Could a decree of annulment ever be referred to as 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 only in certain rare cases. The legal effect is to void a marriage from the very beginning--as if the parties had never married. The marriage is said to be 'void,' or a 'nullity,' i.e., it never existed.

The court's final judgment in a divorce procedure 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.