An annulment is a legal process that declares a marriage or civil partnership null and void, treating it as if it never legally existed. Unlike divorce or dissolution, an annulment can be applied for at any time after the ceremony, even within the first year.
You can apply for annulment of marriage / civil partnership if your marriage or civil partnership is void or voidable. Annulment (sometimes known as ‘nullity’) is a different way of ending a marriage or civil partnership. Annulment of marriage or civil partnership is a decree (court order) by the family court that a marriage or civil partnership was not legally valid or had become legally invalid. Under English law, an annulment of marriage or civil partnership may be granted by the family court if you can show that the marriage or civil partnership:
- was never legally valid (‘void’)
- was legally valid, but meets one of the reasons that make it ‘voidable’
Examples of a void marriage/civil partnership include:
- One or both parties were under 16 at the time.
- One party was already married or in a civil partnership.
- The couple are closely related.
Examples of a voidable marriage/civil partnership include:
- The marriage was not consummated (for opposite-sex marriages).
- One party did not consent (due to duress, lack of mental capacity, or intoxication).
- The other party had a sexually transmitted infection at the time of marriage.
- The other party was pregnant with someone else's child at the time of marriage.
- One party was in the process of transitioning to a different gender without full disclosure.
- Page Contents
- Specialist Annulment Solicitors
- Ask a Question Online
- The Annulment Process
- Time Limits for Annulment
- How to Apply for Annulment?
- When Can You Apply?
- Grounds for Annulment
- Void Marriage / Civil Partnership
- Voidable Marriage / Civil Partnership
- Statement in Support of Petition
- How Can Our Divorce Lawyers Help?
- Our Fixed Fees
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Specialist Annulment Solicitors London
Our expert team of annulment solicitors in London is a specialist in dealing with annulment of marriage or civil partnership in England & Wales. Our annulment solicitors have a wealth of knowledge and experience in successfully handling nullity petitions for annulment of marriage or civil partnership. At Premium Solicitors, our specialist family law solicitors provide expert advice and representation for clients seeking an annulment of marriage or civil partnership in England and Wales. Whether you are seeking an annulment for religious, personal, or legal reasons, our experienced annulment solicitors can guide you through the process with clarity, discretion, and professionalism.
Thinking of getting your marriage or civil partnership annulled and need legal help and assistance from annulment solicitors? Contact our specialist team of annulment solicitors in London for fast, friendly, reliable and fixed-fee legal services for your annulment petition.
Ask a Question About Nullity of Marriage/Civil Partnership
If you are considering an annulment of marriage or civil partnership in England and Wales, obtaining clear, accurate, and tailored legal advice at an early stage is essential. At Premium Solicitors, we provide a convenient and confidential online enquiry service, allowing you to ask questions about your annulment matter and receive guidance from experienced family law solicitors.
The Annulment Process in England & Wales
Seek Legal Advice – We assess whether you meet the annulment criteria.
File a Nullity Petition – Your solicitor prepares and submits the court application.
Court Review – The court considers your petition and the other party’s response.
Decree of Nullity – If successful, the court issues a legal decree stating the marriage or civil partnership is void.
Time Limits for Annulment
Void relationships – No time limit.
Voidable relationships – Usually, you must apply for annulment within 3 years of the ceremony (with some exceptions).
How To Apply For Annulment Of Marriage / Civil Partnership?
You can apply for annulment of marriage or civil partnership by filling in a nullity petition. You should send two copies of the petition to your nearest family court and keep one for yourself.
When Can You Apply For Annulment Of Marriage / Civil Partnership?
For a family court in England & Wales to have jurisdiction to annul your marriage or civil partnership, you or your spouse/civil partner must have either:
- lived in England or Wales for at least a year
- had a permanent home in England or Wales for at least 6 months
Unlike divorce and dissolution of a civil partnership, you can apply for annulment in the first year of your marriage / civil partnership or any time after. However, if you apply years after the marriage or civil partnership, you might be asked to explain the delay.
Grounds For Annulment Of Marriage / Civil Partnership
You will need to show that the marriage or civil partnership:
- was never legally valid (‘void’)
- was legally valid, but meets one of the reasons that make it ‘voidable’
What Is A Void Marriage / Civil Partnership?
You can apply to annul a marriage or civil partnership if it was not legally valid in the first place, for example:
- you are closely related to the person you married or registered a civil partnership with
- one or both of you were under 16
- one of you was already married or in a civil partnership
If a marriage or civil partnership was never legally valid, the law says that it never existed. However, you may need legal paperwork (a ‘decree of nullity’) to prove this - for example, if you want to get married again or register your civil partnership again.
What Is A Voidable Marriage / Civil Partnership?
You can annul a marriage or a civil partnership for a number of reasons, such as:
- it was not consummated - you have not had sexual intercourse with the person you married or registered a civil partnership with since the wedding (does not apply to same-sex couples)
- you did not properly consent to the marriage or civil partnership - for example, you were forced into it
- the other person had a sexually transmitted disease (STD) when you got married or registered a civil partnership
- the woman was pregnant with another man's child when you got married or registered a civil partnership
- one spouse or civil partner is in the process of transitioning to a different gender
As with divorce and dissolution of a civil partnership, your marriage or civil partnership legally exists until you annul it using one of these reasons.
Statement In Support Of Nullity Petition
You must also fill in a statement confirming that what you said in your nullity petition is true.
Use one of the forms below, depending on whether your marriage is ‘void’ or ‘voidable’:
- statement in support of annulment - void marriage
- statement in support of annulment - voidable marriage
How Can Our Lawyers Help?
Our specialist team of annulment solicitors understands the sensitivity of annulment matters and that every individual is in a different situation. To make your life easier, you can seek expert legal advice and representation from our specialist annulment solicitors, who are highly trained and experienced in all aspects of annulment laws and court procedures and will guide and support you throughout the court process to annul your marriage or civil partnership. We will cut through the legal jargon and ensure you understand exactly what’s happening at all times. Our team of experienced annulment solicitors will provide the legal help and guidance you need, with a step-by-step procedure for obtaining annulment of your marriage or civil partnership.
Our team of annulment solicitors will advise and assist to cater for your individual needs. We will discuss the possible grounds on which you can apply for the nullity of your marriage or civil partnership after gathering all the relevant factual information from you. Our annulment solicitors will explain the court procedures to you in straightforward, transparent terms, thoroughly guiding you through the process and handling all follow-up work until the family court issues the annulment order.
Our Fixed Fees For Annulment Of Marriage / Civil Partnership
Our fixed fees for various applications to end marriage or civil partnership are as given in the fee table below: Where we can't estimate the volume of work due to the nature and complexity of the matter, we will act on an hourly rate basis. We charge an hourly rate of £200 + VAT for representing in divorce, dissolution of civil partnership, annulment of marriage and Judicial Separation matters.
Our Service
Our Fixed Fees Range
Full service for divorce, dissolution of civil partnership and annulment of marriage to cover all our work until the decision by the court to end the marriage or civil partnership, where neither party has contested or disputed the court proceedings.
From £800 + VAT to £1,200 + VAT
Full service for Judicial Separation to cover all the work until the decision by the court, where neither party has contested the court proceedings.
From £800 + VAT to £1,200 + VAT
FAQs - Annulment Of Marriage / Civil Partnership
An annulment is a legal process that declares a marriage or civil partnership as either void or voidable, meaning it is treated as though it never legally existed or was invalid from the start. This is different from divorce or dissolution, which ends a legally valid relationship.
An annulment confirms that the marriage or civil partnership was not legally valid, whereas a divorce (or dissolution) ends a valid relationship. Annulments are typically based on specific legal grounds that existed at the time of the ceremony.
A marriage may be annulled if it is:
Void marriages:
- Either party was under 18 at the time of marriage
- The parties are closely related (prohibited degrees)
- One party was already legally married or in a civil partnership
Voidable marriages:
- The marriage was not consummated (in certain circumstances)
- Lack of valid consent (e.g., duress, mistake, mental incapacity)
- One party had a sexually transmitted disease at the time of marriage
- The respondent was pregnant by another person at the time of marriage
- Gender recognition issues under specific circumstances
A civil partnership can be annulled if it is:
Void:
- Formed between individuals who are closely related
- One party was already married or in another civil partnership
Voidable:
- Lack of valid consent
- Mental incapacity at the time of formation
There is generally no strict time limit for void marriages or civil partnerships. However, for voidable marriages or civil partnerships, applications should usually be made within three years of the ceremony, although exceptions may apply.
Yes, particularly if the marriage or civil partnership is void. However, for voidable cases, delays may affect the success of the application, especially if the relationship continued after the issue was discovered.
Consummation may be relevant in annulment cases. A marriage may be voidable if it has not been consummated due to incapacity or refusal. This ground does not apply to civil partnerships.
Yes. If one party did not give valid consent due to duress, mistake, intoxication, or mental incapacity, the marriage or civil partnership may be annulled.
In most cases, you do not need to go to family court for annulment of marriage or partnership, and the court will deal with the matters on paper.
The process typically involves:
- Filing a nullity application
- Providing evidence supporting the grounds
- Applying for a conditional order
- Applying for a final order
Our specialist family law solicitors can guide you through each stage of the process.
Even if a marriage or civil partnership is annulled, the court can still make financial orders, including:
- Division of assets
- Spousal maintenance
- Pension sharing
No. Children born during a marriage or civil partnership remain legally recognised, even if the relationship is annulled. The court can also make arrangements for children if required.
Yes. Once a final order of nullity is granted, you are free to remarry or enter into a new civil partnership.
Annulment can be quicker in some cases, but it depends on the complexity of the legal grounds and the evidence required.
Yes, provided the courts in England and Wales have jurisdiction. Specialist legal advice is strongly recommended for international cases.
While it is possible to apply without legal representation, annulment cases can be legally complex. Instructing experienced family law solicitors significantly improves your chances of success.
Yes. You can book a consultation with our specialist solicitors to assess your case and receive tailored advice on the best legal route, whether annulment or divorce.
For a family court in England and Wales to have jurisdiction to annul your marriage or civil partnership, you or your spouse/civil partner must have either:
- lived in England or Wales for at least a year
- had a permanent home in England or Wales for at least 6 months
Unlike divorce and dissolution of a civil partnership, you can apply for annulment in the first year of your marriage / civil partnership or any time after. However, if you apply years after the marriage or civil partnership, you might be asked to explain the delay.
This varies from court to court and from case to case, depending on the complexity of the case. The annulment of a marriage or civil partnership can take up to 6 months. However, in complex cases, the process can take much longer than 6 months, and the time will vary depending on the matter's complexity.
Financial settlement is an arrangement under which a couple’s assets and financial affairs are separated upon annulment of marriage or civil partnership. In England and Wales, the act of annulment of a marriage/civil partnership itself doesn’t put an end to the financial relationship between you and your partner. An application for financial settlement is made to the family court by completing Application Form A.
Obtaining a financial settlement when you are annuling your marriage or civil partnership is important because outstanding financial claims may come back to disrupt your lives even years after your annulment has been finalised. This is because in England and Wales, even when your marriage or civil partnership is annulled, you still retain the ability to make financial claims against your ex and vice versa, and there’s no time limit for making these. This is why it’s crucial to put your financial affairs in order and obtain a binding court order detailing your financial arrangements with your ex-husband or ex-wife.
The court fee for filing an application for annulment of marriage or civil partnership in the family court is £612, payable at the time of filing. Petitioners with very low income may qualify for a court fee exemption.
You can apply for annulment of your marriage soon after your marriage. Unlike divorce, you do not have to wait for a year.
You can apply for annulment of marriage or civil partnership by filling in a nullity petition. You should send 2 copies of the petition to your nearest family court and keep your own copy.
The Respondent to the nullity petition must respond to your nullity petition within 8 days, saying whether they agree with the marriage or civil partnership to be annulled.
You must also fill in a statement confirming that what you said in your nullity petition is true.
Use one of the forms below, depending on whether your marriage is ‘void’ or ‘voidable’:
You can apply for a decree of nullity (decree absolute) 6 weeks after you get the decree nisi. A ‘decree of nullity’ is the final legal document which says that the marriage or civil partnership has been annulled.
To apply for a decree of nullity, you need to fill in the notice of application for a decree nisi to be made absolute.
Once the Respondent has responded to the nullity petition and has agreed to the annulment of the marriage or civil partnership, you can apply for a decree nisi. The decree nisi will confirm that the court does not see any reason why the marriage or civil partnership cannot be annulled.
Yes. Many people seek annulments for religious reasons, especially if their faith does not permit divorce. A legal annulment is separate from a religious annulment granted by a church or other faith authority.
Yes. Unlike divorce or dissolution, you do not need to wait 12 months before applying for an annulment.
You can still make claims for financial settlements and child arrangements after an annulment. Our annulment solicitors can guide you through these processes.
In most cases, annulments are dealt with through paperwork, but if your case is contested or complex, you may need to attend a court hearing.
At Premium Solicitors, our experienced divorce and family law team provides:
- Expert legal advice on eligibility for annulment
- Preparation and submission of your nullity application
- Representation throughout court proceedings
- Advice on financial settlement and child arrangements
We offer fixed-fee services and flexible appointments, including remote consultations.