Annulment vs. Divorce

If you’re considering filing for divorce, you might be wondering whether your marriage can be annulled. Before getting into the grounds for an annulment, it helps to explain what the difference is between a divorce and a legal annulment (as opposed to a religious annulment). When a court grants a divorce, it’s essentially saying that the spouses were once legally married and that their marriage is now over.

When a court grants an annulment, on the other hand, it’s saying that the spouses were never legally married to begin with. There are numerous grounds to get an annulment in Florida—including but not limited to bigamy, incest, incapacitation, fraud, and duress—and an experienced divorce attorney will be able to explain all of them to you.

Reasons to Get an Annulment

The decision of whether to pursue a divorce or an annulment is a very personal one. Many people request annulments for religious reasons—if your religion doesn’t accept divorce, for instance, you may need to get an annulment to be able to remarry. Although divorce is becoming more and more accepted in today’s society, some people also seek annulments to avoid to negative stigma associated with divorce. Others request annulments for financial reasons, since through an annulment each spouse will leave with the same assets and debts he or she had to begin with.

Experienced Divorce Attorneys Serving the Tampa Bay Area

If you’d like to know more about the differences between an annulment and a divorce, and whether you might be eligible for an annulment, turn to the knowledgeable attorneys at the Law Offices of Audrey A. Jefferis, P.A. We’ll gladly schedule a consultation to discuss this as well as any other questions you might have about the divorce process. Contact us today and let us know whether you’d prefer to meet at our main office in New Port Richey or our satellite office in Palm Harbor.