What makes a marriage null and void?

What makes a marriage null and void?

Two of the most common underlying reasons for considering a marriage void are the illegal acts of “bigamy” and “incest”. A bigamous marriage exists when one of the spouses was legally married to someone else when the marriage took place. Either of the spouses lacked the mental capacity to consent to the marriage.

Can you annul a marriage for cheating?

An annulment cancels a marriage in such a way that it is completely and legally erased. Annulling a marriage means that it was never valid, and therefore, never existed. In most cases, the answer is usually no, finding out your spouse is cheating on you is usually not grounds for an annulment.

Can I get an annulment instead of a divorce?

While a divorce ends a legally valid marriage, an annulment treats the marriage as if it never existed. The end result of an annulment is the same as a divorce—the parties are single and may remarry or enter into a domestic partnership with another person.

Which is better annulment or divorce?

There are different reasons for pursuing a divorce versus an annulment. A divorce, which is much more common, is sought when the parties acknowledge that the marriage existed. An annulment is sought when one or both of the spouses believe that there was something legally invalid about the marriage in the first place.

On what grounds can you annul a marriage?

You can annul a marriage for a number of reasons, such as: it was not consummated – you have not had sexual intercourse with the person you married since the wedding (does not apply for same sex couples) you did not properly consent to the marriage – for example you were forced into it.

Can a marriage be annulled after 2 years?

While a divorce terminates a legal marriage, an annulment means that the marriage never legally existed in the first place. Since these marriages were never valid at all, you can usually annul such marriages at any point in time as long as both you and your spouse are living.

What if you can’t afford a divorce?

If the only issues in your divorce are child custody and support, and you can’t afford an attorney, consider going to family court before starting a divorce action. It’s a little easier to represent yourself in family court, and once you get custody and support orders, you can proceed with an uncontested divorce.