For some people who are going through a divorce, they may wish that their marriage never happened. Unlike a divorce, which is the process of legally separating yourself from your former spouse, a marriage annulment is a declaration of the invalidity of a marriage. In a sense, a marriage annulment is as if the marriage never took place -- your legal relationship status is basically reset. While the idea of erasing a marriage may be favorable, the option is not available to all Illinois couples. There are certain circumstances that must be present before a marriage annulment will be granted.

Factors for Annulment

To begin the annulment process, a petition must be taken to the court. Once you petition the court for an annulment, you must provide evidence pertaining to the particular reason you are asking for an annulment. There are only a few specific reasons that a marriage annulment would be granted. These include:

Many residents of Illinois live under the false notion that should they be unhappy in their marital state, divorce is the only option available to dissolve the marriage. Fortunately, for many, this is not always the case and sometimes obtaining an annulment to invalidate a marriage is a great alternative. And although the terms divorce and annulment are often used synonymously, they are in fact different.

In a divorce you legally have a start and end date for your marriage. However, an annulment actually makes the union completely void and literally treats it as if the marriage had never occurred at all, thus rendering the marriage null and void.

Annulments are not applicable in every Illinois marriage, and are subject to a specific set of criteria designated by legislation. These lines can become blurred in many cases, making it incredibly important to consult with a professional family law attorney before proceeding.