2007-07-29 15:40:39 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Marriage & Divorce
There are a lot of misconceptions about annulments. People often think they are easier to obtain than a divorce. In reality, annulments are often more difficult to receive because they are much more narrowly defined than a divorce.
THE BASICS
An annulment states that a marriage never existed.
A civil annulment can only be granted by a judge.
A marriage is not legally impacted by a canonical annulment received through the Catholic church.
The grounds for receiving an annulment vary from state to state, and country to country.
Generally, there is a tight time line for receiving an annulment. An annulment action usually has to be filed within two years of the marriage date.
Some states have strict guidelines about living with one another.
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Cohabitation could be grounds for not granting an annulment.
Being married only a short time is generally not grounds for an annulment.
Maintenance or alimony would not usually be considered in an annulment.
Children of an annulled marriage are legitimate
2007-07-29 16:07:33 · answer #1 · answered by Nita and Michael 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you talking a religious Catholic annulment (done through the church) or a civil annulment (done though the courts)?
If you have grounds for a civil annulment, it can be very quick depending upon the laws in your state. Some states have waiting periods. If you are talking about a church annulment, that is usually much longer as it has to go several reviews.
The reason Catholic people get annulments is that the religion (I used to be Catholic) forbids divorce and remarrying. However if you have been in a marriage that wasn't a church sanctioned marriage or if you have other grounds, then you can get it annulled, which is just as if you have never been married. Of course the person still needs to get a legal divorce or annulment through the courts.
People who don't do it for religious reasons, do it because an annulment would make it as if you were never married. You would not have to put "divorced" on any documents, the woman immediately goes back to her maiden name, etc.
Some of the grounds for an annulment are: mental illness, fraud, forced consent, physical incapacity to consummate the marriage, lack of consent to underage marriage or bigamy. I believe these are civil grounds. Some of the grounds for the Catholic church may be the same.
2007-07-29 22:59:20 · answer #2 · answered by Patti C 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
An annulment means the marriage is void and didn't take place. You can get an annulment (versus a divorce) if your spouse lied to you about something important before marriage, or if you didn't consummate the marriage and it was a mistake. Usually you can get an annulment cheaper and faster than a divorce. Call a lawyer.
2007-07-29 23:01:53 · answer #3 · answered by Wiser1 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Usually this happens when right after the marriage they find out something about their spouse that if they knew before they got married they wouldn't have.
Such as....the other person not wanting children, turns into an abuser, etc.
2007-07-29 22:44:30 · answer #4 · answered by daljack -a girl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They claim their marriage was never consummated--had sex. In the Catholic church it's very lengthy, but I don't know exactly.
2007-07-29 22:45:29 · answer #5 · answered by Darby 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋