Annulment
An annulment is basically a declaration that a valid marriage is void. This is not the same thing as a religious annulment. The government and the courts do not recognize a religious annulment.
Grounds For An Annulment
There are many grounds for annulment including situations where one spouse was already married when the marriage occurred, the marriage took place due to threats or violence, the marriage involves someone who is mentally incapable of understanding what marriage is, the two people who were married are too closely related, the marriage cannot be consummated, the two people were too young at the time of marriage, or the people entered into the marriage by mistake.
Marriage For Immigration Reasons
Those who have married for immigration reasons do not typically qualify for an annulment. The only time this is a situation where one would qualify for annulment is if they meet one of the normal grounds for annulment as well.
Annulment For Sexual Reasons
Many people consider annulment if they are in a marriage where one partner does not want to have sexual relationship with one another. The wish to not have sex with your partner does not qualify you for annulment, but if one of the parties cannot have sexual relations that is grounds for annulment.
Your Rights If You Get An Annulment
In Ontario and most other places, your rights – for instance to child support and child custody — are about the same as if you were separating or divorcing.
Cost of Annulment
An uncontested annulment is more costly than an uncontested divorce. This is because there is a streamlined process for obtaining an uncontested divorce in Ontario, under which no court appearance is necessary. No such process exists for annulments, which requires a court appearance.
Short-Term Marriage
Just because your marriage is only one week long and was the biggest mistake of your life does not mean that you qualify for an annulment. You must still meet the normal grounds for an annulment.
Further Thoughts
It’s very rare that a person actually qualifies for an annulment; normally if you want to end your marriage civilly, you must proceed with a divorce.