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May 31, 2016(PROVIDENCE RI) – The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence has announced today that it is eliminating all fees for marriage annulments effective July 1, 2016.
In 2015, Pope Francis announced changes in the annulment process to streamline the lengthy procedure. The pope also asked dioceses to consider eliminating the processing fees for annulments.
The cost for the marriage annulments in the diocese is $500 which will be completely eliminated. All remaining balances for persons whose cases have already begun will not pay anything further than the payments already made. In 2007, the fee was reduced from $750 to the current fee. No one has ever been turned away and no case has been delayed because of an inability to defray the costs associated with operating the diocesan marriage tribunal.
It is hoped that by eliminating the fees it will make it easier for divorced-and-remarried Catholics to fully participant in the life of the Church.
** The diocesan marriage tribunal reviews more than 100 cases each year. Twenty years ago the case load was as high as 400 and at some times, 500 cases a year.
