text: "The annulment process is available to see if a valid marriage ever existed."
  
  No, Pamela, that's what the prenuptial enquiry which every Catholic and their partners must fill out - before the wedding takes place - are there to do. The fact that a wedding takes place at all is the Church stating that this marriage is valid. 
  
  And before you come back with - ah, but the couple, or one of them, may have lied - well that applies equally to the annulment.
  
  "Oh, you can't write that because that will prove that your marriage WAS valid. Let's just put this instead...."
  
  It's a complete joke. People make mistakes, some relationships don't work and break down. It's time the Church grew up and realised this and stopped making a fool of itself with this 'valid/invalid' stupidity.