Those who wish to end their marriage as quickly and painlessly as possible often consider several divorce options. One alternative many want to pursue is having their union annulled instead of obtaining a formal divorce.
While annulments are granted in the Chicago region, they are only permitted under specific circumstances. In other words, most couples do not have sufficient grounds or reasons for an annulment instead of divorce.
Why are there stricter requirements?
An annulment essentially erases a marriage, making it as though the couple never tied the knot. Courts may use this method to undo legal unions that should never have occurred. Examples of grounds or conditions that qualify for annulment procedures include the following.
- One spouse was too young to marry legally
- The marriage occurred out of fraud on a spouse’s part
- One spouse was forced or coerced into getting married
- The two spouses are related through marriage or blood
- The couple cannot physically consummate the marriage
- One spouse suffered incapacity from an illness or condition during the wedding
- One spouse was too intoxicated (on drugs or alcohol) to give meaningful consent
In situations where one spouse was already wed legally to another, the couple may also seek to have the marriage annulled.
Don’t fear divorce
You do not need to worry as much about getting a divorce as you might believe. With professional guidance and as much advance preparation as possible, you can emerge from your divorce with a favorable overall outcome. It also serves your best interests to learn the legal ins and outs of divorcing in Illinois.