St. Petersburg Annulment Attorney

Florida Law on Annulment

In Florida statutes, there is very little information that provides legal guidance on the annulment process. However, Florida courts filled the gray areas with case law that defines how, why, when, and where of annulment.

Annulments are generally more complex than divorce cases. Additionally, annulments in Florida are even more costly compared to divorce. This is a bit discouraging since you can file for annulment and reach the final hearing only for the judge to say no.

Annulments tend to be tricky. So to save yourself from wasting time, money, and emotional investment, work with an experienced annulment attorney. The legal guidance and representation that the annulment attorneys of Emerson Law can offer are proven invaluable. We will help you work with the law to get the annulment and favorable post-annulment agreements that you deserve.

Grounds for Annulment in St. Petersburg, Florida

If you decide that annulment is best for your marriage, know that Florida law has extremely limited grounds for this. Courts have provided guidelines that weighed issues surrounding annulment cases.

Here are the common grounds for annulment:

• Sham or fraudulent marriage. The union happened with one spouse being deceived about crucial information. Facts may also suggest that there was never any intent to live together as husband and wife. The claim of fraud must only be based on the behavior of one spouse against the other.
• Unconsummated marriage.
• Underaged spouse. If one spouse was under legal age when the marriage happened, the union can be considered illegal and be subject to annulment.
• Bigamy. Your marriage can be annulled if you or your spouse is still married to another person by the time of your union. This can be a very complicated case since bigamy is a crime under Florida law.
• Consanguinity. An annulment can also be granted if the marriage transpired between two blood-related individuals.
• Duress, concealment, mental incapacity. These are the least common grounds for annulment cases. Duress is when you are forced into the marriage. Concealment speaks about the failure to disclose important details that could affect a marriage. Mental incapacity is one spouse’s inability to think about and agree to a marriage.

If you want to pursue an annulment, it is best to talk to an annulment attorney first. Discuss your case and let the attorney explain all your possible legal options. Emerson Law has commendable annulment attorneys who can help you take the most appropriate legal measures specific to your case.

Effects of Annulment

After an annulment, your marriage is considered void. Legally, it never existed. You and your former spouse will be back in your single status and are allowed to marry again.

However, involved children and commingled assets cannot be declared non-existent. That is why courts will have to implement parenting plans and award child custody, child support, and alimony. Decisions like these that are similarly needed during a divorce case will still be made.

Florida courts will also give an order on how to divide properties between you and your former spouse. However, certain types of trusts, insurance beneficiary designations, and some other financial mechanisms are automatically dissolved.

If you want to know what are the full implications of having an annulment, talk to an annulment attorney. It is best to acquire trusted legal guidance for the whole voiding-of-marriage process.