This is an article that was contributed by our part-time writer.
To get a better understanding of the different ways that a marriage can be dissolved, it is important to know the difference between annulment and divorce.
The individuals who undergo divorce proceeding generally do this in order to end a union that is considered legal, whilst those who want to get an annulment in most cases request a declaration that would state that the marriage had been void from the beginning. Annulments might restrict a person's ability to get make any claims to divide assets, for spousal support, and several other aspects that are generally addressed throughout a divorce process.
Therefore, it is very important for individuals to fully understand the distinction between the two processes, since there are a number of factors to consider. In case you are thinking about getting marriage dissolution for any reason, you should seek advice from an experienced lawyer to go over the legal choices.
Reasons to get annulment
The court might decide to give an annulment in cases where:
One person enter into the marriage because of pressure or duress
There is a close biological link between both persons and they should never have been permitted to marry in the first place.
One person was mentally ill and not capable of getting into a marriage agreement
Legally one partner was not of the age to consent that required for persons to get married in a particular state
One of the partners committed a fraud, which might include disguising vital details such as a criminal record, sterility or impotency conditions, or infected with STD
Many people mistakenly think that an annulment is going to be given when it is requested just after the marriage. In many instances, the length of the marriage will not factor in the annulment determination.
In terms of getting a marriage annulled based on fraudulence, one partner must demonstrate that they had been unaware of the vital information about their companion prior to entering into the contract for marriage. This information can be a previous wedding, inability to have children, sexually transmitted diseases, or criminal convictions.
A marriage might be acknowledged as legally void when it is found that a partner had been lawfully married to another individual throughout the union. This differentiation generally is reliant on whether the previous spouse is deceased or if this person is still living.
So, as you can see it's important for people to be aware of the difference between annulment and divorce to ensure that the right procedures to get a lawful separation are fulfilled. It is also imperative for individuals to note that if they have shared assets to divide and also want to benefit from spousal support, then divorce proceedings would be more beneficial..