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Annulment of Marriage in Connecticut


Guide to Annulment of Marriage in Connecticut

Not all marriages in Connecticut are ended with divorce or the death of a spouse.  In some limited circumstances, an annulment of marriage in CT can be granted.  Annulment differs in key ways from a divorce, and can only be obtained if you can prove to the court that you have grounds.  This guide will explain the process of annulment of marriage in Connecticut, including how annulment is different from divorce and what grounds qualify for an annulment.

Divorce vs. Annulment of Marriage in Connecticut

When two people obtain a divorce, there is no question that their marriage was previously valid.  Divorce simply ends a relationship—an annulment of marriage in CT, however, retroactively voids the marital relationship.  In other words, if you obtain an annulment of marriage in Connecticut, for legal purposes, it is as if you had never been married at all.

Grounds For Annulment of Marriage in Connecticut

There are only a few reasons that a couple may obtain an annulment of marriage in CT.  Couples who can prove one member of the couple was already in a marriage at the time of their wedding will be granted an annulment of marriage in Connecticut with minimal legal resistance, as will people who discover that they are related more closely than is allowed by state law for married couples.

Another reason that a couple may request an annulment of marriage in CT is if one party was incapable of giving free consent.  This could be because force or fraud was used to compel the person into a marriage, or because one spouse was coerced.  This is a substantially more difficult charge to prove in court, and you will only be granted an annulment of marriage in Connecticut if you have stopped living together as soon as the force, fraud, or coercion ended.

Alternatives to Annulment of Marriage in Connecticut

Because an annulment of marriage in CT can only be obtained for specific reasons, you may not be able to get an annulment even for a very short marriage.  If you believe you will not qualify for an annulment of marriage in Connecticut, a divorce attorney can talk to you about filing for a no fault divorce.  For the most part, the consequences of a divorce and annulment of marriage in CT are the same—your property will still be divided, and if you have children, custody arrangements and support will be ordered by the court.

For some couples, because annulment of marriage in Connecticut can be a long and expensive process (particularly if the grounds are force or fraud), a no-fault divorce may be a good alternative even if they qualify for annulment.  If both members of a couple agree about how to divide their property, they can usually obtain a no fault divorce quickly and inexpensively.

Religious Annulment of Marriage in Connecticut

While a divorce attorney can help with an annulment of marriage in CT, religious annulments are typically not something a lawyer can handle.  Every religious denomination has its own rules for annulment that can be significantly different from the state requirements, and the grounds available for an annulment may be significantly different.  It is best to talk to a religious leader in your faith if you want to seek a religious annulment of marriage in Connecticut.

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