A lack of form case is one in which a Catholic was married civilly or was married in a non-Catholic ceremony without dispensation from the Archbishop or Bishop of the Diocese and the Catholic party did not subsequently validate the marriage in the Church.

 

A Catholic is required to observe the canonical form, that is to marry before a properly delegated Catholic bishop, priest or deacon and two witnesses.

 

When the canonical form has not been observed and the marriage was not later validated in the Church, the administrative process is used to declare such marriages invalid. There is no need for a canonical process to issue a Declaration of Nullity.

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