Annulment Attorneys in Denton County, Collin County, & Tarrant County
Seeking an Annulment? We Can Provide Step-by-Step Counsel.
Divorce may not always be your best option. Some married couples who are seeking to separate find that an annulment is a more effective and beneficial solution. Our experienced and dedicated annulment attorneys at Coker, Robb & Cannon, Family Lawyers can discuss your situation and help you determine the right path for you. With more than 110 years of collective experience, we have a comprehensive understanding of family law and can help you find a favorable resolution.
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Texas Annulment vs. Divorce
While a divorce dissipates and ends a marriage, an annulment treats the marriage as though it never existed and legally declares it void. While there are many reasons that a couple might pursue an annulment over a divorce, there are specific grounds that must be met in order for an annulment to be granted under Texas annulment laws.
How to Get an Annulment in Texas
In order to actually get an annulment in Texas, you will need to file a petition with the court titled "A Suit to Declare Void the Marriage." In Texas, the other spouse can either agree with the annulment or insist on a jury trial. Similar to dissolution of marriage, an annulment will require you to specify how mutual property will be divided and who will have parenting rights over the children, if you have kids together.
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Malorie and the team helped me start my process with my ex girlfriend and my son, she made everything easy for me and educated me on my rights as a father. She’s really responsive if I have any questions she’s really quick to email me back.- Anonymous
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Shelby Hart was my lawyer during my divorce. During one of the hardest parts of my life, Shelby was nothing short of kind and professional. He was supportive and honest with me throughout the entire process, and always made me feel comfortable/well informed of every option available to me. Everyone at Coker Legal was easy to talk to and easy to trust. I'm so glad that I was recommended to Coker, and lucky enough to have Shelby as my lawyer. If you're in need of a compassionate law firm/lawyer, this is the place to go!- Kristie H.
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Jackie and her team were wonderful -- so patient and professional during an extremely stressful time. Thank you so much.- Stephanie
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They made my divorce easy even in a difficult situation. I was stressed but they handled everything professionally and fast. I’m so grateful to the team. If you need a simple divorce they are the perfect choice.- Jimmy V.
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Coker, Robb & Cannon, Family Lawyers helped us with our first Will document 15 years ago and helped us to update it recently. We were leaving the country and needed the documents done quickly. They asked all the important questions and completed the documents in a timely manner. We would trust Coker, Robb, & Cannon with all of our family concerns.- Laura
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Truly one of the most professional & knowledgeable attorneys I have had the pleasure of working with.- Jay Marks
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I worked with Malorie Crosley for about a year on my case. The process, albeit long, was always clearly spelled out for me. I was also impressed with the timely responses of my inquiries. The process was very unfamiliar to me, and Kim and Malorie were always very helpful to answer all of my questions and keep me comfortable throughout the whole process. They provided sound advice and were able to navigate the complex process very efficiently. I will definitely use their services again.- Christian
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- Aekta A.
I’m not sure what your family law needs are, but I am sure that Coker, Robb & Cannon can help you. And if you’re looking for a divorce lawyer that won’t add to the stress and anxiety of the situation, then definitely go with Shelby Hart, I couldn’t be more grateful for how he helped me.
I reached out online, and they got back to me the same day. I think it was Rachel that reached out and interviewed me and after discussing my situation she paired me with Shelby, who was also a new parent, and that was amazing! I don’t know if this is standard practice, but it should be. It should also be mentioned that Rachel worked with me throughout the process: on my case as a paralegal, to help me schedule time and figure out documents, and she was incredibly kind, patient and thoughtful in every interaction.
Shelby was invaluable, in that he not only made me feel less stressed out about getting divorced, he also gave me advice on what the different outcomes would be depending on the path I chose. He helped me negotiate a decree that would not only be in the best interest of my child and myself, but one that would stand up in court. His advice kept me grounded, and he tailored his approach to my now ex-husband perfectly. That may not seem important on the surface, but when you are living with the person you are divorcing, it makes a huge difference in your day-to-day life and interactions with that person.
I was fully divorced within 3 months of contacting Coker, Rob & Cannon, and I plan on using them for my will and any other family law needs I may have in the future. Shelby, sincerely, I appreciate everything you did and cannot thank you enough.
Grounds for Annulment in Texas
There are two types of grounds for annulment in Texas. There are “void” and “voidable” marriages. An individual may have grounds for annulment based on a void marriage if he or she is already married to someone else, for instance. Another example would be if the person has married a close blood relative. Voidable annulment grounds, on the other hand, encompass several scenarios.
Texas annulment requirements are very specific. Grounds for annulment in Texas include:
- Marriage Less than 72 Hours After Issuance of License – A Court can grant an annulment if the marriage took place within 72 hours after issuance of the license and the suit is brought within 30 days of the date of marriage.
- Marriage of a Person Under 18 – A parent, managing conservator, guardian, or “next friend” can file for an annulment of a marriage of a person 16 years of age or older, but under 18 years of age that occurred without parental consent or Court order. This suit must be filed before the child turns 18 and, if filed by a “next friend,” it must be filed within 90 days of the marriage. Annulment under these circumstances is within the discretion of the Court, meaning that the Court does not have to do it.
- Marriage While Under Influence of Alcohol or Narcotics – A Court may annul a marriage if, at the time of the marriage, the person requesting the annulment was under the influence of alcohol or narcotics and, as a result, did not have the capacity to consent to the marriage.
- Mental Incapacity – A Court may grant an annulment if either party to a marriage, at the time of the marriage, did not have the mental capacity to consent to the marriage or understand the nature of the marriage because of mental disease or defect.
- Impotency – A Court may grant an annulment if either party, for physical or mental reasons, was permanently impotent at the time of marriage AND the person asking for the annulment didn’t know of the impotency at the time of marriage.
- Concealed Divorce – A Court may grant an annulment if one party finalized a divorce within 30 days before the marriage and the petitioner was unaware at the time of entering the marriage.
- Marriage by Fraud or Force – A Court can grant an annulment if either party used fraud or force on the other to enter the marriage.
Benefits of Annulment in Texas
Whether your marriage ends through annulment or divorce doesn’t change the need for a settlement. But the significant legal difference between the two paths can show in how the settlements are negotiated. Perhaps no difference is bigger than in the division of property.
In an annulment, equitable distribution does not apply. The court, to the greatest extent possible, simply returns property to whomever brought it into the marriage. Unlike a divorce, where the objective is to equitably end a marriage, the annulment’s objective is to recognize that the marriage should never have been in the first place. The same logic also makes it less likely that the financially advantaged spouse will have to make alimony payments.
The same principles apply for marital debt. If, for example, your spouse brought more credit card debt into the marriage, they will have that returned to them in an annulment. In a divorce, it might get split evenly.
An annulment can invalidate a prenuptial agreement. The very premise of the prenuptial agreement is that a valid marriage is taking place. If that premise is not true, the agreement that sprung from it can be thrown out.
If you are the spouse who brought more property and/or less debt into the marriage, the final terms of an annulment can be favorable to you.
Why Choose Coker, Robb & Cannon, Family Lawyers?
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Get Started with One of Our Four Board Certified Family Lawyers
Coker, Robb & Cannon, Family Lawyers has the experience, knowledge, and understanding of annulment laws to help you pursue a resolution. Our Denton, Collin, and Tarrant County family attorneys can take the time to address your concerns and help you determine the best option to meet your needs.
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