When Just A Divorce Is Not Enough

In the State of New Jersey, you can seek to end your marriage by either filing a Complaint for Divorce or a Complaint for an Annulment. An annulment is different than a divorce because if the marriage is annulled by a court, the marriage never existed. In the State of New Jersey, it is difficult to obtain an annulment instead of a divorce because a court must find that you met specific criteria to warrant having the marriage annulled. Specifically, the person seeking the annulment must prove that his or her spouse perpetrated a fraud or made a material misrepresentation that goes to the essentials of the marital relationship. Such grounds for an annulment in the State of New Jersey would include but are not limited to fraud, lack of mental capacity, impotence, bigamy or incest. An annulment through the court is different than a religious annulment. If you seek a religious annulment, you should speak with your spiritual advisor as to what steps need to be taken. [Posted by Lynda Picinic, Esq.]