You can sometimes annul your marriage, but annulments are not always an option. People often come into the office asking, “Can I get an annulment?” and typically, it’s not available. In most cases, the appropriate solution is to obtain a divorce.
Annulments are available in some situations, and there are two types of marriages that could qualify. The first is a void marriage, meaning it never took place in the eyes of the state or the Commonwealth of Virginia. In these cases, you don’t even need to file a petition, though many people do to create a paper trail. This would apply, for example, if a minor got married without meeting the legal requirements, though in some cases, minors can marry with parental consent.
The second type is a voidable marriage. This involves a marriage that the state recognized, but it should never have taken place, possibly due to fraud. Typically, annulments are not available, and divorce is the best option. However, if you want to discuss this further, it’s certainly something we could help you figure out.