Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne: The Tribunal of the Catholic Church: Are there any effects in Civil Law?


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Marriage Tribunal Introduction The Tribunal What is an Annulment? What about the Children? Are there any effects in Civil Law? The Process and Requirements Is it worthwhile? Who to contact?	Are there any effects in Civil Law? In Australia ecclesiastical annulments have no civil effects and a civil divorce decree must be obtained before any formal action to investigate a marriage may be taken at a Catholic Tribunal.	The Tribunal itself does not annul marriages, any more than a cricket umpire bowls batsmen out. The umpire has no role in the dismissal. He simply adjudges whether the fielding team has dismissed the batsman. When the fielding team appeals the umpire has only two findings open to him, "out" or "not out".