Annulment. It’s a word you hear after impulsive weddings in Vegas. It’s a process that seems as simple as stating you want it to happen. But Michigan annulments are a legal process, and proving that a marriage never existed can be a challenge, no matter where or how they happened. This is no time to attempt a do-it-yourself divorce.
Misconception 1: A marriage that only lasted a few days or weeks qualifies for annulment.
The length of time a couple has been married has nothing to do with whether they qualify for an annulment. It is still necessary to prove one of the grounds for annulment
Misconception 2: Annulments are religious matters.
Religious annulments are separate from legal annulments. Neither has any bearing on the other. You may be granted an annulment legally, but that doesn’t mean you will be granted an annulment by a religious body, and vice versa.
Misconception 3: If you haven’t consummated the marriage it is automatically annulled.
Physical intimacy is irrelevant when it comes to annulment. And there are no circumstances in which any marriage is automatically annulled. However, if one party concealed at the time of the marriage that they had no intention of consummating the union, this may be grounds for a legal annulment.
Misconception 4: If you regret the marriage you can get an annulment.
You may wish that you had never married someone or discover that you really don’t like them let alone love them. Nevertheless, it’s still necessary to prove one of the legal grounds for annulment to convince a court that your marriage should be deemed nonexistent.
Misconception 5: It’s easier to get an annulment than a divorce.
Annulments are not a quick legal process, they do not take the place of a divorce, and they are not easier than a divorce. In fact, in a Michigan annulment, you must go through all the steps to get a divorce, plus prove that there are grounds for annulment. These requirements make an annulment more time-consuming and costly than a divorce alone.
Reasons Courts Might Grant an Annulment
Getting an annulment isn’t easy. It is necessary to prove that one person was ineligible to marry or has committed fraud. The most likely reasons a court will grant an annulment are:
- One of the parties was under age 16 at the time of the marriage.
- One person was already married to someone else.
- The parties discover they are more closely related than first cousins.
- One person was forced into the marriage.
- One person was physically or mentally incapacitated at the time of the marriage.
- One person falsified information about themselves.
- One person failed to disclose the details of an important matter, like their inability to have children or the existence of a criminal record.
- One person committed immigration fraud.
If you want your marriage to be annulled so it will be classified as never having existed, get the help of an experienced Michigan divorce lawyer at Michigan Divorce Help, PLLC in Macomb County. Schedule your consultation today.