Divorce isn’t the only way to end a marriage in Connecticut. State law also allows for a civil annulment.
A civil annulment is different from a religious annulment. Civil annulments are granted by courts and are based on statutory authority. Once granted, a civil annulment declares a marriage legally void.
Eligibility for a civil annulment
Before granting a civil annulment, a court must determine that something about the marriage itself was not legally valid. For instance, if the court determines the spouses were not permitted to legally marry due to the degree of their family relationship, the court may grant the annulment.
Other ways to qualify for a civil annulment include bigamy. The marriage may be considered bigamous if one of the spouses was already legally married at the time of the marriage.
Certain defects in the marriage ceremony can also present grounds for an annulment. For instance, if the officiant presiding over the marriage ceremony was not authorized under state law to perform a legal marriage, the marriage may be declared legally void. Another reason a marriage may be annulled is in circumstances when concealment is claimed such as if one spouse hides a health or physical condition that negatively impacts the spouse’s ability to perform the duties and obligations of the marriage relationship, or is dangerous to the health of others.
Family law attorneys can help people who are seeking to end a marriage through divorce or annulment. Couples should be familiar with all the family law tools available to them and how they can help with any family law concern.