Annulments: FAQ on Your Options Regarding Separations

If you are considering a divorce, you may want to know that there are more options standing between you and the results you wish to see. Did you know that you might be able to go through an annulment or a separation? First, you will want to weigh your options and determine which best fits your situation. Our helpful FAQ will help you determine what is best for you and your family.

FAQ

Do annulments differ from divorces? In some ways, annulments are not different from divorces – and in other ways, they are. Annulments are like divorces in the same way that they essentially work to dissolve your marriage. However, they are different in the way that they make it so that the marriage never existed in the first place. Many people choose annulment because of this, especially those who are religious, because it could help them remarry in the future.

What legal grounds must be shown before an annulment is obtained? You will have to show one of the following reasons for your annulment:

  • Your spouse used fraud to marry you, such as lying about their ability to reproduce, misrepresented their age, or did not explain that they could not legally be married
  • One spouse concealed something such as an addiction, a prior felony, or involvement in criminal activity
  • The inability or refusal to consummate the marriage
  • A simple but large understanding, such as one spouse wanting children and the other not

What is a religious annulment? If you can show any of the mentioned reasons, you could receive a “religious annulment” if you are a member of the Roman Catholic Church. This means that you will be able to remarry and have your new marriage recognized by the church. 

What are the different types of separation? You do have the option to be separated from your spouse. There are four types of separation: Trial separation that takes place when you decide to live separately, living apart when you do not live in the same residence, permanent separation when you decide to split for good, and legal separation, which is when you permanently separate but decide to speak to the court about matters like custody and payments.

The best thing that you can do for yourself and your case is speak to an experienced divorce attorney when you have decided that annulment may be the best option for you. Call us today to talk about your case and have us answer some of your burning questions. We are here for you.