While we hope you and your families are safe during this COVID-19 crisis, we want you to know that our office remains open. If you wish, we can arrange virtual conferences if office visits are not practical. Please contact us.

With the right attorney for your legal matter, you can avoid an endless, confusing maze.

Andrew A. Bokser - Family Law

Brooklyn:718-834-1904

[et_pb_stop_stacking _builder_version=”3.17.6″][/et_pb_stop_stacking]

With the right attorney for your legal matter, you can avoid an endless, confusing maze.

  1. Home
  2.  » 
  3. Divorce
  4.  » Annulments

An Annulment Declares The Marriage Void

In New York, either a divorce or an annulment will end a marriage. However, an annulment goes a step further, declaring the marriage null and void. When you get an annulment, it’s as if your marriage never existed.

If you are seeking an annulment, attorney can guide you through the process. With offices in Brooklyn and Garden City, he represents clients in family law cases throughout the New York City area, including Nassau and Suffolk counties.

When Can I Get An Annulment Instead Of Divorce?

Some people seek annulments in short-term marriages. However, the realization that you made a mistake is not grounds for an annulment, nor can you obtain an annulment simply because you are opposed to divorce for religious reasons.

In New York, an annulment may only be granted in cases of fraud or duress. Examples include:

  • Your spouse coerced you into marrying him or her.
  • Your spouse misrepresented himself or herself. For example, your spouse may have said that he or she wanted to have children, but you later found out that your spouse was unable to have children and knew so at the time of the marriage.

To obtain an annulment, your lawyer must be able to prove that there was an intent to deceive on the part of your spouse. Some people choose annulment instead of divorce because fraud does not qualify as grounds for divorce in New York, but does qualify as grounds for an annulment.

What If My Spouse Was Already Married?

If your spouse was already married at the time he or she married you, then your marriage was never valid to begin with. However, you can still petition the court for an annulment.

Discuss Your Options With Family Lawyer

To discuss the facts of your annulment with attorney at our Brooklyn or Garden City law office, call or fill out our contact form. Evening appointments are available.