Ventura Annulment Services

Understanding Annulments: What You Need to Know

Where a divorce ends an existing marriage, an annulment states that the marriage was not valid at any point. If granted, an annulment makes it so that legally, the marriage in question never existed. The process of getting an annulment is similar to that of obtaining a divorce.

However, there are many complex statutes of limitations that determine time limits on when annulments can be filed. Also, because being granted an annulment means your marriage never legally existed, there are serious financial and custodial ramifications that can arise and must be dealt with proactively.

Key Grounds for Annulment in California

In California, the individual seeking an annulment is required to provide sufficient proof to convince the judge of the invalidity of their marriage.

The request might be granted if it can be proven that:

• The couple is related by blood
• One spouse forced the other to get married
• Either spouse is of “unsound mind”
• A spouse was legally married already at the time of subsequent marriage
• The one seeking an annulment was a minor at time of the union
• Either spouse committed fraud to secure the marriage
• A spouse has an “incurable physical incapacity”

Reasons Your Annulment Request May Be Denied

The denial of an annulment request can occur due to various reasons:

• Lack of Legal Grounds: Each jurisdiction has its own set of legal grounds for granting an annulment. If the petitioner fails to meet the specific requirements set forth by the law, the court may deny the annulment petition.
• Delay in Filing: Annulments often have time limits or statutes of limitations, which means that the petition must be filed within a certain timeframe after the discovery of the grounds for annulment. If the petitioner waits too long to file the request, the court may reject it.
• Waiver or Ratification: If the petitioner continues to cohabit with their spouse or engages in behavior that indicates they have accepted the marriage, the court may view it as a waiver or ratification of the grounds for annulment.
• Procedural Errors: Failing to follow the correct legal procedures, submitting incomplete documents, or lacking proper evidence to support the claim can lead to a denial of the annulment petition. 
• Collusion or Fraud: If the court suspects that the parties are colluding to obtain an annulment based on false grounds or fraudulent information, the annulment may be denied.
• Condonation: If the petitioner forgives or condones the actions that would have provided grounds for annulment, the court may reject the petition.