How long does an annulment usually take?
Asked by: Makenna Leannon | Last update: February 16, 2026Score: 4.6/5 (44 votes)
Annulment timelines vary greatly, from a few months for simple cases to over a year, with Catholic Church annulments typically taking 9-18 months but sometimes longer due to caseloads, uncooperative spouses, or complex grounds, while civil annulments in the US can be quicker (months) if uncontested but longer (up to a year or more) if contested. Key factors are the court's backlog, your cooperation, the spouse's response, and if the case is contested or uncontested.
How long does it take to annul a marriage?
The time limit to annul a marriage depends heavily on the grounds, but it's often within four years of the marriage or discovery of the issue, though some reasons, like bigamy or incest, may allow it at any time, while continuing to live together after finding grounds for annulment can void your right to one. Common timeframes include within four years for force, fraud (from discovery), or physical incapacity, while mental incapacity or bigamy often have no strict limit before death, but living together afterward can matter.
What qualifies for an annulment in AZ?
In Arizona, you qualify for an annulment if the marriage was void (automatically invalid, like bigamy or incest) or voidable (valid until annulled) due to fundamental flaws at the start, such as fraud, duress, lack of mental/physical capacity, being underage without consent, or intoxication, requiring proof the marriage never legally existed, not just that you want out. You also must meet Arizona's 90-day residency requirement before filing.
What qualifies for an annulment in FL?
To get an annulment in Florida, you must file a Petition for Annulment in circuit court, proving specific grounds like fraud, bigamy, or lack of consent, because Florida lacks specific annulment statutes, relying on precedent, making legal counsel crucial to show the marriage was void or voidable. The process involves filing the petition, serving your spouse, providing strong evidence, and potentially attending a hearing, with the court potentially granting a divorce if grounds aren't met.
Why do annulments take so long?
For a marriage to be annulled, it actually has to be judged twice. And the process will take even longer if the second-instance tribunal does not agree with the decision made in first instance.
How Long Does An Annulment Take? - Get Divorce Answers
Why do annulments get denied?
Reasons an Annulment Request May Be Denied
Not having enough evidence is a common problem; for example, if you claim fraud but don't have enough proof, the annulment might be denied. It's important to gather strong and convincing evidence before making a request. Mistakes in the process can also cause denial.
Can you date during annulment?
Dating while an annulment is pending could potentially lead to allegations of adultery. Adultery is a criminal offense under the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines (Article 333). Adultery is committed by a married woman who has sexual intercourse with a man other than her husband.
Which is faster, annulment or divorce?
Common Myths About Annulments in California
Myth: Annulments are faster than divorces. Truth: Annulments can take just as long—or even longer—because you need legal proof. Myth: An annulment erases all records of marriage. Truth: The marriage is still documented but legally treated as invalid.
How much does an annulment cost?
An annulment is utilized by couples to render a marriage invalid. It is essentially a legal procedure that makes it appear that you and your partner should not have been married in the first place. The average annulment will cost between $500-$5,000, according to Costaide.
What are valid reasons for annulment?
A marriage qualifies for annulment if it was invalid from the start due to grounds like bigamy, incest, fraud, duress, mental incapacity, being underage, or physical incapacity (like impotence) at the time of the wedding, essentially meaning the couple couldn't legally consent or the union never truly met legal requirements. Annulments declare a marriage void, as if it never happened, unlike a divorce which ends a valid marriage.
Why is annulment worse than divorce?
Because an annulment means a marriage was never legally valid, any prenuptial agreements are typically also invalid. Generally, neither partner has a right to the other's personal property or money the way they may in the case of a divorce.
Who loses more financially in a divorce?
Statistically, women generally lose more financially in a divorce, experiencing sharper drops in household income, higher poverty risk, and increased struggles with housing and childcare, often due to historical gender pay gaps and taking on more childcare roles; however, the financially dependent spouse (often the lower-earning partner) bears the biggest burden, regardless of gender, facing challenges rebuilding independence after career breaks, while men also see a significant drop in living standards, but usually recover better.
Does annulment erase the marriage entirely?
When ending a marriage, most people think of divorce. But in some cases, the law allows for something different: an annulment. While divorce acknowledges that a valid marriage has ended, an annulment wipes it away entirely, as if the marriage never happened.
What evidence is needed for annulment?
Evidence needed for an annulment focuses on proving the marriage was invalid from the start, requiring documentation like messages, medical records, or financial statements to support grounds like fraud, bigamy, incest, duress, underage, or incapacity, often supplemented by witness testimony to show the defect existed at the time of the ceremony. The core evidence must prove the marriage was never legally valid, not just unhappy.
Why would someone want an annulment instead of a divorce?
People seek annulments instead of divorces for religious, social, or financial reasons, wanting the marriage treated as if it never existed due to fraud, force, bigamy, incest, or incapacity (like mental state or age) at the time of the wedding, avoiding divorce's stigma and potentially bypassing property division or alimony. An annulment declares the marriage legally void, while a divorce ends a valid one, so eligibility depends on proving specific legal grounds, not just marital breakdown.
What are the most common grounds for annulment?
The most common grounds for annulment involve fraud, bigamy, incest, underage marriage, mental incapacity, duress, and impotence, all focusing on the idea that the marriage was never valid from the start, unlike divorce, which ends a legal marriage. Common issues include one spouse hiding major facts (like infertility or a criminal record) or being unable to consent due to intoxication, mental illness, or being forced into the union.
Do both parties have to agree to an annulment?
Legal reasons a judge can annul a marriage. You can only get an annulment if you can prove to the judge that there is a legal reason your marriage wasn't valid from the start, even if you both agree to an annulment.
Can you marry again after an annulment?
Yes, a person who has undergone an annulment can remarry. Once a marriage has been annulled by a court, the individuals involved are considered legally single. The annulment process, once finalized, results in the issuance of a Decree of Annulment, which officially declares the marriage null and void.
Is it hard to annul a marriage?
In fact, when it comes to annulment versus divorce, divorce is often easier because all states have no-fault divorce. Grounds for annulment are quite specific, and you must prove them if you want your marriage annulled.
Can I remarry without annulment?
Can you remarry without an annulment? No, you need to finalize a divorce or get an annulment before you can legally remarry. Otherwise, you might face bigamy charges, which are illegal everywhere. If you're thinking about remarrying and are unsure about annulment or its effects, it's important to get legal advice.
How long does the average annulment take?
Annulments can range from a few weeks to several months. The timeline largely depends on the case's details, the legal reasons for annulment, and the completeness of the paperwork and proof provided.
What are the benefits of an annulment?
Like a divorce, an annulment releases you from your voidable marriage and allows you to remarry legally. There is no division of property following an annulment. Unlike a divorce, wherein both parties may have conflict over who owns what and how to divide marital property, an annulment skips that complex step.
What are the disadvantages of annulment?
Disadvantages of an Annulment
Unlike divorce, where fault is not an issue, in an annulment proceeding fault can have a huge impact on how property is split, whether support is issued and how attorney fees are paid. There is no per se community property.
What is the 5 year remarry rule?
Ideally, an individual who obtained a green card through marriage should wait at least 5 years before getting remarried to a foreign national.
Are cheating grounds for an annulment?
It is more difficult to get an annulment than it is to get a divorce. Before your marriage can be annulled by the court, you will be required to prove that you have valid grounds for an annulment. Infidelity is not recognized as one of the grounds for annulment.