Annulment

An annulment is a legal process that declares a marriage invalid, meaning it was never legally valid to begin with. Unlike a divorce, which ends a legal marriage, an annulment treats the marriage as if it never happened.

In Washington State, annulments are rare and only granted under specific circumstances. A court may approve an annulment if the marriage was determined to be based on fraud, force, or one spouse’s inability to consent due to mental incapacity. Other valid reasons include bigamy (if one spouse was already married) or if the spouses are closely related by blood.

If an annulment is granted, both parties return to their pre-marriage legal status, and property division or spousal support is generally not required. However, issues like child custody and support may still need to be addressed. Because annulments have strict legal requirements, speaking with a Seattle Family Lawyer can help determine if this option applies to your situation.