Civil marriage versus church marriage and the so-called “church divorce”

Civil marriage versus church marriage

Civil law and canon law are two separate legal orders. Therefore obtaining a civil divorce or separation has no effect on the church marriage. And conversely, the declaration of the nullity of the church marriage (erroneously referred to as “church divorce” or “annulment of marriage”) does not result in a civil divorce or separation. However, a declaration of the nullity of the church marriage may help to prove a complete and irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.