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lang="en"> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <div class="gem-c-title govuk-!-margin-top-8 govuk-!-margin-bottom-8"> <h1 class="gem-c-title__text govuk-heading-xl"> Annul a marriage </h1> </div> <a class="gem-c-skip-link govuk-skip-link govuk-!-display-none-print" data-module="govuk-skip-link" href="#guide-contents">Skip to contents of guide</a> <aside class="part-navigation-container" role="complementary"> <nav class="gem-c-contents-list" aria-label="Pages in this guide" role="navigation" data-module="gem-track-click"> <h2 class="gem-c-contents-list__title"> Contents </h2> <ol class="gem-c-contents-list__list"> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed gem-c-contents-list__list-item--active" aria-current="true"> When you can annul a marriage </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link" 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</h1> <div class="gem-c-govspeak govuk-govspeak direction-ltr disable-youtube" data-module="govspeak"> <p>Annulment (sometimes known as ‘nullity’) is a different way of ending a marriage.</p> <p>Unlike divorce, you can apply for annulment in the first year of your marriage or any time after. However, if you apply years after the wedding, you might be asked to explain the delay.</p> <p>You’ll need to show that the marriage:</p> <ul> <li>was never legally valid (‘void’)</li> <li>was legally valid, but meets one of the reasons that makes it ‘voidable’</li> </ul> <h2 id="your-marriage-is-not-legally-valid---void-marriages">Your marriage is not legally valid - ‘void’ marriages</h2> <p>You can annul a marriage if it was not legally valid in the first place, for example:</p> <ul> <li>you’re closely related to the person you married</li> <li>one or both of you were under 16</li> <li>one of you was already married or in a civil partnership</li> </ul> <p>If a marriage was never legally valid, the law says that it never existed.</p> <p>However, you may need legal paperwork (a ‘decree of nullity’ or ‘nullity of marriage order’) to prove this - for example if you want to get married again.</p> <h2 id="your-marriage-is-voidable">Your marriage is ‘voidable’</h2> <p>You can annul a marriage for a number of reasons, such as:</p> <ul> <li>it was not consummated - you have not had sexual intercourse with the person you married since the wedding (does not apply for same sex couples)</li> <li>you did not properly consent to the marriage - for example you were forced into it</li> <li>the other person had a sexually transmitted disease (<abbr title="sexually transmitted disease">STD</abbr>) when you got married</li> <li>your spouse was pregnant by someone else when you got married</li> <li>one spouse is in the process of <a href="/web/20230306234617/https://www.gov.uk/apply-gender-recognition-certificate">transitioning to a different gender</a> </li> </ul> <p>As with divorce, your marriage legally exists until you annul it using one of these reasons.</p> <div role="note" aria-label="Information" class="application-notice info-notice"> <p>The rules on <a href="/web/20230306234617/https://www.gov.uk/end-civil-partnership">ending a civil partnership</a> are slightly 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"Annul a marriage", "datePublished": "2011-12-01T11:40:56.000+00:00", "dateModified": "2016-03-21T00:01:04.000+00:00", "text": "How you can have a marriage annulled, the reasons you can give for annulling a marriage and the forms you will need to apply for an annulment. This includes information from the withdrawn D191 guide.", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "GOV.UK", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306234617/https://www.gov.uk", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306234617/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-logo-73b5a4056ffe9988d02c728b56fe9fe7f90bb822322a5f6183ccbb92a99b019a.png" } }, "image": [ "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306234617/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-1x1-bf9e64d759af6dfd93bede8168f3087a329f405b382aff36747db0db4b7b23e9.png", "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306234617/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-4x3-13093f053c15f613acd827aff27cac83d3fab452947cbcae4c7b706dadf2f7f2.png", "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306234617/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-16x9-4233cd42671827e266e284c4d5ae68fb600bd9f9e35dda663ccabbc2b6ab7ec3.png" ], "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Government Digital Service", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306234617/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-digital-service" }, "about": [ { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306234617/http://schema.org", "@type": "Thing", "sameAs": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306234617/https://www.gov.uk/life-circumstances/births-deaths-marriages-marriage-divorce-getting-separated-or-divorced" } ], "headLine": "Annul a marriage", "description": "How you can have a marriage annulled, the reasons you can give for annulling a marriage and the forms you will need to apply for an annulment. This includes information from the withdrawn D191 guide.", "articleBody": "\u003cp\u003eAnnulment (sometimes known as ‘nullity’) is a different way of ending a marriage.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike divorce, you can apply for annulment in the first year of your marriage or any time after. However, if you apply years after the wedding, you might be asked to explain the delay.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou’ll need to show that the marriage:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ewas never legally valid (‘void’)\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ewas legally valid, but meets one of the reasons that makes it ‘voidable’\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"your-marriage-is-not-legally-valid---void-marriages\"\u003eYour marriage is not legally valid - ‘void’ marriages\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can annul a marriage if it was not legally valid in the first place, for example:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eyou’re closely related to the person you married\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eone or both of you were under 16\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eone of you was already married or in a civil partnership\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf a marriage was never legally valid, the law says that it never existed.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, you may need legal paperwork (a ‘decree of nullity’ or ‘nullity of marriage order’) to prove this - for example if you want to get married again.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"your-marriage-is-voidable\"\u003eYour marriage is ‘voidable’\u003c/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can annul a marriage for a number of reasons, such as:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eit was not consummated - you have not had sexual intercourse with the person you married since the wedding (does not apply for same sex couples)\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eyou did not properly consent to the marriage - for example you were forced into it\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ethe other person had a sexually transmitted disease (\u003cabbr title=\"sexually transmitted disease\"\u003eSTD\u003c/abbr\u003e) when you got married\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eyour spouse was pregnant by someone else when you got married\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eone spouse is in the process of \u003ca href=\"/apply-gender-recognition-certificate\"\u003etransitioning to a different gender\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs with divorce, your marriage legally exists until you annul it using one of these reasons.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Information\" class=\"application-notice info-notice\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rules on \u003ca href=\"/end-civil-partnership\"\u003eending a civil partnership\u003c/a\u003e are slightly different, but the court forms are the same.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\n" } </script><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306234617/http://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "name": "Home", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306234617/https://www.gov.uk/" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "name": "Births, deaths, marriages and care", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306234617/https://www.gov.uk/browse/births-deaths-marriages" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "name": "Marriage, civil partnership and divorce", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306234617/https://www.gov.uk/browse/births-deaths-marriages/marriage-divorce" } } ] } </script><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306234617/http://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "headline": "Annul a marriage", "description": "How you can have a marriage annulled, the reasons you can give for annulling a marriage and the forms you will need to apply for an annulment. This includes information from the withdrawn D191 guide.", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "GOV.UK", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306234617/https://www.gov.uk", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306234617/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-logo-73b5a4056ffe9988d02c728b56fe9fe7f90bb822322a5f6183ccbb92a99b019a.png" } }, "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "When you can annul a marriage", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306234617/https://www.gov.uk/how-to-annul-marriage", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306234617/https://www.gov.uk/how-to-annul-marriage", "text": "<p>Annulment (sometimes known as ‘nullity’) is a different way of ending a marriage.</p>\n\n<p>Unlike divorce, you can apply for annulment in the first year of your marriage or any time after. However, if you apply years after the wedding, you might be asked to explain the delay.</p>\n\n<p>You’ll need to show that the marriage:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>was never legally valid (‘void’)</li>\n <li>was legally valid, but meets one of the reasons that makes it ‘voidable’</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h2 id=\"your-marriage-is-not-legally-valid---void-marriages\">Your marriage is not legally valid - ‘void’ marriages</h2>\n\n<p>You can annul a marriage if it was not legally valid in the first place, for example:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>you’re closely related to the person you married</li>\n <li>one or both of you were under 16</li>\n <li>one of you was already married or in a civil partnership</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>If a marriage was never legally valid, the law says that it never existed.</p>\n\n<p>However, you may need legal paperwork (a ‘decree of nullity’ or ‘nullity of marriage order’) to prove this - for example if you want to get married again.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"your-marriage-is-voidable\">Your marriage is ‘voidable’</h2>\n\n<p>You can annul a marriage for a number of reasons, such as:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>it was not consummated - you have not had sexual intercourse with the person you married since the wedding (does not apply for same sex couples)</li>\n <li>you did not properly consent to the marriage - for example you were forced into it</li>\n <li>the other person had a sexually transmitted disease (<abbr title=\"sexually transmitted disease\">STD</abbr>) when you got married</li>\n <li>your spouse was pregnant by someone else when you got married</li>\n <li>one spouse is in the process of <a href=\"/apply-gender-recognition-certificate\">transitioning to a different gender</a>\n</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>As with divorce, your marriage legally exists until you annul it using one of these reasons.</p>\n\n<div role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Information\" class=\"application-notice info-notice\">\n<p>The rules on <a href=\"/end-civil-partnership\">ending a civil partnership</a> are slightly different, but the court forms are the same.</p>\n</div>\n\n" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Before you apply", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306234617/https://www.gov.uk/how-to-annul-marriage/before-you-apply", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306234617/https://www.gov.uk/how-to-annul-marriage/before-you-apply", "text": "<p>You and your husband or wife can choose to work out:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li><a href=\"/looking-after-children-divorce\">arrangements for looking after any children</a></li>\n <li>\n<a href=\"/arranging-child-maintenance-yourself\">child maintenance</a> payments for any children</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>You can also <a href=\"/money-property-when-relationship-ends\">divide your money and property</a>.</p>\n\n<p>You can usually avoid going to court hearings if you agree about children, money and property.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"get-help-or-advice\">Get help or advice</h2>\n\n<p>You can get advice about legal paperwork and making arrangements from:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li><a rel=\"external\" href=\"https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/how-we-provide-advice/advice/\">Citizens Advice</a></li>\n <li><a rel=\"external\" href=\"http://www.advicenow.org.uk/help-deal-family-problems\">Advice Now</a></li>\n</ul>\n\n<p><a href=\"/find-a-legal-adviser\">Find a legal adviser</a> if you need legal advice.</p>\n" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Apply for an annulment", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306234617/https://www.gov.uk/how-to-annul-marriage/apply-for-an-annulment", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306234617/https://www.gov.uk/how-to-annul-marriage/apply-for-an-annulment", "text": "<p>You can apply to have your marriage annulled as soon as you get married. Unlike divorce, you do not have to wait for a year.</p>\n\n<p>To annul a marriage, fill in a <a href=\"/government/publications/form-d8n-nullity-petition\">nullity application form</a>.</p>\n\n<p>Send 2 copies of the form to:</p>\n\n<div class=\"address\"><div class=\"adr org fn\"><p>\n\nBury St Edmunds Regional Divorce Unit\n<br>Triton House\n<br>St Andrew's Street North\n<br>Bury St Edmunds\n<br>IP33 1TR\n<br>\n</p></div></div>\n\n<p>Keep your own copy.</p>\n\n<p>Filing a nullity application form costs £593.</p>\n\n<div role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Information\" class=\"application-notice info-notice\">\n<p>You may be able to <a href=\"/get-help-with-court-fees\">get help with court fees</a> if you’re on benefits or a low income.</p>\n</div>\n\n<p>After you’ve applied, the court will send you a notice that your application has been issued.</p>\n" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Apply for a conditional order or decree nisi", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306234617/https://www.gov.uk/how-to-annul-marriage/apply-for-conditional-order-decree-nisi", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306234617/https://www.gov.uk/how-to-annul-marriage/apply-for-conditional-order-decree-nisi", "text": "<p>The other person must respond to your nullity application within 14 days, saying whether they agree the marriage should be annulled.</p>\n\n<p>Once they respond, you can apply for a conditional order (or a ‘decree nisi’ if the date on your court notice is before 6 April 2022). This will confirm that the court does not see any reason why the marriage cannot be annulled.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"how-to-apply\">How to apply</h2>\n\n<p>How you apply depends on when the court issued your annulment application.</p>\n\n<h3 id=\"if-the-court-issued-your-annulment-application-before-6-april-2022\">If the court issued your annulment application before 6 April 2022</h3>\n\n<p>To get a decree nisi, <a href=\"/government/publications/form-d84-application-for-a-decree-nisi-conditional-order-or-judicial-separation-decreeorder\">fill in the application for a decree nisi</a>.</p>\n\n<p>You must also fill in a statement confirming that what you said in your nullity application is true.</p>\n\n<p>Use one of the forms below, depending on whether your marriage is ‘void’ or ‘voidable’:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li><a href=\"/government/publications/form-d80f-statement-in-support-of-annulment-void-marriage-civil-partnership\">statement in support of annulment - void marriage</a></li>\n <li><a href=\"/government/publications/form-d80g-statement-in-support-of-annulment-voidable-marriage-civil-partnership\">statement in support of annulment - voidable marriage</a></li>\n</ul>\n\n<div role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Information\" class=\"application-notice info-notice\">\n<p>See <a href=\"/how-to-annul-marriage/when-you-can-annul-a-marriage\">when you can annul a marriage</a> for the difference between ‘void’ and ‘voidable’ marriages.</p>\n</div>\n\n<h3 id=\"if-the-court-issued-your-annulment-application-on-or-after-6-april-2022\">If the court issued your annulment application on or after 6 April 2022</h3>\n\n<p>To get a conditional order, <a href=\"/government/publications/form-d84nv-apply-for-a-conditional-order-of-nullity\">fill in the application for a conditional order</a>.</p>\n" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Apply for a final order or decree absolute", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306234617/https://www.gov.uk/how-to-annul-marriage/apply-for-final-order-decree-absolute", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20230306234617/https://www.gov.uk/how-to-annul-marriage/apply-for-final-order-decree-absolute", "text": "<p>6 weeks after you get the conditional order or decree nisi you can apply for either:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>a decree absolute - if the court issued your annulment application before 6 April 2022</li>\n <li>a final order - if the court issued your annulment application on or after 6 April 2022</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>This is the final legal document which says that the marriage has been annulled.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"how-to-apply\">How to apply</h2>\n\n<p>How you apply depends on when the court issued your annulment application.</p>\n\n<h3 id=\"if-the-court-issued-your-annulment-application-before-6-april-2022\">If the court issued your annulment application before 6 April 2022</h3>\n\n<p>Fill in the <a href=\"/government/publications/form-d36-notice-of-application-for-decree-nisi-to-be-made-absolute-or-conditional-order-to-be-made-final\">notice of application for decree nisi to be made absolute</a>.</p>\n\n<h3 id=\"if-the-court-issued-your-annulment-application-on-or-after-6-april-2022\">If the court issued your annulment application on or after 6 April 2022</h3>\n\n<p>Fill in the <a href=\"/government/publications/form-d36n-apply-to-make-a-nullity-order-final\">final order application form</a>.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"when-you-return-your-forms\">When you return your forms</h2>\n\n<p>The court will check if there are any reasons that the marriage cannot be annulled. In most cases, you do not need to go to court for this.</p>\n\n<p>If the court is happy, it will send you a ‘decree of nullity’ or ‘nullity of marriage order’. This will confirm that you’re no longer married.</p>\n\n<p>If your marriage was never legally valid (‘void’), the decree or order will confirm that you were never legally married.</p>\n" } } ] } </script> </body> </html>

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