Annulments

Annulment Lawyer in Woburn

Serving Woburn & Middlesex County Since 2000

An annulment is a court declaration that a marriage never legally existed. That distinction matters: unlike a divorce, which ends a valid marriage, an annulment treats the union as though it never occurred. Massachusetts law permits annulments only on specific grounds, and the court requires clear proof before granting one. The process isn’t faster or simpler than divorce, and a civil annulment is entirely separate from any religious annulment your faith tradition may offer.

Schaefer Law PC has served individuals and families in Woburn and throughout Middlesex County since 2000. We handle annulment matters alongside a full range of family law services, including divorce, custody, and estate planning. If you’re trying to determine whether your situation qualifies for an annulment, we can help you evaluate your options.

Contact us today at (617) 917-3299 to schedule a free consultation by phone, in person, or virtually.

Grounds for Annulment in Massachusetts

Massachusetts law distinguishes between void marriages and voidable marriages. A void marriage never had legal validity. A voidable marriage remains legally valid until a court formally annuls it.

Void Marriages

A marriage is void when one spouse was already legally married to someone else at the time of the wedding (bigamy) and the other spouse didn’t know. It’s also void when the couple is related by blood or certain in-law relationships, including parent and child, siblings, grandparent and grandchild, and specific affinity relationships. If the person seeking annulment knew their spouse was already married, the appropriate legal remedy is divorce rather than annulment.

Voidable Marriages

Voidable grounds include one spouse lacking the mental capacity to consent at the time of the marriage, one spouse being physically incapable of sexual intercourse, or one spouse being under 18 without the required parental and court permission. Fraud can also be grounds, but Massachusetts courts require that it went to the heart of the marriage itself. Marrying primarily to obtain immigration status rather than for the relationship has been recognized as meeting that standard; many other deceptive acts have not. A spouse who doesn’t want the marriage annulled may ask the court to affirm the marriage instead.

How an Annulment Proceeding Works

Under G.L. c. 207, § 14, either spouse may file a Complaint for Annulment with the Probate and Family Court. The process differs meaningfully from divorce: spouses can’t simply agree to an annulment. The filing party must present evidence at a hearing, and a judge decides whether the legal grounds have been met. Because proof of specific grounds is required and the matter is typically contested, annulment cases often involve more litigation than an uncontested divorce.

Children, Custody & Support After an Annulment

An annulment doesn’t erase the legal rights and responsibilities that come with having children together. When a marriage with children is annulled, Massachusetts courts still address custody, parenting time, and child support much as they would in a divorce. The court may also recognize another state’s determination that a marriage was void under that state’s laws, under principles of full faith and credit.

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Explore what sets us apart and discover how personalized attention, decades of experience, and unwavering advocacy can make all the difference in your case.

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Why Woburn Residents Work with Schaefer Law PC

Pamela J. Schaefer brings more than 25 years of family law experience to every case, combining thorough legal knowledge with direct, personal communication. Clients aren’t handed off to assistants or left waiting for updates. Each matter receives careful attention, and billing is transparent from the start.

One practical advantage that matters in annulment cases: Attorney Schaefer is a certified mediator. While the annulment complaint itself must be decided by a judge, the custody, support, and property questions that often arise alongside it don’t all have to go through full litigation. Mediation can resolve those connected issues through negotiated settlement, which can save time, cost, and conflict. Free consultations are available by phone, in person, or virtually.

Middlesex Probate & Family Court in Woburn

Annulment complaints for Middlesex County are filed with Middlesex Probate and Family Court South, located in Woburn. That court handles family and probate matters for Woburn and nearby communities, including Cambridge, Lexington, Malden, Medford, and Winchester. We’ve been practicing in Middlesex County since 2000, and our familiarity with local court procedures can help make the process more manageable.

Filing an Annulment Case: The Basic Steps

A spouse, or in certain circumstances, a guardian, begins the process by filing a Complaint for Annulment with the Probate and Family Court. Once filed, the other spouse is served and a hearing date is set. At the hearing, the person who filed must present evidence supporting the specific legal ground they’ve claimed, and the judge decides whether that evidence meets the standard for annulment.

Because the outcome depends entirely on proving particular facts, preparation matters. We work with clients to gather the documentation and testimony their case requires, and we help them understand what to expect at each stage before they get there.

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Schedule a Free Consultation About Your Annulment

If you’re considering an annulment or need to understand whether your circumstances qualify, the first step is a conversation. We offer free consultations for annulment and other family law matters, available by phone, in person, or virtually, so you can get clear answers without obligation.

Schaefer Law PC has been helping Middlesex County families navigate complex legal situations since 2000. Call us at (617) 917-3299 to get started.

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