In California, termination of marital status typical occurs in one of three ways.
(1) Legal Separation; (2) Marital Dissolution; or (3) Nullity.
Nullity may or may not be an option. It depends on whether the validity of the marriage is in doubt. This is the primary difference between marital dissolution and nullity.
A marital dissolution actions terminate otherwise valid marriages on grounds that occur after marriage. However, a nullity is sought because the petitioner thinks that no valid marriage ever occurred because of some defect in the marital process or fraud occured at the time of the marriage.
So, in effect, a nullity action seeks to answer a question. Was there a valid marriage? The court is tasked with finding an answer.
Is the validity of marriage in doubt? Marriages may be invalid from the inception because of irregularities in the formalization procedures that ordinarily include obtaining the license, solemnization and authentication. But the marriage also may be void or voidable because of other legal defects like incest, bigamy, inducement by fraud or force, or where a party or both parties are minors of at the time of the marriage.
Assuming a nullity is a option, be aware that there are some disadvantages. As the petitioner you have the burden of proof. This can be costly and time consuming. In a typical marital dissolution the proceedings are no fault. However, in a nullity proceeding, fault and issues of innocence are essential and must be proved with evidence.
Spouses of an invalid marriage don't have community property rights. However, the property acquired during the void or voidable marriage that would have been community property if the marriage was valid, may be deemed quasi-marital property and will be divided in a nullity action as if it were community property. This only happens where putative spouse status is established (which means that spouse asserting putative spouse status had a good faith belief that the marriage is valid, he or she didn't fraudulent induce the marriage).
Even though there are clearly disadvantages of nullity, there are many benefits of Nullity as well including but not limited to the following. Will you please visit my site linked below to read about the benefits. And will you please schedule a free, confidential consultation while you're there. Thank you. Visit my site now!
(1) Legal Separation; (2) Marital Dissolution; or (3) Nullity.
Nullity may or may not be an option. It depends on whether the validity of the marriage is in doubt. This is the primary difference between marital dissolution and nullity.
A marital dissolution actions terminate otherwise valid marriages on grounds that occur after marriage. However, a nullity is sought because the petitioner thinks that no valid marriage ever occurred because of some defect in the marital process or fraud occured at the time of the marriage.
So, in effect, a nullity action seeks to answer a question. Was there a valid marriage? The court is tasked with finding an answer.
Is the validity of marriage in doubt? Marriages may be invalid from the inception because of irregularities in the formalization procedures that ordinarily include obtaining the license, solemnization and authentication. But the marriage also may be void or voidable because of other legal defects like incest, bigamy, inducement by fraud or force, or where a party or both parties are minors of at the time of the marriage.
Assuming a nullity is a option, be aware that there are some disadvantages. As the petitioner you have the burden of proof. This can be costly and time consuming. In a typical marital dissolution the proceedings are no fault. However, in a nullity proceeding, fault and issues of innocence are essential and must be proved with evidence.
Spouses of an invalid marriage don't have community property rights. However, the property acquired during the void or voidable marriage that would have been community property if the marriage was valid, may be deemed quasi-marital property and will be divided in a nullity action as if it were community property. This only happens where putative spouse status is established (which means that spouse asserting putative spouse status had a good faith belief that the marriage is valid, he or she didn't fraudulent induce the marriage).
Even though there are clearly disadvantages of nullity, there are many benefits of Nullity as well including but not limited to the following. Will you please visit my site linked below to read about the benefits. And will you please schedule a free, confidential consultation while you're there. Thank you. Visit my site now!
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