A fast marriage and an even faster divorce aren’t all that uncommon. Sometimes, you have options if your short marriage was built on untruths or plagued with problems from the start. Sometimes there aren’t any overarching problems but a simple realization that marriage isn’t for you. Divorce doesn’t have to be the end of your short marriage in Florida. You can file for an annulment. Ending a marriage can happen through either means, but where a divorce ends the marriage, an annulment voids it and treats it as if it never happened. Married couples seek annulments for a variety of reasons, like religion, for example. For many married couples, a marriage may conflict with their religion and family obligations. A divorce may have lasting ramifications that could cause future problems, so an annulment allows these couples the ability to end their marriage in a way that voids and erases it from the record.
Getting an Annulment in Florida
In Florida, to qualify for an annulment, you have to meet specific criteria. The state provides a few options for couples hoping to void their marriage. Florida law states that any marriage can be annulled if it is voidable. A voidable marriage is a marriage where both spouses can decide their fate, continue the marriage, or end it.
Criteria for Annulment in Florida
Those seeking an annulment in Florida will need to meet certain criteria:
- Inability to Consent: If you were married under certain situations, then it may be concluded you were unable to consent to the marriage. If you were drunk, on drugs, or suffering from an illness that caused mental confusion, you may have grounds for an annulment.
- Bigamy: If the person you married is already married to someone else, it is not a legal marriage. It is illegal to be married to two people at once.
- Impotence: When a spouse does not disclose impotence problems before the marriage, it can be grounds for an annulment.
- Fraud: A marriage can be annulled if one party was being deceitful and withholding vital details. If these details were shared, it might have prevented the other party from agreeing to the marriage.
- Coercion: An annulment can be granted if one party in the couple felt forced into the marriage or agreed to the union under duress.
- Underage Spouse: Some underage marriages are illegal. The consent of a minor’s parent is required for underage marriages; if it were not obtained, the marriage would be annulled.
Petitioning for Annulment
If you’re sure your marriage is over and you are ready to petition for an annulment in Florida, you will have to meet the criteria put in place by the state. An annulment is not like a divorce where the marriage is ended; this process will erase your marriage from records. Therefore, there are no spousal support or alimony payments at the end of an annulment. Both parties leave the marriage with their personal possessions.
Family Law Attorney
If you need a marriage annulled in Florida, hiring a family law attorney to review your case could be in your best interest. If you feel your situation meets the criteria for an annulment, an attorney can help explain the law and discuss your options.
If you need help with your annulment, then one of the attorneys from Tinny, Meyer & Piccarreto, P.A. would be happy to answer any of your questions. Call us at (727) 245-9009 or reach out to us online right now.