How to Annul a Marriage in Ohio
When Ohio residents seek to end a marriage, they may have more than one option. Divorce is the default choice for most couples, but some qualify to have their marriage annulled. Keep reading to learn DoNotPay's tips for getting an annulment in Ohio, and it's not the same as a divorce.
How an Annulment Differs From a Divorce
Both divorce and annulment terminate a marriage. The difference is this: when an annulment ends a marriage, it's legally void—in the eyes of the law, it never happened. So going on the theory that it didn't exist, there is no consideration about the three big sticking points in a divorce:
- No property division
- No property settlement
- No alimony
The reasoning is this—if the marriage never happened, there is no cause for a settlement.
Can I Pick Whether to Get an Annulment or Divorce?
The answer is maybe, but probably not. Annulments can only be granted under certain conditions, and most involve the marriage being either prohibited or non-consensual. Every state has different grounds for annulment; these are the circumstances that will grant an annulment in Ohio.
Grounds for Getting an Annulment in Ohio |
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The Common Thread
You've probably noticed a common thread through the criteria for an annulment—that the marriage is not happening by mutual consent and that consummation qualifies as a form of mutual consent. There are certainly some circumstances where the consummation is not mutual, and the courts have leeway with annulments in these cases.
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I’m Pregnant–Can I Still Get an Annulment?
If you meet one of the criteria for an annulment, your gestational status is irrelevant to the dissolution of your marriage. It is more difficult to obtain an annulment if you are expecting it because the courts consider consensual sex a barrier to an annulment.
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What About Alimony?
You can't get alimony for a marriage that never happened. If there are children from the marriage, child support is an entirely different issue as any offspring obviously exist.
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How Long Will It Take To Get My Marriage Annulled?
Although annulments don't carry the baggage of divorce, it's still legal proceeding and takes time. If both parties agree, plan for a few months. If one spouse is not agreeable and it goes to court, it can take a year or more.
DoNotPay Is Here to Help You Get Started
If you think you have grounds for an annulment but don't want to spend thousands of dollars on an attorney, DoNotPay is here to give you a hand with the preliminary paperwork. Our system can determine if you're eligible for an annulment and let you know the steps for filing. It costs $150 to file in Ohio, and you have to be at the county courthouse in person. Here's all you have to do.
- Search for Annulment on the DoNotPay website.
- Kick-off the process to see if your marriage is eligible for an annulment.
- Answer some specific questions about your marriage and see if your state law allows for an annulment.
Can DoNotPay Help Me Untangle Other Stuff From the Marriage?
Our state-of-the-art system can actually give you a hand with managing the details of marriage dissolution and other things. We can help you with
- Divorce Certificates
- Figure out credit cards and file claims
- Help recover missing money
- and file insurance claims
It doesn't matter if you're not ending a marriage; we can also manage notary appointments and small claims court.
Consider DoNotPay your one-stop shop for anything with red tape and hoops to clear.