Divorce Lawyer in Tampa, FL
If you have been married for only a short time and wish to get an annulment, our family law attorney can assist you with this. An annulment is a preferred alternative for many who wish to avoid going through a divorce for religious or other reasons such as wishing to avoid dividing marital assets. There are several differences between an annulment and a divorce, and it’s important to understand them before choosing which best suits your needs. A family law attorney can help those who wish to terminate their marriage without going through a divorce.
Understanding the Nature of an Annulment
An annulment is similar in some ways to a divorce. They are both court ordered following a legal proceeding in which the marriage is officially dissolved. The primary difference between an annulment and a divorce is that an annulment basically erases the marriage from a legal standpoint so that it never existed.
- Because some religions do not permit followers to marry if a previous marriage ended in divorce, an annulment may be an ideal solution.
- Those who do not wish to divorce because they consider it a stigma may choose to get an annulment in order to avoid a divorce.
- A family law attorney can advise you as to whether or not the division of your and your spouse’s property will be handled differently in an annulment versus a divorce as this can be an important consideration.
- Certain criteria must be met in order for a couple to get an annulment. After a review of your case, our family law attorney can determine if you are eligible.
Criteria for Obtaining an Annulment
When a family law attorney takes your case, he or she will determine if your situation follows into at least one of the following scenarios which are necessary to meet annulment eligibility requirements:
- Your spouse acted fraudulently, misrepresented themselves to you, or concealed one or more important facts prior to marrying you. Here are but a few examples of these acts:
- They did not reveal to you that they cannot reproduce to have children.
- They did not reveal to you that they were already married and therefore could not legally marry you. Being married to more than one person is known as bigamy.
- They did not reveal to you that they addicted to alcohol, gambling, drugs, etc.
- They did not reveal to you that they have served prison time because of a serious criminal conviction.
- They did not reveal to you that they are involved in criminal activity.
- They did not reveal to you that they have a serious health condition such as a sexually transmittable disease or a life-threatening illness.
- Your spouse is physically or emotionally unable to consummate the marriage and as a result, there has never been consensual, sexual intercourse between you during the marriage.
- Your spouse is not in agreement with you about the desire to have children or to not have children.
If you would like to know more about your legal options for terminating your marriage, contact a law firm to schedule a consultation with a divorce lawyer Tampa, FL divorcees can rely on.
Contact The McKinney Law Group for their insight into family law and the divorce vs. annulment.
Tampa Divorce Lawyer