What’s the difference between divorce and annulment in Rhode Island?

While a divorce terminates a valid marriage, annulment is an official statement that the marriage was never legal in the first place. Annulment is not usually a valid alternative to divorce, and very few couples will qualify to have their marriages annulled. In Rhode Island, there is no way to legally annul a marriage except to have the marriage declared void during a divorce proceeding.

Grounds for Nullifying a Marriage in Rhode Island

In order to nullify a marriage in Rhode Island, spouses must go through all the legal requirements of divorce. The person who is petitioning for divorce will state the grounds for the divorce as well as the reasons that the marriage should be nullified. In Rhode Island, the only legal grounds for annulment are:

Incest.

Spouses are closer blood relations than first cousin.

Bigamy.

One spouse (or both) is married to someone else who is still living at the time of the current marriage.

Mental incompetence.

One spouse (or both) does not or did not have the mental competence to enter into the marriage willingly.

Refusal to consummate marriage.

One spouse (or both) refuses to have sexual intercourse with the other.

It is worth noting that impotence and drug addiction are not valid legal reasons to seek annulment in Rhode Island. If a petitioner has valid legal grounds to invalidate the union, he must provide evidence to convince a judge. This evidence can be documented proof or witness testimony. If the judge rules that the marriage was invalid from the start, the annulment will be issued, and both partners can legally state that they have never been married.

If the voided marriage produced children, the children are considered legitimate to both parents under state law. As a result, both parents must provide child support after divorce, and both parents have a right to custody and visitation. The terms of child support, custody, and visitation must be included in the divorce proceedings even if the marriage is declared invalid.

Do You Need To Speak To A Rhode Island Divorce Attorney?

If you are considering a divorce you need to speak with an experienced Rhode Island divorce attorney as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Warwick office directly at 401.946.3200 to schedule your free consultation. We help divorce clients in Providence, Warwick and all areas of Rhode Island.