When a marriage fails to meet legal requirements from the start, Texas law provides a path to declare it invalid through annulment. Texas divorce lawyers can review your circumstances, explain the qualifying grounds, and guide you through the process. Unlike divorce, which ends a valid marriage, annulment treats the marriage as if it never legally existed. Understanding whether you qualify for annulment requires careful examination of specific grounds and strict time limits established by Texas law.
Texas courts grant annulments only in limited circumstances where fundamental problems existed when the marriage began. The duration of your marriage has no bearing on eligibility. Instead, you must prove that your marriage suffered from a defect that made it invalid from the beginning.
Key Takeaways
- Texas recognizes seven specific grounds for annulment, including underage marriage, intoxication, fraud, and mental incapacity at the time of marriage
- Most annulment grounds have strict filing deadlines ranging from 30 days to one year after the marriage or discovery of the grounds
- Children born during an annulled marriage retain full legal rights, and courts address custody and support just as in divorce cases
- Property division in annulment follows equitable principles rather than community property rules, aiming to restore parties to their pre-marriage financial positions
- No residency waiting period exists for annulment in Texas, unlike the six-month requirement for divorce
Understanding Annulment vs. Divorce
The fundamental difference between annulment and divorce lies in how Texas law views the marriage itself. A divorce ends a legally valid marriage by dissolving it through the court process, while an annulment declares that the marriage was never valid in the first place. This distinction affects everything from property division to spousal support eligibility. When Should You Hire an attorney is an important question at this stage, as a lawyer can evaluate your eligibility, gather necessary evidence, and guide you through the filing requirements to protect your financial and parental rights.
When Texas courts grant an annulment, you return to your legal status before marriage. Typical divorce considerations like spousal maintenance may not apply. However, children born during the marriage remain legitimate and retain full rights to support and inheritance.
Before You Begin: What You'll Need
If you believe you qualify for annulment, gathering the right information and evidence can help strengthen your case. Being prepared helps you meet strict deadlines and prove your grounds for annulment.
Essential items to collect include:
- Your marriage certificate and any related documents
- Evidence supporting your specific grounds (medical records, police reports, witness statements)
- Documentation of when you discovered the grounds for annulment
- Financial records if you made contributions during the marriage
- Information about any children born or adopted during the marriage
Having these documents ready helps your attorney evaluate your case and file promptly. Remember that most annulment grounds have strict filing deadlines that start running after specific triggering events.
Seven Grounds for Annulment in Texas
Texas Family Code Chapter 6 establishes specific grounds that make a marriage voidable. Each ground has unique requirements and limitations that determine whether you qualify for annulment.
1. Underage Marriage
Under Texas Family Code Section 6.102, courts may annul marriages involving persons between 16 and 18 years old who married without proper consent. The petition must be filed within 90 days of the marriage by a parent, guardian, or next friend. Once the underage spouse turns 18, they cannot seek annulment on these grounds.
2. Intoxication or Drug Influence
Being too drunk or high to understand you're getting married can invalidate the marriage. The court may grant an annulment if you were so intoxicated that you couldn't consent to marriage. You must not have lived together as spouses after becoming sober.
3. Permanent Impotency
Physical inability to consummate a marriage can serve as grounds for annulment. The impotency must be permanent and must have existed at the time of marriage. The petitioner must demonstrate they had no knowledge of this condition when they married and have not continued living together after discovery.
4. Fraud, Duress, or Force
Marriages obtained through deception or coercion lack voluntary consent. To qualify as grounds for annulment, fraud must directly affect the decision to marry. Courts have recognized lies about intentions for long-term relationships when the true purpose was immigration benefits. Duress involves pressure overcoming free will, while force involves physical compulsion. Why You Want an Experienced Attorney is clear here, because proving fraud, duress, or force requires detailed evidence, precise legal arguments, and familiarity with Texas family law to convince the court that the marriage was never valid.
5. Mental Incapacity
Mental capacity to understand and consent to marriage is essential for validity. Mental incapacity includes any mental state preventing informed consent, such as severe mental illness or developmental disabilities. The incapacity must have existed at the time of the marriage ceremony.
6. Concealed Recent Divorce
Texas Family Code Section 6.109 addresses marriages occurring within 30 days after a previous divorce. The petitioner must prove they had no knowledge of this recent divorce. A suit must be brought within one year of the marriage date.
7. Violation of 72-Hour Waiting Period
Texas requires most couples to wait 72 hours between obtaining a marriage license and the ceremony. Exceptions include active military members and completion of premarital education. Marriages violating this period may be annulled if the petition is filed within 30 days.
Time Limits for Filing Annulment
Texas law establishes strict deadlines for seeking annulment. Missing these deadlines permanently bars your case, regardless of how strong your evidence might be.
Critical filing deadlines include:
- 90 days from marriage: For underage marriages (must be filed by parent/guardian)
- 30 days from marriage: For violations of the 72-hour waiting period
- One year from marriage: For a concealed recent divorce
- No specific deadline: For fraud, impotency, intoxication, or mental incapacity (but action is required promptly after discovery)
Courts expect immediate action once you discover grounds for annulment. Living together after learning about fraud or other grounds typically waives your right to annulment.
The Annulment Process in Texas
Unlike divorce, which requires six months of Texas residency, annulment has flexible jurisdictional rules. You only need to live in Texas when filing or to have married in Texas. You may file your petition in the county where one spouse lives or where the marriage occurred.
The annulment process begins with filing a "Suit to Declare Void the Marriage of Petitioner and Respondent" in district court. Your petition must clearly state the grounds for annulment with supporting facts. Unlike no-fault divorce, annulment requires specific allegations and proof.
Legal notice to your spouse remains mandatory. A constable, sheriff, or private process server may accomplish formal service, or your spouse may sign a waiver acknowledging receipt of the petition.
Children and Annulment
Parents seeking annulment face additional complexities when children are involved. A Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship (SAPCR)—a legal case to determine custody and support—must be joined with the annulment.
Texas law protects children regardless of their parents' marital status. Judges typically address the same issues as in divorce cases, including custody arrangements and child support obligations. Parents cannot avoid supporting their children by proving that the marriage was invalid. The Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division provides resources for establishing support orders.
Property Division in Annulment
Property division in annulment operates differently from property division in divorce proceedings. While divorce involves splitting marital property, annulment aims to restore parties to their financial positions before marriage. What Is an Uncontested Divorce becomes relevant when couples agree on every issue—property, debts, and any child-related matters—so the court only needs to review and approve the settlement without a lengthy dispute.
Key differences in property division include:
- Courts may apply fairness principles rather than community property rules
- The goal is unwinding financial ties, not dividing marital assets
- Reimbursement for contributions during marriage may be ordered
- "Putative" spouses (those who genuinely believed the marriage was valid) may receive protection
A putative spouse who acted in good faith might receive community property rights despite the marriage's invalidity. This prevents one party from being unfairly enriched at the innocent spouse's expense.
Void vs. Voidable Marriages
Texas law distinguishes between marriages that are automatically void and those that are merely voidable. Void marriages violate Texas public policy so fundamentally that they need no court declaration. These include marriages between close relatives, bigamous marriages where one party was already married, and marriages involving parties of the same bloodline.
Voidable marriages remain valid until a court declares them void through annulment. A spouse whose marriage fits any grounds for annulment can file an annulment lawsuit. They can also choose to stay married. Texas law calls their marriage "voidable." The ability to ratify voidable marriages through continued cohabitation reflects policy favoring marriage preservation.
Common Misconceptions About Annulment
Many people hold incorrect beliefs about annulment that can lead to poor legal decisions. Perhaps the most persistent myth involves marriage duration. Contrary to a popular misconception, you do not get an annulment just because the marriage did not last a very long time. Texas law contains no provision for annulment based solely on brief duration.
Another common misconception involves the perceived simplicity of annulment. While an annulment may be the fastest way to dissolve a marriage, it is not the easiest. Annulment demands specific evidence of qualifying grounds and requires a higher burden of proof than no-fault divorce. Common Law Marriage in Texas also creates confusion, since couples who live together and present themselves as married can establish a legally recognized marriage without a formal ceremony or license, requiring a formal divorce to end the relationship.
Religious annulment through churches differs entirely from legal annulment. Religious annulments address spiritual concerns but have no legal effect on legal marital status. Parties seeking both religious and legal annulment must pursue separate processes.
When to Consider Divorce Instead
While annulment may seem appealing, divorce often provides a more practical solution for ending marriages. If you cannot prove specific grounds for annulment, divorce remains your only option. Texas no-fault divorce requires only that the marriage has become insupportable due to discord or conflict.
Divorce provides certain benefits that annulment cannot offer. Established procedures exist for dividing complex assets, determining spousal support, and addressing retirement benefits. The Texas State Law Library provides comprehensive resources about divorce procedures. Additionally, divorce creates a clear legal record that can be important for tax purposes and benefit eligibility.
FAQ for Annulments in Texas
How much does it cost to get an annulment in Texas?
Filing fees for annulment vary by county. Additional expenses may include service of process fees, attorney fees if you hire representation, and court reporter costs for hearings. Some counties charge the same fees as divorce cases. If you cannot afford filing fees, you may request a fee waiver by demonstrating financial hardship.
Do I need an attorney for an annulment in Texas?
While Texas law does not require attorney representation, annulment cases involve complex proof requirements and strict deadlines. You must present evidence supporting your specific grounds for annulment. Attorney assistance helps navigate procedural requirements and build stronger cases.
What happens to our house in an annulment?
Property division in annulment cases depends on specific circumstances. A court might order that the house be sold, with proceeds divided based on contributions. One party might keep the property while compensating the other. Putative spouses who believed the marriage was valid may receive community property protections. Each case depends on the evidence presented and the judge's determination of fairness.
Can my spouse prevent me from getting an annulment?
Your spouse cannot unilaterally prevent annulment if you prove valid grounds. However, they can contest your allegations and present contrary evidence. For instance, they might show you continued living together after discovering fraud, which waives annulment rights. The court makes final determinations based on evidence from both parties.
How long does the annulment process take in Texas?
Unlike divorce, Texas law does not require a waiting period after filing an annulment petition. However, court schedules affect timing. The process typically takes several weeks to several months, depending on case complexity and whether your spouse contests the annulment. Uncontested cases with clear evidence generally proceed faster than disputed matters.
Protecting Your Rights in an Annulment
Whether you are pursuing annulment or defending against one, protecting your legal rights requires understanding complex procedures and meeting strict deadlines. Evidence gathering, proper pleading, and timely action all influence case outcomes. Mistakes in handling annulment cases may have lasting consequences for property rights, financial obligations, and parental relationships.
Bailey & Galyen attorneys understand the nuances between annulment and divorce under Texas law. We help clients evaluate whether annulment grounds exist and guide them through the appropriate legal process for their particular situation. Our team handles both simple and complex cases involving children, property division, and contested hearings.
For a confidential consultation about your situation, contact Bailey & Galyen today at 817-345-0580 to discuss whether annulment or divorce better serves your needs.