Marriage Annulment

Sometimes it comes to light after the fact that the circumstances surrounding a marriage were invalid. At the time, had this information been known, the marriage could not have taken place. In these cases, an annulment is a better option than a divorce. If the right conditions are met, a legal annulment retroactively voids the entire marriage, as if it had never existed.

Annulments are very rare. There are a number of circumstances that can lead to an annulment, all of them relatively uncommon. If the marriage was not voluntary for one or both partners, for example, the marriage can be annulled. It’s important to remember that annulled marriages were legally valid prior to the annulment. Marriages that are incestuous or bigamous are never valid under any circumstances.

The process of annulling a marriage is similar to filing for divorce. In California, both processes involve many of the same forms. Crucially, annulments usually require the spouses to present their cases to a judge. Although many divorces also require a court hearing, annulments are often approached more deliberately because of their often exceptional circumstances.

Contact Us

If you are considering a legal annulment, a California divorce lawyer can help you determine whether or not it is the right course of action for your marriage. The Oceanside divorce lawyers of Fischer & Van Thiel, LLP can help you make a plan for bringing your marriage to a close. To discuss your case with an experienced lawyer, contact Fischer & Van Thiel, LLP today at 760-722-7646.