canonical impediment. A ground for annulment recognized by canon law and developed by the ecclesiastical courts of the Roman Catholic Church. • Canonical impediments include affinity, impotence, disparity of worship, and previous religious profession.
civil impediment. A ground for annulment recognized by civil law of contracts, such as minority, unsoundness of mind, fraud, and duress. • The defects of fraud and duress may be waived, and the parties may confirm the marriage.
diriment impediment (dir-[schwa]-m[schwa]nt im-ped-[schwa]-m[schwa]nt), n. [fr. Latin dirimens impedimentum “nullifying impediment”] A fact that raises an absolute bar to marriage and renders a contracted marriage void. • Diriment impediments include consanguinity within a prohibited degree and prior undissolved marriage.
— Also termed impedimenta dirimentia.
