Seattle Annulment Lawyers

Declaring a Marriage Invalid in Washington

Formerly called “annulment,” a marriage can be declared invalid under certain circumstances. The difference between a divorce and a declaration of invalidity is that a divorce ends the marital status as of the time of the entry of the decree of invalidity; a declaration of invalidity makes the marriage invalid as of its inception.

Because the grounds for declaring a marriage invalid are very rigid, you need an experienced family law attorney to assist you. At Anderson, Fields & McIlwain, Inc., P.S., we have been providing divorce and family law representation since 1977. You can rely on our lawyers’ knowledge and skill for declaring your marriage invalid and guiding you through issues such as property division and child custody. To schedule an appointment, please call us at 206-905-4290 or toll-free 866-970-4558 or contact us online.

Grounds for an Annulment of a Marriage

A decree of invalidity can be obtained for several reasons, including:

• Marriage to a close relative
• One or both spouses being coerced or forced into marriage
• One of both spouses lacking the mental capacity to marry
• Fraud — one party was already married
• The marriage was never consummated

If any of the preceding statutory grounds are present and both parties agree on all issues, a marriage may be declared invalid immediately after filing. However, any disagreement will result in the same timeline that applies to divorce cases.

Just like in a divorce, a couple invalidating their marriage must address property division, maintenance, child custody and child support. We can assist you with these issues and make sure your rights are protected.

Please call our office at 206-905-4290 or toll-free 866-970-4558 for an appointment with our Seattle annulment attorneys.