What is an Annulment?

An annulment declares a marriage as void ad initio (from the beginning). An annulment voids the marriage as it had never happened. A divorce, on the other hand, terminates a vaild marriage. Some grounds for annulment include fraud, duress, bigamy, incest and nonage.

Effects of an annulment on other's rights:

Spousal Support: Traditionally, court's awarded alimony upon divorce but not annulment. Some statutes now permit spousal support awards to a spouse following an annulment.

Children's Rights: At common law, annulment resulted in bastardizing any children born during the relationship. Modern statutes have modified this harsh result.

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