Is a divorce or annulment cheaper?
Asked by: Dr. Kristopher Wintheiser DDS | Last update: July 12, 2025Score: 4.1/5 (22 votes)
There is no superior option when considering whether to get an annulment or divorce. Both types of marriage dissolution can be costly and involve lengthy legal proceedings.
Is an annulment cheaper than a divorce?
An annulment is usually cheaper than a divorce proceeding. However, this is not sufficient reason to push for an annulment.
How long does annulment take?
How Long Does an Annulment Take? Since every case is different, it's difficult to put a timeline on the annulment process. That said, the most extensive cases can take anywhere from nine to 18 months, while some of the shorter ones take a matter of weeks.
Why would an annulment be denied?
At the time of the marriage, either party was already legally married. At the time of the marriage, either party was ruled incapacitated, incapable of making the decision to marry. At the time of the marriage, either spouse was a minor and did not have parental or court permission to marry.
Is getting an annulment easy?
The reality is more complex. An annulment is not easy by any means, and the church will examine your circumstances with an eye towards reconciliation and repair.
Annulment Versus Divorce
Is cheating enough for annulment?
A person who finds out a spouse is already married would have grounds to seek an annulment, but that goes beyond infidelity. While infidelity can destroy trust and end marriages, it doesn't nullify the legal bond recognized by the state.
What are the two most common grounds for annulment?
An annulment is a court ruling that a marriage was never valid. The most common ground for annulment is fraud and misrepresentation. For example, one person may not have disclosed to the other a prior divorce, a criminal record, an infectious disease, or an inability to engage in sex or have children.
Can you remarry without an annulment?
Without an annulment, the Church still views you as married to your former spouse, which prevents you from entering into another sacramental marriage. This is why seeking an annulment is crucial if you wish to remarry within the Catholic Church. Everyone deserves another chance at a life that reflects their faith.
What percentage of annulments are granted?
The short answer is perhaps between 80–90%. The long answer is more complicated. According to Pew Research, 26% of all divorced Catholics in the US have sought an annulment.
Can I get an annulment without my spouse knowing?
If a judge finds good reason to annul a marriage – and the judge has the support of one spouse or their representatives – then the judge will not need the consent of the other person to issue an annulment.
Do both parties have to agree to an annulment?
You don't need the agreement of both parties for an annulment to happen, but you do need persuasive evidence to prove to the courts why your marriage should be declared null and void.
What is the shortest time for annulment?
Your petition for annulment will be processed as soon as it is submitted, but it depends on the court's schedule when it will end. The overall duration to complete it may take six months up to four years, which is a long time, but it allows you to leave your marriage legally.
How much is it to get a marriage annulment?
Costs are always changing, as are filing fees, but you can often get your marriage annulled for a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
Why would someone want an annulment over a divorce?
Key advantages to getting an annulment include: Equal sharing of marital debt. You will not be required to pay more than your spouse for any outstanding debts that survive your marriage. An annulment will split any marital debts right down the middle.
Is it better to divorce or stay unhappily married?
A study showed that unhappily married adults who divorced were no happier than unhappily married adults who stayed married. Divorce did not typically reduce symptoms of depression, raise self-esteem, or increase a sense of mastery. Divorce or separation is likely the best outcome in a destructive marriage.
What happens if you don't report a previous marriage?
As long as the previous marriages ended legally, there is no legal requirement for disclosure UNLESS the marriage license specifically asks about them.
Why do annulments get denied?
Procedural Errors: Failing to follow the correct legal procedures, submitting incomplete documents, or lacking proper evidence to support the claim can lead to a denial of the annulment petition.
How long after marriage can you annul?
For example, in California, annulment requests should generally be filed within four years for fraud. However, states like Texas may require annulment petitions within a shorter time frame for specific grounds.
Is it easier to get an annulment than a divorce?
There are two main ways to formally end a marriage: annulment and divorce. An annulment declares that a marriage was never valid, while a divorce legally concludes a valid marriage. Annulments require a specific set of circumstances and evidence to be granted while a divorce is easier to attain.
Do you need an annulment if your ex-husband dies?
While most states don't void a marriage after one of the people in the marriage dies, since the need for the annulment would be based on hearsay of the surviving spouse or third parties, an annulment can take place if the marriage was illegal and therefore invalid when it took place.
What happens if you remarry without getting a divorce?
If you remarry another person before your divorce to your current spouse is final, this is considered bigamy. Committing bigamy in the United States is against the law in every state, and those who engage in it can be subject to both criminal and civil penalties.
How common are annulments?
Now, according to Vatican figures, about 50,000 annulments are granted annually by U.S. tribunals _ more than two-thirds of all annulments worldwide _ and less than 10 percent of annulment applications are denied.
What is the disadvantage of annulment?
Disadvantages of an Annulment
Issues or fault are highly probative in an annulment proceeding. 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 null and void marriage?
Nullity of marriage, on the other hand, means that the marriage is held null and void, that is the marriage is legally non-existent and a valid marriage did not take place at all. While divorce relates to sustainability of marriage, nullity refers to validity of the same.
Is infidelity grounds for 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.