Tampa Annulment Lawyer
When couples decide to divorce early on in their marriage, they often believe they can get their marriage annulled. This is not always the case. A divorce and an annulment are not the same thing. An annulment makes it so the marriage has never existed. The marriage is deemed null and void. However, not all marriages qualify for annulment, so it can only be done under certain circumstances. Does your marriage qualify for an annulment? Contact the Tampa annulment lawyer at Faulkner Law Group, PLLC to schedule a consultation and learn more about your legal options.
Annulment vs. Divorce
So what is the difference between annulment and divorce? Divorces end valid marriages, while annulments are used to end invalid marriages. An annulment makes it so the marriage never existed, so a person can return to single status. Typically, there is no alimony or property division to deal with. However, sometimes children are born in voidable marriages. In these cases, parental rights do not end with an annulment. Child custody and support are still applicable.
Annulments are for voidable marriages, which means the marriage never existed in the eyes of the law. If the marriage did legally exist, then the only way to dissolve it is through divorce. The only reason you need to divorce is irreconcilable differences, which basically means you and your spouse do not get along.
When Can I Get an Annulment?
Annulments are available only for illegal marriages. Illegal marriages may have any of the following elements:
- A person who is currently married cannot get married to another person at the same time. If a person is going through the divorce process, the divorce must be finalized before remarriage.
- This refers to marrying a blood relative, such as a sibling, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew, or niece.
- A person must be at least 18 years old to get married in Florida, or 17 with parental consent.
- One person is unable to have sexual intercourse.
- One person has a mental disability and did not understand what they were getting into.
- One person did not want to get married but was forced into the marriage through threats of physical harm.
- One spouse purposely deceived the other through misrepresentation or by providing false information.
If you think your marriage is void, discuss your case with an experienced family law attorney. There is no specific law that governs grounds for annulment, so judges often look at each situation on a case-by-case basis to determine if the marriage is indeed void or voidable.
Contact Us Today
Ending a marriage can be hard. It’s good for couples to understand their options and in some cases, an annulment may be available. Get help from The Faulkner Law Group, PLLC. We’ll give you the advice you need so you can end your marriage with ease. To schedule a consultation with our Tampa annulment lawyers, fill out the online form or call (813) 544-3919.
