Diriment Impediment (Noun)
Meaning
(canon law) an impediment that invalidates a marriage (such as the existence of a prior marriage).
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- In the eyes of the Catholic Church, bigamy is a diriment impediment that renders a subsequent marriage null and void.
- Prior to sanctioning the union, the priest must ensure that no diriment impediment exists between the couple.
- Canon law dictates that a diriment impediment must be remedied before the marriage can be recognized as valid.
- The investigator's primary role was to identify any potential diriment impediments that might have affected the legitimacy of the union.
- A prior existing marriage was considered a diriment impediment and thus the reason for the annulment of the second marriage.