Whoever asked if they are hard to get (in Catholic churches), I think you have to do a bit of paperwork but they aren't that hard to get.

Examples: My mom's friend has been married in the church 3 times. First marriage annulled, he was cheating on her (with the church pianist!) Had one kid.
Second marriage was annulled, they were a bad match. No kids.
Got married a third time, and so far so good.

Another relative got married in the church, had 4 sons. Got marriage annulled so they could both remarry in the church.

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Wow that's a lot of annulments. As dannyboy said in another thread an annulment is bascially saying the sacremental marriage was invalid. It's different than a civil divorce.

How can they annull a marriage that results in children??

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The children are always considered legitimate even if the marriage was annulled. It's the marriage that did not meet sacramental requirements. I know it's confusing to understand and there are lots of misconceptions out there.

Marriages are declared null ab initio, meaning that the marriage has been essentially invalid from the beginning. A common misconception is that if a marriage is annulled, the Catholic Church is saying the marriage never took place. The parties to the marriage know that the marriage took place. The Church is saying that the marriage was not valid; the valid marriage is what did not take place.

Some Catholics therefore worry that their children will be considered illegitimate if they get annulments. Canon 1137 of the Code of Canon Law specifically affirms the legitimacy of children born in both recognized and putative marriages (those later declared null). Critics point to this as additional evidence that a Catholic annulment is similar to divorce—although civil laws that recognized both annulments and divorce regard the offspring of a putative marriage as legitimate. A reason for annulment is called a diriment impediment to the marriage. Prohibitory impediments (which no longer exist in the Latin Code, CIC83) make entering a marriage wrong but do not invalidate the marriage, such as being betrothed to another person at the time of the wedding; diriment impediments, such as being brother and sister, or being married to another person at the time of the wedding, prevent such a marriage from being contracted at all. Such unions are called putative marriages.

Diriment impediments include:

Consanguinity: the parties are closely related by blood.
The parties were related by marriage or adoption in a prohibited degree.
Insanity precluding ability to consent.
Not intending, when marrying, to remain faithful to the spouse (simulation of consent).
One partner had been deceived by the other in order to obtain consent, and if the partner had been aware of the truth, would not have consented to marry.
Abduction of the woman, with the intent to compel her to marry (known as raptus), constitutes an impediment as long as she remains in the kidnapper's power. (In theory, the abduction of a man also constitutes an impediment, but no man has applied for annulment on these grounds.)
Failure to adhere to requirements of canon law for marriages, such as clandestinity
One or both of the parties have brought about the death of a spouse with the view of entering marriage with each other.
One of the parties had received sacred orders.

Really? That was my MIL's reasoning for refusing to get an annulment from her ex (dh's father)

FIL wanted to marry his new wife in the church but needed an annulment from MIL first, she refused saying that would make their children illegitimate.

(I suspect that wasn't her only reason though...resentment is likely the real issue...they don't get along and I don't see her giving an inch to make things any easier for him)

Edit - I hadn't seen the last post before I posted. Interesting.

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Sounds like MIL was either misinformed are just didn't want to!