There is the dissolution of a marriage for various reasons and then there is the complete annulment of a marriage for one reason or another. Marriage is not something to be taken lightly and often, people take their time when in a relationship before they decide they want to commit their lives to another party alone. 

Sometimes, though, the emotions that come with love and affection can be overwhelming and obstruct our better intuition. In these situations, making rapid and rash decisions to rush into marriage can happen. But while impulsive marriages could or could not qualify for an annulment in Indiana, other situations may be enough reason for voiding a marriage. But when the reality of a bad marriage comes to the surface and is real, is voiding it even a possibility?

If you believe that you made a mistake or there were other factors present that motivate you to prefer nullifying your marriage rather than divorcing, Christopher L. Arrington is a Danville family law attorney that may be able to assist you. Understanding your options can help you with your decision.

When is an Annulment Appropriate in Indiana?

When you annul your marriage what you are essentially saying is that you were never married, to begin with. But, getting an annulment is not something that you can just easily do. There are only specific situations where annulment may apply. 

Still, where you live in the state of Indiana matters. The county in Indiana where you live has its own superior court. That court may have its own guidelines for a lawful annulment to take place.

Typically, though, some grounds for an annulment in Indiana include:

• When the marriage took place, one of the parties was not a legal adult.
• One of the parties in marriage was coerced into moving forward with the union via means of fraud.
• One of the parties in the marriage was intimidated or under duress which is why they agreed to the union.
• One of the parties in the marriage is still legally married to another person.
• The entities in the marriage are too closely related in terms of family ties.
• One of the parties can be determined mentally unsound.
• As of January 1, 1958, common-law marriages have the potential to be annulled. Common law marriages happen when two parties are paired together for such a long time that they are considered married but actually not legally married.

To get an annulment of your marriage in Indiana, you will have to file for a “Petition for Annulment.” When you do this, legally, you will be named the “petitioner” while the person you are petitioning against will be named the “respondent.” There are specific requirements in Indiana for annulment to be approved. 

Speak with an Indiana Family Law Attorney Today

Christopher L. Arrington is a Danville divorce attorney that can help you determine if you qualify for an annulment and what options you have when you want to dissolve your marriage. To schedule a free initial consultation with Christopher L. Arrington, please call (317) 745-4494 today.