Marriage Annulment
Providing clear, confidential advice on whether a marriage annulment is right for you
Marriage Annulment
Marriage annulment, also referred to as nullity, is an alternative legal method of ending a
marriage.
Unlike divorce, an application for annulment can be made within the first year of marriage or
at any time afterwards. However, if the application is submitted several years after the
wedding, the court may ask for an explanation for the delay.
To successfully apply for an annulment, you must prove that the marriage:
- was never legally valid (void), or
- was legally valid but qualifies as voidable under the la
Your marriage is not legally valid – ‘void’ marriages
A marriage may be annulled if it was never legally valid from the outset. This may apply where:
- the spouses are closely related
- one or both parties were under the legal age of marriage (under 18, or under 16 for
marriages before 27 February 2023) - one party was already married or in a civil partnership at the time
Where a marriage is void, the law treats it as if it never existed.
However, you may still need official legal confirmation, known as a decree of nullity or nullity
of marriage order, particularly if you intend to remarry or need proof for legal purposes.
Your marriage is ‘voidable’
A marriage that was legally valid at the time of the wedding may still be annulled if it falls under
certain circumstances, including:
- the marriage was not consummated (this does not apply to same-sex couples)
- proper consent was not given, for example due to pressure or force
- one spouse had a sexually transmitted disease (STD) at the time of marriage
- one spouse was pregnant by another person at the time of the wedding
- one spouse is undergoing gender transition
Until an annulment is granted, the marriage remains legally valid, similar to the position in
divorce proceedings.
The process for ending a civil partnership differs slightly, although the same court forms are
generally used
Transitioning of Gender
- Individuals may apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate to have their affirmed (acquired)
gender legally recognised in the UK.
Holding a Gender Recognition Certificate allows you to: - amend a UK-registered birth or adoption certificate
- marry or form a civil partnership in your affirmed gender
- update a UK-registered marriage or civil partnership certificate
- have your affirmed gender recorded on your death certificate
The certificate does not alter your legal status as a child’s mother or father
Ending a Civil Partnership
A civil partnership may be legally ended (dissolved) if it has lasted for more than one year. An
application must be made to the court to dissolve the partnership.
If you do not wish to dissolve the civil partnership, you may instead apply for a legal
separation, which can be requested within the first year of the partnership
Specialist Annulment Solicitors
Our annulment of marriage solicitors specialise in providing high-quality legal advice and
representation in annulment matters. With extensive experience and in-depth legal knowledge,
our team has successfully handled a wide range of annulment cases. We are committed to
guiding clients through the process with clarity, professionalism, and care.
A civil partnership may be legally ended (dissolved) if it has lasted for more than one year. An
application must be made to the court to dissolve the partnership.
If you do not wish to dissolve the civil partnership, you may instead apply for a legal
separation, which can be requested within the first year of the partnership