Facts on Annulment
Some married couples may think that an annulment is merely a quick way to end a marriage. However, certain criteria must be met before an annulment can be granted. These criteria can also vary from state to state, so be sure to check the laws of your local jurisdiction.
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Definition
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A marriage annulment can be granted if the law recognizes your marriage as never having been legal in the first place. An annulment voids the couple's certificate of marriage.
Difference From Divorce
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A divorce ends a marriage that was valid from the beginning, as apposed to an annulment which ends a marriage that was never valid.
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Reasons for Anulment
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Your marriage can be annulled if you and your spouse are close biological relatives, if either spouse never had the mental capacity to understand what they were getting in to, if either spouse was below the age of consent for marriage, if the marriage occurred due to fraud or if either spouse was somehow forced into the marriage.
Jurisdiction Variations
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Some states also have additional allowances for getting an annulment, such as either spouse concealing the fact that they were divorced from a previous spouse less than a month before marrying their current spouse.
Misconceptions
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Some believe that they can get an annulment simply because they've been married for a short time. This isn't necessarily true. Also if a spouse tries to get spousal support after an annulment, they may find it difficult to do so.
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References
- Photo Credit couple arguing image by Luisafer from Fotolia.com
