Do Catholics still have to pay lots of money for a divorce, and if so, why?

Question

Whoops, I meant to ask if Catholics still have to pay the CHURCH for divorces. I see that one person was kind enough to explain that there is a fee for an annulment. Is this required in hopes that the couple will re-consider?

Answer 1

About the cost of nullity, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles states:

A Petitioner is responsible for only a portion of the costs of a case. The faithful of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles substantially subsidize the operation of the Tribunal through their parish contributions. For efficiency, the office must be staffed with trained and qualified priests, canon lawyers, support staff and equipment, all of which is costly.

For a formal trial of invalidity, a Petitioner is asked to pay $500.00, which is payable as follows: a non-refundable filing fee of $100.00, and the balance of $400.00, in installments if necessary, upon final notice of an affirmative decision. The outcome of a case is not contingent upon a Petitioner's ability to pay the fee. If there is financial difficulty, a Petitioner should make this known to the Tribunal.

Let the tribunal know that you cannot pay the fee and they whould be able to make arrangements that are ameniable to everyone involved.

http://www.archdiocese.la/prayer/sacraments/tribunal/faq.html#13

With love and prayers in Christ.

Answer 2

A divorce costs whatever a lawyer charges. But there is no such thing as a "Catholic divorce" -- the Church doesn't recognize civil divorces. It does acknowledge that in some circumstances the two parties to the marriage are probably better off living apart, but as far as either party marrying again while the other is still living, the Church says no.

If one has divorced and wants to remarry, they must first seek an annulment. That's not a divorce, either, but rather a declaration that no marriage existed in the first place, and there are very specific factors that determine this. Adultery, for example, is not grounds for an annulment. And annulments are not merely rubber-stamped formalities; some petitions are denied for lack of grounds.

Yes, obtaining an annulment does involve a fee. Petitions for annulment are reviewed by canon lawyers. So if someone has no problem with paying a civilian lawyer for a civil divorce, they can hardly object to an annulment fee.

Edit: You ask "Is this required in hopes that the couple will re-consider?"
Ah -- no. The actual amount of the standard tribunal fee varies from diocese to diocese. There are procedures for reducing or waiving the fees, though. No one is turned away from making an annulment application for lack of ability to pay.

Answer 3

Divorce costs the same regardless of religion or lack therof.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

Answer 4

EVERYONE pays lots of money for divorce. Why would that be limited to Catholics?

Answer 5

Catholics, and Californians.

Answer 6

We don't believe in divorce, so I would tend to think not.

Answer 7

Hi, for reliable info on this go to;
www.catholic-pages.com/dir/
divorce.asp