Family law
Annulment
Also called nullity
A court order saying a marriage was never legally valid because something was legally wrong from the start, such as bigamy. It is different from a divorce, which ends a valid marriage.[1]
In more detail
California's courts explain that a short marriage alone isn't a legal reason, and that in an annulment a judge may divide property and order spousal support only if one spouse believed in good faith that the marriage was valid.[1] Orders about children are still possible once parentage is established.[1]
Varies by state
Grounds and effects of annulment are set by each state's law. Find your state’s rules.
Related terms
- Dissolution of marriageThe legal term in many states, including Florida and California, for divorce: a court judgment ending a marriage.
- Legal separationA court process that divides property and debts and sets support and parenting orders while the spouses stay legally married.
- ParentageBeing a child's legal parent, with the rights and responsibilities that go with it.
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Sources
The official documents this definition is based on, with the date we last read each one. Definitions are in our own words.
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MediationList. (2026, October 28). Annulment: Definition. https://mediationlist.com/glossary/annulment/
APA 7th ed. A retrieval date is included only for pages whose content changes, such as maps, data and tools.