How Is an Annulment Different from Divorce in Indiana?
When you get married, you never expect that it will end in divorce, but unfortunately, sometimes people grow apart and are no longer able or want to share their lives together. In these cases, you’ll need to file for divorce in order to move on with your life.
However, if you are in a marriage that may be invalid, you may want to consider seeking an annulment so, legally, it’s as if you were never married in the first place. Read on to learn more about how you can obtain an annulment in Indiana, and when pursuing a divorce would be more appropriate.
Grounds for an Annulment
If you’re interested in having your marriage annulled, it’s likely because you have reason to believe that your marriage isn’t legal or because it shouldn’t be legally recognized.
Marriages that aren’t legal happen when one spouse is already married at the time of the marriage in question, when a couple are blood relatives, or when one or both spouses were unable to give their consent to wed due to being under the age of eighteen.
A marriage should be annulled if either spouse wasn’t legally able to consent to the marriage, such as the case for those who are mentally ill or under the influence of drugs or alcohol when they were married. Other reasons for an annulment include one spouse being impotent without disclosing it to their partner before their wedding, and marriages entered into by force or coercion.
When You’ll Need to File for Divorce
If you were of sound mind and of legal age to consent to your marriage, in nearly any other circumstance than the ones described above, you will need to file for divorce when your marriage has dissolved. Generally speaking, one spouse will file for divorce on the grounds that the marriage has irretrievably broken down, though there are circumstances where one spouse is at-fault.
Some of these situations might include one spouse being convicted of a felony, or being diagnosed as incurably insane for a period of two years or more. Any questions you have about how to begin your divorce proceedings can be discussed when you come in for your complimentary consultation.
Contact an Indiana Family Law Attorney
Whether you are interested in getting divorce or obtaining an annulment, your experienced Indiana family law attorney at Rowdy G. Williams Law Firm can help. Schedule your free case evaluation today by filling out the brief contact form included below or by calling our office at 1-812-232-7400.
