Towson Annulment Lawyer
When a person wants to end their marriage, they often think they have two options. They can either get their marriage annulled, or they can obtain a legal divorce. Unfortunately, not everyone is eligible for both of these, particularly annulments. Annulments are legally recognized in Towson, and throughout Maryland, but this process has very strict requirements placed on it. Below, our Towson annulment lawyer outlines what these are, so you can determine if the option is right for you.
What is an Annulment?
Before determining whether an annulment is right for you, it is critical that you first understand what an annulment is. When you get a divorce, you end your marriage but in the eyes of the law, the marriage was valid and did exist at one point before it was officially dissolved. When you obtain an annulment, on the other hand, it is as though the marriage never existed. Typically, to obtain an annulment, you must show that it was never valid in the first place.
Grounds for Annulment in Towson
Just as when trying to obtain a fault-based divorce, you must show that you have legal grounds to obtain an annulment. These grounds are as follows:
- You or your spouse coerced the other into getting married
- You or your spouse defrauded the other party in an attempt to convict them to get married
- You or your spouse is mentally incapable of marrying another person
- You or your spouse had a living wife or husband at the time you were married
- You and your spouse are more closely related than first cousins
- You or your spouse is under the age of 18 years old, unless the minor spouse is 16 or 17 and had the consent of their parents, or the minor spouse is pregnant and at least 15 years old, and had parental consent
Some of the above grounds for annulment have additional requirements placed on them. For example, if coercion is the reason you are filing for annulment, you must prove that the coercion existed at the time of the marriage ceremony. If it occurred afterward, you may have to obtain a divorce rather than an annulment. Additionally, to obtain an annulment based on fraud, the fraud must pertain to an essential element of the marriage. For example, if your spouse had a previous marriage and did not tell you about it, that would not constitute fraud. On the other hand, if your spouse had previously been declared insane and they kept this information from you, that could be enough to constitute fraud.
Our Annulment Lawyer in Towson Can Help with Your Case
If you believe you have grounds for annulment, you need a Towson annulment lawyer who can guide you through the process. At Lebovitz Law, our attorney has the expertise to advise on your case and prepare you for the process so you have the best chance of a positive outcome. Call us now at (410) 657-6494 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.
