In canon law, what is the effect of a declaration of nullity on a previously celebrated marriage?

• A. It cannot be contracted again in the Church.
• B. It is dissolved and cannot remarry in the Church.
• C. It remains valid as a sacramental bond.
• D. It never validly existed as a sacramental bond, enabling the parties to marry in the Church if other conditions are met.

Answer: (D)

The key idea is that a declaration of nullity treats the attempted marriage as never validly existing as a sacramental bond. In canon law, when the Church declares a marriage null, it means there was a defect at the time of celebration—so no true sacramental bond ever came into being. Because there was no valid bond to begin with, the parties are free to marry in the Church again once they meet all other canonical requirements and any necessary form is observed. This clarifies why the other options don’t fit: the declaration does not dissolve a valid marriage, nor does it keep the bond intact or bar remarriage; it negates the existence of the sacramental bond, allowing a future marriage under Church law.