Annulment
Annulments and divorce are commonly mentioned along with one another as ways to legally end a marriage. However, it is important to understand that a few major differences between the two under Pennsylvania family law.
If you have entered into a marriage under false pretenses, an annulment may be a more efficient option for you than divorce. In order to determine the best route, contact an experienced family law attorney, who can help you decide which option is more suited to your unique situation.
Annulment Attorney in Chester County, PA
If you are in a seeking to have your marriage annulled in Pennsylvania, our dedicated team at Ciccarelli Law Offices can help you. Our divorce lawyers are highly qualified and represent clients in and around the cities of Downingtown, Exton, Coatesville, Phoenixville, Kennett Square, King of Prussia, and West Chester.
Call (610) 692-8700 to set up your free consultation so that our team of compassionate lawyers can begin helping you overcome this difficult time
Information on Pursuing an Annulment in Pennsylvania
- What is the Purpose of an Annulment?
- Scenarios Where a Marriage is Considered Invalid in Pennsylvania
- When Can a Judge Declare a Marriage Void?
- Working with the Best Annulment Attorney in West Chester, PA
What is the Purpose of an Annulment?
In Pennsylvania, if a spouse is seeking to file for an annulment, he or she must be able to show that the marriage was invalid or voidable at the time it was entered into. An annulment is different from a divorce in the sense that a divorce aims to end a marriage based on problems that arose during the marriage. On the other side, an annulment aims to dissolve a marriage based on problems that were present before the marriage took place. When an individual is granted an annulment by Pennsylvania’s courts, it is as if the marriage never existed.
Scenarios Where a Marriage is Considered Invalid in Pennsylvania
Some of the most common issues that can be used to deem a marriage invalid include:
- Either spouse was legally married to someone else at the time
- Spouses were blood relatives (within a certain degree)
- Either spouse had a mental disorder that made him or her incapable of consenting to marriage
Consulting with a knowledgeable West Chester divorce attorney would be beneficial when you are attempting to prove that your marriage was invalid at the time you entered into it.
When Can a Judge Declare a Marriage Void?
Marriages can also be annulled if they are valid but declared void by the court. A marriage is voidable if:
- Either spouse was under the age of 16 and did not have the consent of a parent or the court to enter into a marriage
- Either spouse was under the influence of drugs or alcohol and the annulment was requested within 60 days after the marriage ceremony
- A spouse was incurably impotent and the other spouse was unaware of it before the marriage
- Either spouse entered into the marriage under duress, coercion, fraud, or force.
Proving that a marriage should be voided tends to be more difficult than proving that a marriage was invalid, so consulting with an attorney experienced in such cases is advisable.
Finding An Annulment Attorney in West Chester, PA
The experienced divorce lawyers at Ciccarelli Law Offices will fight for individuals who are seeking to enter an annulment in Chester County, Delaware County, Lancaster County, Montgomery County, or the greater Philadelphia region. Ciccarelli Law Offices has extensive experience in helping spouses demonstrate that they have unknowingly entered into an invalid or voidable marriage.
Call (610) 692-8700 or send an online message for a free consultation so we can act as soon as possible. We are based in West Chester PA and serve clients throughout Chester County, Lancaster County and suburban Philadelphia including West Chester, Kennett Square, Oxford, Avondale, Landenberg, West Grove, Paoli, Malvern, Downingtown, Coatesville, Exton, Parkesburg, Berwyn and Devon. We have convenient meeting locations in Lancaster, Philadelphia, Plymouth Meeting, Kennett Square, Malvern, Springfield, King of Prussia, and Radnor. Our family lawyers serve those with immediate legal needs in Chester County, Montgomery County, Delaware County and Lancaster County.
Ciccarelli Law Offices takes a team approach to every case, and will ensure they your case gets the attention that it deserves.