What is nullity in canon law and how does it differ from civil divorce?

• A. Civil divorce ends civil marriage
• B. Nullity declares a valid sacramental marriage never existed; civil divorce ends civil marriage; nullity concerns sacramental bond, not civil status
• C. Nullity relates to civil divorce; divorce ends sacramental bond
• D. Nullity means the marriage remains valid

Answer: (B)

Nullity in canon law means declaring that a sacramental marriage never existed as a valid bond, because essential elements were lacking at the outset. It focuses on the validity of the sacramental relationship itself—reasons include lack of true consent, inability to fulfill the essential obligations of marriage, or failure to observe canonical form when required. When nullity is granted, the parties are free to marry again in the Church because there is no valid sacramental bond to dissolve.

Civil divorce, by contrast, is a civil termination of the civil marriage for purposes of civil status. It ends the civil relationship but does not determine the Church’s view of the sacramental bond. A couple can be civilly divorced while the Church still considers their marriage valid and indissoluble unless a nullity decree says otherwise. This is why the difference is that nullity concerns the sacramental bond, whereas civil divorce concerns civil status.