Expert psychological intervention in legal procedings for the annulment of marriages in Ecclesiastic Courts

Abstract

Ecclesiastic Courts are a field in which legal psychologists have slowly been introducing themselves. These courts handle, among other proceedings, those related with annulments of Catholic marriages. Psychologists usually act as expert-witnesses, advising the judge in cases in which annulment is based on psychological grounds. This article analyzes canon law aspects which affect the psychologist's assessment, criteria used for psychological assessment and evaluation and the forensic report.