what is a annulment

An annulment is a legal procedure that declares a marriage null and void, meaning that it is considered invalid from the beginning. Unlike divorce, it is usually retroactive, meaning that an annulled marriage is considered to have never existed. Annulments can be granted for specific grounds, which vary by state but may include fraud, coercion, undisclosed prior marriage, incest, or underage marriage. In the Catholic Church, an annulment is called a "Declaration of Nullity" and is a legal finding that a valid marriage was never contracted. In Illinois, an annulment is a judicial determination that a valid marriage never existed, and there are four grounds for annulment in that state. Annulments typically do not cost more than divorces, yet they can be more complicated depending on the state and situation.