What Is an Annulment?

An annulment is a legal option for ending a marriage. An annulment completely erases the marriage legally, making it as if you were never married. To be granted an annulment, you have to show that your marriage was invalid. The common grounds for this are that one party represented themselves fraudulently, that one party was not of sound mind to commit to the marriage, or that there was some other legal issue with the marriage, such as not being of legal age or the marriage resulting in bigamy.

Getting an annulment can be an option for ending your marriage, but it is important to understand whether your circumstances qualify for an annulment and how this option differs from divorce. If you are interested in learning more about annulments, contact our law firm.

How Is an Annulment Different From a Divorce?

While both an annulment and a divorce will terminate the marriage, an annulment legally makes it as if the marriage never happened. If you have an annulment, you can legally say that you were never married. This is because to get an annulment, there has to be some legal basis for the marriage to have been invalid from the beginning. Getting an annulment is often quicker than going through the entire divorce process because there are usually not the more complex issues of property division and child custody to deal with.

What Is the Process for Getting an Annulment?

The first step in getting an annulment is filing a legal document called a Complaint for Annulment. You will need to provide certain details on the marriage and give a reason for the annulment request. After the complaint has been filed, a hearing will be scheduled where you will have the opportunity to present your case and show your reasons for why the marriage is invalid and should be annulled. Assuming that the courts agree with you, the marriage will be ordered annulled, and legally, it will be like nothing ever happened.

How Long Does an Annulment Take?

While an annulment is often faster than a divorce, it can still be a complex legal process. Assuming that there are no larger issues such as child custody or property division to deal with, the marriage can be annulled as fast as the hearing can be scheduled. If there are other issues that need to be decided or the other party does not agree to the annulment, it can take several months and even multiple hearings to be settled.

Ensure that you have someone to guide you through the process of getting an annulment by calling our law firm at 931-236-2711. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your case and learn more.