How to Annul a Marriage as Peacefully and Easily as Possible

Having a marriage annulled is different than getting a divorce. When you file an annulment of a marriage, as far the law is concerned, your marriage is null and void, as if it never existed. There are rules to who is eligible for an annulment. Here's the how-to process.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A good divorce lawyer
• Understanding of the annulment laws in your state
• About $2000-$4000.
• A good relationship with your soon-to-be ex.

1. 
    

   Your circumstance must meet one of the following criteria to be eligible to receive an annulment: One or both parties were not old enough to enter the marriage contract; there is a close blood relationship between the parties; One party was still legally married when the current marriage occurred; One party was impotent and unable to consummate the union; One of the spouse's didn't have the mental capacity to enter into a marriage contract. Or the marriage was entered into fraudulently. This may be due to the concealment of impotence, criminal history, sexually transmitted diseases, etc.

2. 
    

   Usually you must be married for less than four years to be able to file for an annulment.

3. 
    

   If you feel your situation meets any of these criteria, you may be eligible to annul your marriage.

4. 
    

   It's now time to contact a divorce lawyer. Do some research; read their website. Make sure you find someone who is compassionate about your situation so you feel supported. Don't be afraid to ask questions and be clear on how the lawyer's rates work. Do they charge for phone calls? What is their preferred method of communication?

5. 
    

   Once a lawyer agrees to represent you, you will be given paperwork to fill out. This is where it helps to still be friends with your ex. You will need to provide detailed information on what you own, how much money you make, how you're dividing things and your reasons for requesting an annulment.

6. 
    

   It usually takes about six months for an annulment to be processed, depending on your state.

7. 
    

   The blessing of an annulment is if you didn't feel you had a "real" marriage, the law agrees with you! The "marriage" is deemed null and void legally, as if it never existed. So when you do find your soul mate, you are given a fresh opportunity to start again because it will legally be seen as your first marriage.

Tips & Warnings

• Have patience with the process. Before you know it, it will be over and you will feel you can truly move on with your life and be open to receive the love you deserve.
• If you're having financial hardship, ask the lawyer if he/she is open to negotiating their price.
• Lawyers work from retainers. If any of your monies are not spent on your case, they will be returned to you.
• A legal annulment is not the same as an annulment in the Church. If you are Catholic and want to re-marry in the church, see your local parish about the separate religious annulment process.
• The laws are different with annulments since your marriage is not seen as being legit, so check with your lawyer when it comes to things like taxes, division of property, debts and spousal support.
• While an annulment is quicker, easier and less expensive than a divorce, the emotional effects are no different so seek support to help get you through.

Resources

• Annulment Law
• CA Courts Self-Help Center
• The Annulment Process
• Grounds for Catholic Annulment
• Find a Divorce Attorney
• Find an Attorney on Divorce.net

[HeavenHealing]

on 11/12/2009 An ordinary annulment in the Catholic Church costs $500. I'm sure the Church would work something out with payment plans if need be.

[natiz]

on 11/12/2009 Hi,

My situation is that I am married (civil wedding) to a man who has annuled his previous marriage legally with another woman. However, he did not annul his marriage in the Catholic church. Yes, he has plans of filing, but not in the near future, due to financial difficulties (he said it would entail so much money to do another annulment). I never thought that he would postpone his Catholic marriage this long, it has been more than 6 years that we have been civilly married.

Does this mean that my husband now has 2 wives? 1 in the eyes of the Catholic Church and 1 in the eyes of the government. I am burdened morally with my situation and I think I deserve to have a decent church wedding.

Please help, I don't like to be with a man who is married to 2 women. I feel trapped as we have a son now. As the days go by, thinking about being married this way, makes me feel so down.

[lostinlasvegas]

on 4/1/2009 I MARRIED AN MEXICAN IMMIGRANT AND HE WAS ONLY INTRESTED IN HI GREEN CARD. I BECAME PREGNANT WITH MYBEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER AND I HAVE ENDURED 17 YEARS OF EMOTIONAL AND VERBAL ABUSE. HE HAS STUCK AROUND BECAUSE HE LOVES HIS DAUGHTER. HE HAS NEVER KEPT A JOB FOR ANU LENGTH OF TIME AND I SUSPECT THAT HE HAS ANOTHER FAMILY IN MEXICO. HE ONLY GIVES ME MONEY ACCORDING TO HOW HE FEELS,AND HE GOES FREQUENTLY TO MEXICO AND I HAVE NEVER GONE WITH HIM. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH MY NOW 16 YEAR OLD AND SHE AGREES THAT IS IS USING ME. HE HAS NEVER PURCHASED ANY PROPERTY OR VEHICLE ON CREDIT. I SIGNED ALONE ON THE PURCHACH OF MY MANUFACTURED HOME BECAUSE WE WOULD BE LIVING IN THE BACK OF A TRUCK CAMPER IF I HAD TO DEPEND ON HIM TO PROVIDE ANY THING FOR THE FAMILY. I HAVE BEEN ON MY JOB FOR TEN YEARS NOW. I NEED HELP, I HAVE TRIED BEFORE AND JUST KEEP GIVING UP. HE HAS WORNED ME DOWN, EMOTIONALY WITH VERAL

[TheGlamSquad]

on 12/21/2008 I don't plan getting my marriage annuled, but I will send this to my friend who is going through the divorce. I hate to see marriages end. Allot of people lose sight on the things that make each other happy and it results in a failed marriage. Not meeting half way, not trusting each another and lack of communication seems to be the top three issues that lead to marriage. If you pray together about the situation and seek counseling it usually is a great help before calling it a quits. Anywho, I loved the article! 5*****

[sneedc]

on 12/18/2008 YES! I qualify. I was mentally unstable at the time of the ceremony! My priest tells me to come back if I want the annulment, so I might make that a New year's resolution. Thanks!