Many people use the words “divorce” and “annulment” interchangeably, but according to Pennsylvania law, the two words represent very different actions. Where a divorce is a legal dissolution of a contract that recognizes that a marriage occurred and addresses the legal implications of that marriage, an annulment essentially voids the marriage, essentially making it as if it never happened in the first place. That means that there will likely be no division of property and no potential for alimony. It is important to remember that an annulment in the eyes of the state are different from the eyes of a religious body. Being granted a religious annulment from your house of worship does not end your marriage legally in the eyes of the state. The grounds for an annulment in Pennsylvania generally fall into two separate categories: those that are void, and those that are voidable.
In Pennsylvania, an annulment can be issued for marriages that should the law says should never have taken place in the first place. These include:
Under the state’s family law guidance, marriages that fall into this category are legal if both parties want the marriage to continue but can be annulled if either party chooses to do so. These include:
If you believe that your marriage should never have taken place, an annulment may be the best answer for you. To speak with an experienced family law attorney about the options available, contact us today.