A. Annulment Defined
A. Annulment Defined
A. Annulment Defined
Annulment
a. Annulment defined
Annulment is a legal procedure for declaring a marriage as null and
void. An annulled marriage is considered to be invalid from the
beginning, as if it had never taken place. This means that the
individuals were never united in marriage as husband and wife.
Annulment is different from a declaration of nullity. Annulment applies
to a marriage that is considered valid, but there are grounds to nullify
it. Declaration of nullity applies to a marriage that is invalid since the
beginning.
b. Laws and Processes of Annulment
Marriages can be annulled by the court on the following grounds:
1. Either party was eighteen (18) years of age but below twenty-one
(21), and the marriage was solemnized without the consent of the
parents, guardian or person having substitute parental authority over
the party. You can only file the Petition within five (5) years after
reaching the age of twenty-one. But you cannot anymore file the
Petition if you have freely cohabited with each other as husband and
wife after you reach the age of twenty-one. Your parent/s or guardian
can also file the Petition anytime before you reach the age of twentyone.
2. Either party was of unsound mind at the time of marriage. You may
file the Petition anytime before the death of your husband or wife. But
for instance, you freely cohabited with each after he/she came to
reason, under this circumstance, you are already precluded by law
from filing the Petition.
3. The consent of either party was obtained by fraud. You can file the
Petition within five years after the discovery of the fraud, provided that
you did not freely cohabit with your husband or wife after your full
knowledge of the facts constituting the fraud. Sounds tricky?
4. The consent of either party was obtained by force, intimidation or
undue influence or otherwise known as shotgun marriage. You can
file the Petition within five years from the time the force, intimidation,
or undue influence disappeared or ceased. However, you are already
barred from filing the Petition if you have freely cohabited with your
husband or wife knowing that the force or intimidation had already
ceased.
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