An annulment is an alternative to divorce that declares a marriage never happened. Many religious people seek annulments because their religion does not condone divorce. While popular, annulments are difficult to obtain, and are only granted for very specific reasons, such as:
- One party was married at the time of marriage
- Parties were the same sex
- Parties were closely related and not permitted to marry
- Refusal to consummate the marriage
- One party was under 18, and the party’s parents did not give consent
- Misrepresentation (e.g., one party hid serious mental illness, infertility, incurable impotence)
