Can an annulment be called a dissolution of marriage?

Full question:

Could a decree of annulment ever be referred to as a dissolution of marriage?

  • Category: Divorce
  • Subcategory: Annulment
  • Date:
  • State: Virginia

Answer:

Annulments are granted by the court in specific, rare situations. The main effect of an annulment is to declare a marriage void from the start, meaning it is treated as if it never existed. This is referred to as a 'nullity.' In contrast, the final judgment in a divorce case is called a divorce decree, decree of dissolution, or judgment of divorce.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

The final decree of annulment is a court order that officially declares a marriage void. It states that the marriage is treated as if it never existed due to specific grounds such as fraud, coercion, or incapacity. Unlike a divorce, which ends a valid marriage, an annulment nullifies it from the beginning.