Divorce is not the only way to end a marriage and, in some cases, annulment may be the best or only available option. Whether you are eligible for an annulment can be complicated, so expert legal advice can be highly beneficial.
At Sharp Family Law, our annulment solicitors can advise you on whether you can get an annulment and then support you through the whole process. We will do everything in our power to make the process straightforward and keep any stress to a minimum for you.
Drawing on our extensive expertise with negotiation and non-confrontational dispute resolution, we can give you the best chance of securing an annulment without unnecessary conflict and emotional distress.
Our marriage annulment solicitors can help with matters such as:
- Grounds for annulment in the UK
- How to annul a marriage
- Division of finances on annulment of a marriage
- Child arrangements following an annulment
Speak to our annulment solicitors in Bristol, Bath and Bradford on Avon
For specialist legal advice on marriage annulment, please get in touch with our experts today.
To arrange an initial meeting with one of our marriage annulment solicitors, whether that is in person or remotely, please contact our local offices in Bristol, Bath and Bradford on Avon or use our simple online enquiry form to request a call back.
Frequently asked questions about marriage annulment
What is a marriage annulment?
A marriage annulment is a process where a court declares that a marriage either was not legal at the time it was entered into or that it is no longer legal. It is an alternative to divorce that may be preferable in some circumstances and is sometimes referred to as a ‘decree of nullity’.
How to annul a marriage
To annul a marriage in the UK, you must be able to show either that the marriage is void (i.e. it was never legally valid) or that it is voidable (i.e. there is a reason that the marriage should be voided). If neither of these annulment requirements applies, then a divorce will be required to end the marriage.
Reasons why a marriage might be void include if the spouses are closely related, one or both spouses were under 18 at the time of the marriage (or under 16 for marriages before 27 February 2023) or that one or both spouses were already married or in a civil partnership at the time of the marriage.
Reasons a marriage might be voidable include if the marriage was not consummated, one or both spouses did not properly consent to the marriage taking place, one of the spouses had a sexually transmitted disease at the time of the marriage and if one of the spouses was pregnant by someone other than their spouse at the time of the marriage.
Our marriage annulment solicitors will be happy to advise on whether you have grounds for annulment under UK law.
How much does a marriage annulment cost?
You will need to pay a fee to file a nullity application form. This fee is £593 as of August 2024. It is also recommended to have a solicitor assist with your application, so their fee will need to be considered.
What's the difference between an annulment and a divorce?
Annulment and divorce are both ways to end a marriage that can be used in different circumstances. There are different grounds for annulment than for divorce, so you will need to determine which is a better fit for your situation.
One of the most immediate practical advantages to an annulment is that you do not need to wait to apply for one. You must be married for at least a year before you can apply for divorce, but this is not required for an annulment, so it can be a faster option.
If a marriage is annulled on the basis that it was void, then another benefit would be that, legally, it would be as if the marriage had never occurred.
Does an annulment have to be mutually agreed?
No, an annulment does not have to be mutually agreed. However, it may be more straightforward if both parties agree to the annulment as a nullity petition can be contested if one spouse believes the marriage is valid.
What are the grounds for annulling a marriage?
As covered above in the section ‘How to annul a marriage’, it must be possible to show either that the marriage was never legal (it is ‘void’) or that it can no longer be considered legal (it is ‘voidable’). Expert legal advice should be sought if you need to annul a marriage in the UK to make sure that there are legal grounds for doing so.
When can you get an annulment?
You can get an annulment at any time after your marriage takes place. However, you may be asked to explain any significant delay in making the application.
You can read more about this subject in our blog When Can You Annul a Marriage?
Why choose Sharp Family Law for help to annul a marriage?
Sharp Family Law offers one of the largest teams of family law experts in the Bath and Bristol area. We have the expertise to handle all types of annulment requirements, making sure your best interests and those of your loved ones are protected at all times.
Independent recognition for our family law expertise includes:
- We are ranked by leading client guides the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners
- Several of our team are members of Resolution– the professional network for family lawyers committed to taking a non-confrontational approach to family law
- Richard Sharp is a trained collaborative lawyer and family mediator in both the UK and the USA
To find out more about our expertise, please take a look at our family law team.
Speak to our annulment solicitors in Bristol, Bath and Bradford on Avon
For specialist legal advice on how to annul a marriage, please get in touch with our experts today.
To arrange an initial meeting, whether that is in person or remotely, please contact our local offices in Bristol, Bath and Bradford on Avon or use our simple online enquiry form to request a call back.