Pam Splits From Hubby #3

Meanwhile, Anderson’s claim of “fraud” as grounds for the annulment could mean a number of things including her husband’s concealment of important facts like sterility, sexual preference, criminal history, or sexually transmitted disease, says Aaron Larson, a Michigan attorney.

In addition to fraud, there are other specific circumstances under which annulments can be granted.  Larson says, a marriage can be annulled if the spouses are close biological relatives, if either spouse was not of the mental capacity to enter into a marriage, if either spouse was not of legal age to consent to marriage, if either spouse entered into the marriage as a result of threat, force or duress, and if either spouse was married to another living person at the time of the marriage.

Although an annulment is different from a divorce, it is important to get the right legal assistance. The terms under which the marriage is viewed by law are different but things like finances and children, if involved, are treated as if there was a divorce.  

If children are involved, agreements on child support and custody would be made as if their parents were getting divorced says Pollard.  Many courts are hesitant to grant an annulment once a couple has had children, but it does occur.