If your marriage is on the rocks and you and your spouse feel you have no choice but to separate, there is another route you may have the option to take instead of divorce: annulment. Divorce, by law, dissolves, terminates, or ends a legally valid marriage. Annulment, on the other hand, “erases a marriage by declaring the marriage null and void and that the union was never legally valid.” Although annulment technically erases your marriage, it is true that the marriage record will remain on file.
A simple way to understand the divorce vs. annulment topic is to think of divorce as ending a marriage, making both parties involved single again, while an annulment ends the marriage because the parties agree the marriage should not have happened or was never legal.
There are various reasons to turn to annulment rather than divorce, which include:
There are many other reasons for annulment, some of which can get very technical and messy. Many people turn to annulment due to religious reasons or the social stigma that comes with the term “divorce.” However, many people agree that divorce does not carry the same stigma it once did.
According to Lawyers.com, “The main benefit of annulment is the law treats the marriage as if it never existed. It’s over, and there are no further issues to deal with. Divorce, on the other hand, may mean involvement with your ex-spouse for years to come on issues such as support, property division, and raising children…Annulment isn’t for everyone. Only a small percentage of those who are married can even qualify for one.”
If you and your spouse are contemplating an annulment or divorce, be sure to contact an experienced family law attorney to walk you through the process and help you figure out which route will work best for you.
Whether you are going through a divorce, injured in an accident, need to file a workers' compensation claim, charged with a crime, immigrating to the United States, or need to file for bankruptcy, Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices can help. Our trial lawyers have over 40 years of experience helping clients throughout Northern Illinois from 3 offices in Lombard, Bloomindale, and Naperville.
Steven Mevorah has assembled experienced attorneys under one roof so that his clients need not search for a new attorney each time they need help. Mr. Mevorah has also established a wide network of additional attorneys so that his clients merely need to stop by Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices to find the attorney they need.
Our practice is focused on meeting your needs with flexible hours and locations to serve you:
