrees of the civil courts regarding alimony or child supports, etc., are affected in no way by the granting of an annulment. Contact: Bette Damberg bdamberg@dioceseduluth.org (218) 724-9111 Fax: (218) 724-1056 Diocese of Duluth Office of the Tribunal 2830 E. 4th Street Duluth, MN 55812 Judicial Vicar James B. Bissonette, J.C.L. Defender of the Bond Dale Nau, J.C.L Advocate Bette Damberg   Diocese of Duluth • 2830 E Fourth St • Duluth Minnesota 55812 • (218) 724- 9111 Copyright 2010 DIOCESE OF DULUTH All Rights Reserved.