Category Archives: Annulment

Should I Request an Annulment

Should I Request an Annulment?

We all know that marriages just don’t work out sometimes. But sometimes it’s obvious to observers or to one or both parties to a marriage that the marriage should not have taken place at all. When ending a marriage, you have some options: divorce, legal separation, and annulment. However, annulment may be the choice most shrouded in mystery. How many people have you known who actually annulled a marriage? It’s best to understand the process before answering the question, “Should I request an annulment?”

What Is Annulment?

When the legality of a marriage is at question, one party may ask a court for an annulment. If the court grants the annulment, then it’s as if the marriage never existed.

Always talk to an attorney for seeking an annulment. If you have children or own property, you may need to address legal obligations and assert legal rights.

Am I Eligible to Request an Annulment?

You must have a legal reason for having a marriage annulled. Can you answer “yes” to any of the following questions:

  • Did you marry a close relative or someone who is already married? Then your marriage was never valid. Talk to an attorney about severing any ties between you and the other party to your marriage.
  • Were you or your spouse under age 18? Young people can be impulsive. Under California law, you can annul a marriage when one or both parties are underage.
  • Were you and your spouse of sound mind when you married? Both parties must understand the consequences of a wedding ceremony. A party of unsound mind lacks the ability – or the capacity – to be married. A court may grant an annulment in these situations.
  • Did your current spouse lie to get you to marry? An unscrupulous person may lie about important issues in the lead up to the ceremony. The innocent spouse can request an annulment when fraud is present.
  • Was the marriage voluntary on your part? It’s possible to be forced into a marriage against your will. If this is the case, you may be able to request that the marriage be annulled.
  • Is your partner unable to consummate the marriage? No matter the reason, a court may consider this grounds for an annulment.

If you have found yourself in one of the situations mentioned above, then having your marriage annulled may be an option.

Should You Request an Annulment?

It depends completely on your situation and your goals.

The attorneys at the Law Offices of Judy L. Burger are experienced at all phases of divorce, legal separation, and annulment. Call us at 415-293-8314 to schedule a private appointment or visit our website. We maintain offices in San Francisco, Beverly Hills, Marin County, Santa Barbara, Ventura/Oxnard, San Jose, Gold River (Sacramento), and surrounding communities.
When Can a Marriage Be Annulled

When Can a Marriage Be Annulled?

Magicians sometimes wave a magic wand over objects to make them vanish. When it comes to making a marriage disappear, the courts don’t have a magic wand. Instead, judges wield California laws that allow annulment. However, under what circumstances can a marriage be annulled?

What Really Happens to an Annulled Marriage?

The marriage is considered invalid. In fact, it’s as if it never existed. Some marriages are always considered invalid, whether you request an annulment or not. Spouses cannot be close blood relatives or what might be considered an incestuous relationship. Also, spouses cannot be legally married or in a registered domestic partnership with someone else.

Marriages May Be Annulled Due to a Problem with One Partner

Of course, it takes two people to have a marriage. However, that relationship can be terminated if one spouse is:
  • Underage. Annulment may be granted if one or both people were under age 18 as of the wedding date.
  • Unsound Mind. If one party lacks the capacity to understand the wedding ceremony, the marriage may be dissolved. Someone who is underage, intellectually challenged, or senile may be unable to agree to a marriage.
  • Unable to Consummate. One party may request an annulment if the other party is unable to consummate the marriage due to a physical incapacity that is expected to be incurable.
Marriages may also be dissolved for other reasons.

An Annulment Might Be Requested Because of One Party’s Actions

Sometimes one party may do something that makes annulment possible:
  • Fraud. One party may lie or misrepresent an issue that directly affects the other party’s decision to marry. This is considered fraud. For example, green-card marriages can be dissolved through annulment.
  • Force. Marriages can be annulled when one party forces the other party to marry against their will.

A Marriage Can Be Annulled, but Deadlines Apply

Annulments must be requested within certain time frames. For example, you have four years after the date an underage spouse turns 18 within which to request an annulment. Other deadlines apply, depending on the reason for the annulment. Please call us at 415-293-8314 to discuss your case. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Judy L. Burger assist clients with divorce matters in San Francisco, Beverly Hills, Marin County, Santa Barbara, Ventura/Oxnard, San Jose, Gold River (Sacramento), and surrounding communities.
5 Reasons to Seek an Annulment

5 Reasons to Seek an Annulment

In California, couples who wish to end their marriages may get a divorce. Another option – annulment – may not be as well-known but can be the right choice for some. Though an annulment and divorce both dissolve a marriage, they have different meanings. A divorce terminates a valid marriage while an annulment states that the marriage was never valid. In fact, the invalid marriage is treated as if it never happened.

Marriages are always considered invalid if:

  • The couple are close blood relatives; or
  • One of the spouses was already married or in a registered domestic partnership with another person.

Read on to learn about five more reasons a couple may seek an annulment.

Underage

If one or both parties to the marriage were under age 18 at the time of marriage, then the court can declare that the marriage is invalid.

Lack of Capacity

If one or both parties were of unsound mind, the marriage can be annulled. Someone who is of unsound mind may not understand the consequences of the wedding ceremony or even understand that a marriage has taken place.

Fraud

Sometimes one spouse will coerce someone into marriage by misrepresenting certain issues related to their partnership. For example, lying about issues like the ability to have children or the fact that the couple are marrying to affect citizenship status can lead to an annulment.

Force

A marriage can be annulled when one party compels the other to be married against their Will. One example would be a girl that is forced to marry for religious reasons.

Inability to Consummate

One party to a marriage may be unable to consummate a marriage due to an incapacity that seems incurable and likely to continue. In that case, the marriage can be dissolved through an annulment.

Do You Need to File for an Annulment or a Divorce?

There may be some advantages to filing for an annulment, since the marriage is retroactively dissolved. If you need to terminate your marriage or registered domestic partnership, contact an attorney immediately.

Judy Burger is a California Certified Family Law Specialist, and founder of the Law Offices of Judy L. Burger. Please call our offices at 415-293-8314 to set up an appointment with one of our attorneys. We assist clients along the Northern to Central California Coast.

By When Must You Request an Annulment in California?

By When Must You Request an Annulment in California?
When many people hear of an “annulment” of marriage, their thoughts turn to religious annulments, such as those given by the Catholic Church. In family law, the term “annulment” refers to a judicial order declaring a marriage invalid; this type of annulment can only be granted by a judge in a civil court proceeding. Although an annulment makes it as if a marriage never occurred, in most cases, there are deadlines by which a request for annulment must be made. The legal term for the time period by which a lawsuit must be filed is “statute of limitations.”

In California, there are two types of marriages that may be annulled: void and voidable. A void marriage is invalid from the very start. Only two types of marriages fall into this category, those that are incestuous and those that are bigamous. The other six grounds for an annulment are known as “voidable” because it requires some action to invalidate the marriage. Those grounds are age, a prior existing marriage or domestic partnership, unsound mind, fraud, force, or physical incapacity. You can read more about the grounds for annulment at our earlier blog here.

The statute of limitations for requesting a civil annulment depends on the reason for annulment.

Age

The parent of a person who marries under the age of 18 years may request an annulment any time before the child’s 18th birthday. In addition, the minor who married while under age 18 may request an annulment before his or her 22nd birthday.

Earlier Marriage or Domestic Partnership

Either party to a marriage may request an annulment if one of them has a prior existing marriage or domestic partnership. Additionally, the earlier spouse or domestic partner may request that the marriage be annulled.

Unsound Mind

An annulment on the ground that one of the parties was of unsound mind must be requested before either party to the voidable marriage dies. Either the spouse who claims the other spouse was of unsound mind or a person who is legally responsible for the person of unsound mind may request the annulment.

Fraud

If one of the parties to a marriage entered into the marriage because of fraud, he or she may request an annulment within four years after discovering the fraud.

Force

A person who was forced to give his or her consent to marry may request an annulment within four years after the date of marriage.

Physical Incapacity

A spouse may have a marriage annulled on the ground that the other spouse was physically incapable of consummating their relationship. This type of annulment must be requested within four years of the date of marriage.

California laws include specific requirements that must be met for an annulment, and the person requesting the annulment must prove that one of the grounds exists. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Judy L. Burger have extensive experience in family law matters, including annulments. Contact us today to learn how our attorneys can protect you and your children: (415) 293-8314.

Best Interest of the Children: What Does It Mean for California Families?

Best Interest of the Children: What Does It Mean for California Families?
California courts often cite to the “best interest of the children” standard when making rulings and issuing decisions on family law matters.  Where does this language come from, and what does it mean for you?


California laws, in many places, refer to the “best interest of the children” or “best interest of the child.” The core statute on what this means is California Family Code § 3011, which is a general provision of law relating to custody.


Section 3011 lists several factors that courts must consider when determining what is in the best interest of children:

  • The child’s “health, safety, and welfare”;
  • Any history of abuse against a child, the other parent, or a parent’s significant other;
  • The nature and amount of the child’s contact with both parents; and
  • Either parent’s use of illegal, controlled substances, or habitual use of alcohol or prescribed controlled substances.

The “best interest of the child” standard applies to many types of proceedings:

  • Divorce;
  • Annulment;
  • Legal separation;
  • Actions for exclusive custody;
  • Custody or visitation actions under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act;
  • Custody or visitation actions under the Uniform Parentage Act; and
  • Custody or visitation actions under brought by a California district attorney.

The “best interest of the child” standard is also at play in related proceedings, such as child custody evaluations and parenting plans.


The California Legislature’s widespread application of the “the best interest of the child” standard shows its commitment to the health and well-being of children. In hotly contested child support matters, you need an attorney to fight for you and your child. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Judy L. Burger have extensive experience in divorce, child custody, and child support matters. Make the call today to learn how our attorneys can protect you and your children: (415) 293-8314.

What Is an Annulment and Am I Eligible to Get One?

What Is an Annulment and Am I Eligible to Get One?

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a divorce and an annulment? The term “annulment” is sometimes used to refer to a marriage being annulled by a church or religious authority. However, an annulment has a very specific meaning from a legal standpoint.

A judgment of nullity under California law is commonly called an “annulment”. Whereas a divorce represents the end of a valid, legal marriage, a judgment of nullity, once rendered, declares that no legal marriage ever existed.

There are two categories of annulments in California, marriages that are void and those that are voidable. Void marriages are illegal and void from the beginning. Only incestuous and bigamous marriages fall into this narrow category. Incestuous marriage is defined by law as those between close blood relatives, including parents with children, siblings with half siblings, and uncles or aunts with nieces and nephews. First cousins are not on this list. Bigamous marriages, on the other hand, occur when one of the spouses is currently married to someone else and that marriage has never been terminated, such as by divorce, death, or annulment.

The grounds for annulment based on voidable marriage are explicitly listed in California statutes:

  • Lack of capacity due to age (under 18) and no parental consent;
  • Lack of capacity due to unsound mind, such as extreme intoxication or mental impairment;
  • Consent to marriage obtained by fraud, such as misrepresenting the ability to have children;
  • Consent to marriage obtained by force;
  • Prior existing marriage, in which the party believed his or her spouse had been dead or missing for at least five years; and
  • Lack of physical capacity to be married, such as male impotence, that appears to be incurable.

Marriages based on these grounds are valid unless and until a court enters a judgment of nullity. There is a significant exception, however, for the first four of these grounds: The marriage is not voidable if, after the condition passes (age, unsound mind, fraud, or force), the affected party voluntarily lives with the would-be spouse. For example, if a person marries while 16 years of age but continues to live with the spouse once she is 18, her marriage will no longer be voidable.

There may be unintended consequences to annulments. For instance, there will generally be no right to spousal support because the marriage was never valid, and there will be no presumption of community property for assets acquired during the “marriage.” If children were born, their paternity will have to be adjudicated before custody, visitation, and child support can be determined by the court.

Specific time frames apply to each of these grounds for voidable marriages, and the facts of each situation can change the outcome. If you are interested in learning more about whether your marriage may be void or voidable, you should consult with an experienced family law attorney. Judy L. Burger has extensive experience in all family law matters in Northern California. Call her today or contact her online to learn about how California law applies to the facts of your case.

What are the Basics of an Annulment in California?

OopsWe recently discussed the ongoing saga of Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries. Our readers may recall that the couple split up after being married for a very short time. Kardashian wants a divorce while Humphries wants an annulment. Most people are familiar with divorce, but what exactly is an annulment and how do you go about getting one? An annulment is declared when a court determines that your marriage or legal partnership was invalid from the start.  The ten-dollar Latin legal phrase is “void ab initio,” when means void from the beginning. An annulment basically unwinds a marriage as though it never existed.  Some of the reasons a marriage can be declared void in California include bigamy and incest.  Other grounds for an annulment include:
  1. When one party was of unsound mind.
  2. When one party was induced to enter into the marriage by fraud.
  3. When one of the parties was forced into the marriage.
  4. When one of the parties was physically incapacitated at the time of the marriage and the incapacitation appears to be incurable.
If you feel that your marriage meets the criteria to be annulled, contact the Law Offices of Judy Burger today. At the Law Offices of Judy L. Burger, we will aggressively pursue the best outcome possible for you in your divorce or annulment proceedings.  Judy L. Burger is known for taking a firm stand for her clients in high conflict cases in and around the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento areas.  Call us today to learn more about how we can help.  Call (415)293-8314 in the San Francisco Bay area or (916)631-1935 in the Sacramento area, or contact us online via our confidential inquiry form.

In California You May Be Considered the “Baby Daddy” Without Being the Baby’s Daddy

PregnantCelebrities and the sometimes twisted lives they lead make for fabulous tabloid fodder – entertaining perhaps, but not usually educational per se. On the contrary, the current soap opera surrounding Kim Kardashian, Kris Humphries, and Kanye West provides the perfect scenario to learn about one aspect of California law most people may be unaware of. Kardashian and Humphries married on August 20, 2011.  Seventy-two days later, they split up and Humphries claimed the marriage was a fraud from the get-go.  In legal parlance, Humphries claimed grounds for an annulment.  Kardashian, on the other hand, wanted a divorce and denied any fraud on her part.  Leaving the intervening details to the tabloids, suffice it to say that as of January 2013 Kardashian and Humphries are still legally married. Which brings us to the twist in this story:  Kim Kardashian is pregnant and it’s no secret that the baby was sired by Kanye West.  Nonetheless, under California law, as long as Kardashian is married to Humphries, Humphries will be presumed by law to be the baby’s father.  Like other states, California has anti-bastardization laws, also known as parentage laws, which state when a mother is married, her newborn child is legally presumed to be her husband’s child. In other words, Humphries will be deemed to be the baby’s legal father unless he disputes parentage through the court system.  He will have all the rights and responsibilities of a father to include visitation rights and the duty to provide child support. Surely Kardashian and West can put together enough money for diapers and daycare, but you never can tell with some folks.  Humphries may want to take steps to protect his good name, especially since he claims he was never legally married to begin with. At the Law Offices of Judy L. Burger, we will persistently pursue the best outcome possible for you in your divorce, custody, or other family law matter.  Judy L. Burger is known for her aggressive representation of clients in high conflict cases in and around the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento areas.  If you are a parent facing a custody dispute, call us today to learn more about how we can help.  Call (415)293-8314 in the San Francisco Bay area or (916)631-1935 in the Sacramento area, or contact us online via our confidential inquiry form.

Planning for a Divorce in California

Erase Getting divorced is seldom a walk in the park.  Nobody gets married planning to go through a divorce sometime down the road.  But, life happens and people sometimes change or grow in different directions.  As family law attorneys, we see the effects of such changes every day.  The most common phrase we hear is “He (or she) is not the same person I married.” If divorce seems to be looming on the horizon, this is not the time to ignore the problem and hope it goes away.  Face the issue head on and start planning to ensure the best outcome possible. It goes without saying that choosing the right divorce lawyer is the first critical step in a divorce.  A consultation does not necessarily mean a commitment, but a qualified, experienced California divorce lawyer can answer questions you didn’t even know to ask.  A consultation is well worth the cost if it can save you thousands of dollars in costly mistakes. For those who plan to seek custody of the children, it is not too early to start a journal.  Chronologically record specific events that relate to your spouse’s interaction and relationship with the children.  Your attorney can help you distinguish which events are more important than others. Finally, put your accountant’s hat on and list all of the assets and debts you believe should (or shouldn’t) be included in the marital pie. Instead of thinking of divorce as an ending, think of it as a beginning.  You will have a chance to spend time thinking, planning, and dreaming.  Better relationships can be built with your children and extended family.  You will have a fresh opportunity to become comfortable with who you are rather than what someone else wants you to be.  And when you’re ready, you will have a chance to start over. Judy L. Burger is known for her aggressive representation of clients in high conflict cases in and around the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento areas. If you are a spouse facing divorce, call us today to learn more about how we can help. Call (415)293-8314 in the San Francisco Bay area or (916)631-1935 in the Sacramento area, or contact us online via our confidential inquiry form.