Long Island Annulment Lawyers

New York law allows couples the option of ending your marriage by way of erasing it completely from your life. It’s not like a divorce where your marriage is over, but it still remains a part of your history. It’s called annulment, and it’s the virtual erasing of marriage. It did not happen. It did not count legally against you in any way, and you were never married in the eyes of the law, the court, and the world. Annulment is not available to all couples, but it’s an option if you meet the strict requirements to file for an annulment.

What is an annulment?

Annulment is the end of a marriage that allows it to go into non-existence. You will not get married in the future to your second husband. You will marry your first husband. You will not be considered a divorcee but rather a single person again. It erases your marriage, but you cannot just apply for an annulment and get it if you don’t meet the qualifications.

Grounds for Annulment in Long Island

New York laws recognize fraud as the most common ground for annulment. It covers a lot of ground. It could be marriage entered into without complete consent, through a lie, or even when one partner was still married to someone else.

– One of you was not mentally capable of making the choice to get married
– One of you was not of age at the time of the marriage but lied about it to obtain a marriage license
– You married under false pretenses
– One of you was already married to someone else
– The marriage is incestuous

There are various reasons you can claim fraud when you marry. Perhaps your spouse told you that he wanted the same big family as you. You planned a wedding, entered into a union, and began trying to start a family for years. It took years of failed attempts at pregnancy and expensive medical treatments only to find out your husband underwent surgery to have a vasectomy before you were married. He lied, and you are free to file for an annulment.

In New York, you have only three years from the date you discover fraud occurred in your marriage to file for an annulment. It’s commonly believed annulment can only occur if you’ve been married for a short time, but this is not the case. You may file for an annulment after years of marriage if it takes you that long to discover fraud occurred.

How can an attorney help with my annulment?

Annulment is a complicated procedure. Unlike divorce, this is a process that erases the fact you were ever married. It takes time, it takes knowledge, and it takes ample proof. You must be able to prove there was fraud in your marriage, you must be able to prove you deserve a second chance at getting married for the first time, and you must be able to handle the long process as it occurs as well as any complications that may arise.

An attorney is the best option for anyone looking into annulment in Long Island. An attorney can guide you, educate you, and walk you through the process. An attorney can help you file for and receive your annulment faster simply because he or she has the experience to get the process handled right from the start. This is an emotional time in your life, and it’s one you should allow yourself to grieve as someone with annulment experience walks you through this devastating process.