Getting An Annulment In Washington State

Annulments are rare in Washington State, but if you can prove to the court that your marriage is invalid, you may be granted one. Called a Decree of Invalidity, a Washington State annulment dissolves your marriage as if it had never existed. While most annulments take place less than a year after a marriage, getting your marriage annulled after that time frame is possible but rare.

A judge may declare your marriage invalid if:

• One or both parties were under age at the time of the marriage.
• One or both parties was married or involved in a domestic partnership at the time of the marriage.
• The parties that were married were unwittingly blood relatives.
• One or both parties were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the marriage – or were mentally incapacitated in any way.
• One or both parties were forced into the marriage.
• The marriage was never consummated.
• One or both parties lied on the marriage license; for example, one of the parties used a fake name or lied about their current marital status.
• One or both parties lied in order to have his or her spouse agree to the marriage; for example, one party lied about wanting to have children before the marriage took place.

If you believe you are in an invalid marriage in Washington State and would like to seek an annulment or a divorce, you should speak to a family law attorney today.