Lawyers.com > Understand Your Legal Issue > Family Law > Divorce > How, Where and When Can I Get an Annulment?

When you want to file for the annulment of your marriage, you need to know a few practical things about the process. There are generally restrictions on where and when you can file the necessary paperwork for an annulment; knowing what the requirements are can save you time and trouble.

County in Which You Live

In most cases it is proper to start annulment proceedings and file the paperwork in the county in which you live. However, make sure you contact a lawyer or a clerk of the court to verify this. Some states have length of residency requirements which you must meet. These might require that you have lived in the state or county in which you are filing for a certain amount of time, often weeks or months.

This could raise problems if you have recently moved and are running into time restrictions for filing an annulment. Some grounds for annulment set a certain number of days or months after the date of the marriage during which you can seek an annulment. This ticking clock problem can be solved by filing for an annulment before a planned move.

County in Which You Were Married

In addition to filing in your county of residence, you may also be able to file for an annulment in the county in which you were married. This is certainly the case in Nevada where many couples go to have weddings performed quickly. If filing in your county of residence is a problem, check with the clerk of the court in the county of the state where you were married to see if you can file for an annulment there. Remember, time restrictions on filing for an annulment will still apply.

Questions for Your Attorney

• How long after the date of my marriage can I seek an annulment? Do the grounds for the annulment make any difference on the time limit?
• Can I file for annulment in the county where I was married and where I've lived during my marriage even if I'm planning to move? Will that affect the annulment proceedings?