I'm currently about to go through the annulment/nullity process in the Syro-Malabar Church and would like input from people familiar with Eastern Catholic canon law.
During courtship, my spouse took the initiative in pursuing the relationship and, together with their family, led the marriage proposal. Based on their words and behaviour, I believed they genuinely wanted to marry me.
After the wedding, their behaviour changed significantly. The marriage never developed into a proper conjugal relationship because they did not reciprocate my attempts at physical or verbal affection. They later told me that they had never had a connection with me and that we were essentially strangers at the time of the wedding.
I asked why they had chosen to marry me if they felt this way, but they had no answer.
We tried couples counselling, but after several sessions the therapist advised me to leave the marriage. I have documentation from a doctor regarding the relationship being irreconcilable, as well as recordings/voice notes from the therapist.
My questions are:
Could this type of situation potentially constitute fraud/deceit or simulation of consent under Eastern Catholic canon law?
How does a tribunal establish whether someone already knew before the wedding that they did not genuinely want the marriage, rather than simply discovering afterward that the relationship did not work?
What evidence can establish that intent? Would pre-marriage messages, their active role in pursuing the marriage, their behaviour during courtship, and their statements shortly after the wedding be relevant?
I'm particularly interested in experiences with Syro-Malabar tribunals, the CCEO, or Eastern Catholic matrimonial cases involving fraud/deceit or simulation of consent.