What is an annulment?

An annulment is understood as a legal declaration that a marriage was never valid. This process formally nullifies the marriage, indicating that it was not legally legitimate from the start. The grounds for annulment can include reasons such as one party being underage, lack of consent, fraud, or incapacity at the time of marriage.

Unlike divorce, which ends a legally valid marriage, an annulment is focused on the idea that the marriage should be treated as though it never occurred. This distinction is crucial in family law because the consequences of an annulment can differ significantly from those of a divorce, affecting issues such as property division and spousal support.

In contrast to the other choices, a legal termination of a valid marriage refers to divorce, not annulment. The modification of marriage terms and separation agreements pertain to adjustments within an existing marital framework rather than addressing the validity of the marriage itself. Thus, the essence of annulment lies in declaring the marriage invalid rather than simply terminating or modifying it.