Annulment: Cleaning the Marital Slate

Whether or not we care to admit it, Kim Kardashian remains in the spotlight. Consequently, so do her legal troubles. Kardashian and Kris Humphries were famously married in August 2011. Their nuptials allegedly cost $11 million and the wedding itself was televised as a special on the E! Television network. After 72 days of marital bliss, Kardashian filed for divorce in October 2011.

Although the couple split almost two years ago, Kardashian and Humphries remain legally married. Their divorce has never been finalized because Humphries is seeking an annulment. Humphries believes that Kardashian fraudulently lured him into marriage for financial gain as Kardashian reportedly made $1 million from the wedding. Humphries claims she had planned to take the money and run. Kardashian, of course, claims that she married for love.

In the eyes of the law, a successful annulment makes a marriage disappear as if it never happened.* There is a fundamental difference between a judgment of dissolution and a judgment of nullity. While a judgment of dissolution terminates a valid marriage, a judgment of nullity declares that the marriage was invalid from the start. In California, a marriage built upon a fraudulent foundation is not a marriage at all. An annulment is, however, much more difficult to attain than a divorce.

According to California Family Code Section 2210, a marriage that is voidable may be declared a “nullity” only in the event at least one of six specific conditions existed at the time of marriage:

1. Infancy
2. Bigamy
3. Unsound Mental State
4. Fraud
5. Force
6. Physical Incapability

The certified Family Law Specialists as certified by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization at Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri have decades of experience handling complex family law matters.  If you find yourself on either side of an annulment, contact Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri for further information.

Please remember that each individual situation is unique and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results.  While this post may detail general legal issues, it is not legal advice.  Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.