Santa Clara County Annulment Lawyer

Ending a marriage usually means a divorce. However, when the marriage may never have been valid in the first place, or is not legally sound, it can be ended through annulment. Our Santa Clara County, CA annulment lawyer reviews the details of your marriage to see if it meets the conditions set by the California Family Code for annulment. Attorney Bernie can help you make it so your marriage never was. We give you the personalized care and discretion you deserve. Contact us today for a confidential consultation.

Annulment Lawyer Santa Clara County, CA

Annulment is the dissolution of a marriage that, legally speaking, makes it so that the couple was never married. California has several grounds for annulments:

• Bigamy (one person was legally married to someone else at the time of the marriage)
• Incest (too closely blood-related)
• Fraud, such as tricking a spouse into marriage for a green card or lying about children
• Force, in which someone is coerced into the marriage
• One spouse was under 18 at the time of the marriage
• One spouse could not consent to the marriage due to mental incapacity
• Pre-existing physical incapacity of one spouse to consummate the marriage

If one of these conditions is present in your marriage, our Santa Clara County annulment lawyer can help you file for the annulment, including providing supporting evidence of the specific circumstance.

You cannot file for an annulment to avoid the divorce process, avoid splitting marital assets and property, or because you want to get married again in a church. You must prove that one of these conditions existed at the time of the marriage.

We review your situation and provide realistic advice on how to obtain your annulment. This may include seeking evidence to support your annulment grounds and testimony from you and the other person, such as witnesses who verify that fraud occurred or medical records proving that one person was mentally incapable of consenting to the marriage.

You may have to answer many uncomfortable, personal, and probing questions during the process. We strive to ensure you’re treated with the dignity and respect you deserve and protect your privacy as much as possible. Trust our team to act in your best interests and achieve your goals.

Our Legal Experience Matters When You’re Seeking An Annulment

California law has very narrow grounds for an annulment. Let our Santa Clara County annulment lawyer help you get the result you need. Our careful attention to detail and thorough knowledge of state laws work in your favor.

• Firm founder Bernie J. Kempen is certified as a Family Law Specialist through the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization
• Our firm proudly upholds a flawless 10.0 AVVO rating for excellence in family law representation
• Attorney Bernie has earned the AVVO Client Choice Award and recognition as a Top Contributor
• Dedicated to community involvement, Bernie has served as Past President of the Castro Valley Rotary and Director of the Castro Valley Arts Foundation

Are you seeking an annulment of a legally unsound marriage? Contact Attorney Bernie today for a consultation.

Types Of Annulment Cases We Handle

An annulment is different from a divorce. Instead of ending a valid marriage, an annulment asks the court to declare that the marriage was never legally valid in the first place. Your Santa Clara County, CA annulment lawyer can help you through the process. This type of case is usually based on specific legal grounds recognized by state law. At Attorney Bernie, we provide our clients with award-winning representation through annulments, divorces, separations, and more. Read on to see the types of annulment cases we handle, and contact us today to get started.

Marriage Based On Fraud

Some marriages occur after one spouse hides or misrepresents important facts. These cases may involve deception about identity, finances, immigration status, or other matters that affected the decision to marry. You’ll need your attorney for marriage annulment to get through the next steps.

Marriage Entered Under Pressure

A marriage may be challenged if one person was forced or pressured into the ceremony. In these cases, the court may review whether the consent to marry was given freely.

Marriage Involving Lack Of Mental Capacity

As your marriage nullification lawyer can explain, a valid marriage requires both spouses to understand what they are agreeing to. If one person lacked the mental ability to consent at the time of the marriage, the court may consider whether the marriage should be declared invalid.

Marriage Involving Intoxication

In some cases, a person may have been heavily intoxicated during the marriage ceremony and unable to understand what was happening. These situations may support a request for annulment if the person did not have the ability to give clear consent.

Marriage Involving An Existing Spouse

If one spouse was already legally married to someone else at the time of the ceremony, the later marriage may not be valid. Your Santa Clara County, CA annulment lawyer can review prior marriage records and determine whether a previous marriage had been legally ended.

Marriage Involving Underage Spouses

State law sets minimum age requirements for marriage. If one spouse was below the legal age and the required approvals were not obtained, the marriage may be subject to annulment.

Marriage That Was Never Consummated

Some jurisdictions allow annulment when a marriage was never physically consummated. These cases may involve reviewing the circumstances of the relationship after the ceremony.

Marriage Based On Misrepresentation About Children

In certain situations, one spouse may have misrepresented pregnancy or parenthood in a way that influenced the decision to marry. Your marriage invalidation attorney can investigate for any supporting documentation.

Marriage Involving Prohibited Family Relationships

Marriage laws also restrict unions between certain relatives. If a marriage falls within a prohibited relationship category, it may be considered invalid under state law.

Marriage Entered Without Proper Legal Procedure

A valid marriage generally requires a license and proper ceremony. If the legal requirements were not followed, the court may review whether the marriage can be declared void.

Contact Us Today

Annulment cases often depend on specific facts and legal standards. If you believe your marriage may qualify for annulment, it may help to review your situation with someone who handles these cases regularly. Contact Attorney Bernie today, and get started with a Santa Clara annulment lawyer you can trust.