The Annulment Process
The marriage nullity process, or "annulment" process as it is most commonly known, serves a significant function within the life of the Catholic Church: to promote the good of marriage in general and to protect its indissoluble character in particular.
The presumption of canon law is in favor of the validity of marriage, and this presumption may be overturned only when a competent judge, acting in a legitimate ecclesiastical forum, reaches moral certitude regarding the invalidity of the bond before the tribunal.
The marriage nullity process serves precisely to allow for, and indeed encourage, the discovery of the truth regarding the juridic status of the marriage in question and thus to determine whether or not the legal presumption in favor of the validity of marriage can be overturned.