Because Florida is a no-fault divorce state, a divorce can be granted for any reason. There are some instances where, if it can be shown that a marriage was a sham or never valid in the first place, the court may grant an annulment. The situations where an annulment may be granted specifically are cases that involve:
Annulments are only granted to the person who is innocent in a situation such as those listed above. In such a case, the innocent party may be eligible for reimbursement for attorney’s fees and other related costs even though in the eyes of the law, the marriage was invalid and never existed. This can be a far more beneficial arrangement than a traditional divorce.
As mentioned above under the circumstances for annulment, these types of marriages are most commonly undertaken in order that a spouse who is from a foreign country for the purpose of gaining entry into the United States by marrying a U.S. Citizen. The State of Florida frowns on sham marriages, and if it can be proven, the United States government will prosecute the sham marriage as a federal crime.
These circumstances exist if:
The penalty for marriage fraud is not only having the marriage annulled, but it can also include being sentenced up to five years in prison and paying a fine up to $250,000.
At the Law Office of S. G. Morrow & Associates, our focus is on family law and immigration law. With more than 20 years of experience as Divorce Lawyer, we provide a unique blend of legal services for clients where these fields intersect, such as foreign marriages and divorces. Some of our major practice areas include :
the staff at the Law Offices of S.G. Morrow & Associates is dedicated to family law and helping our clients understand when annulment may be possible.
We have more than two decades of experience in family law cases in Fort Lauderdale and South Florida. Contact us today at 786-558-4950 to set up a consultation to find out how we may help you.