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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Thank you Lauren and team for the professionalism, diligence, and promptness with handling my divorce. Made a tough process much easier.- Alex
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I was more than taken care of by this law firm. My attorney Shelby Hart believed in my case since day one. My situation was far from easy, I was trying to move out of state with my son to start a family with my husband. His father wanted to restrict me to the county I currently lived it. I was turned away by another attorney because she said there was no way I had a chance. But when I called Shelby he was nothing but uplifting, positive, and honest about the risk and chances but was reassuring of my chance and possibilities. He never gave up and found all kinds of ways to make this happen for me. He was always keeping me informed and allowed me to make any and all final decisions. Ashley Leverett, his parallel was always so helpful and on top of everything. She was also very sympathetic with me and gave good advice as well has helped me along the way with getting all my documents together. Even down to billing and payments, Georgia was always pleasant to work with on arranging and making my payments as well as answering any questions I had. Shelby, Ashley, and I won the case and I am completely moved in with my husband, son and newest member on the way! We are so happy and grateful for all the help we got at Coker!- Piper S.
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STOP SEARCHING! Hire Coker, Robb & Cannon! Words will never express how I feel about all of the hard work they put in for me & my daughter. Sheba, Shelby, Rachel, & Kelly were PERFECT. In time I may find the words that convey to everyone how truly great this team is, but for now I will simply say if you need family law attorneys, HIRE THEM NOW!- Joshua N.
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I had a nasty divorce going with my ex-wife who was using one of the High Power Dallas Lawyers that was intent on making things difficult and costing both of us most of the money we were fighting over. Duane was able to calm me down and came up with an idea for the settlement that not only saved me and the ex money, but actually made his fees LESS EXPENSIVE!!! You will not hear of that many times with any lawyer. I would recommend him for a simple divorce or a complex one with all of the circumstances that always make things difficult. He just has a way of working things out with all parties that make so much sense the case gets settled and everyone gets what they want.- Jay N.
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I will never be able to put into words how Thankful I am for my Attorney Malorie Crosley and Paralegal Toya Brown. They have been there for me every step of the way during this difficult time. Whenever I had a question they ALWAYS responded in a timely matter. If you are looking for a professional team of ladies to have your back look no further! If I could give a million 5 star reviews I would!- Patrice C.
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I can't say enough good things about Shelby. He is thorough, bright, diligent, and all-around excellent at what he does. Not only is he extremely knowledgeable in his field, but he is also kind and sympathetic. He listened to my concerns and hopes for the future while also considering the facts and fighting hard with my best interest in mind. I appreciated that he even followed-up with me after everything was said and done just to make sure I was settling in to my new normal. I will recommend Shelby to anyone who may find themselves in this tough position. He helped me every step of the way.- Tessa D.
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- Jimmy V.
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.
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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.
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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