Understanding Civil Annulment in Florida: When a Marriage Never Was In family law, we often discuss divorce – the legal dissolution of a valid marriage. However, there's another, less common, legal proceeding that addresses situations where a marriage, for specific reasons, is deemed to have never legally existed in the first place: civil annulment. For those in Florida grappling with the sudden realization that their recent nuptials might be fundamentally flawed, understanding annulment is crucial. It’s not just a technicality; it’s a legal declaration that can significantly impact property, children, and future legal status. Annulment vs. Divorce: A Critical Distinction Before diving into the specifics, it's vital to grasp the core difference between annulment and divorce. A divorce ends a legally recognized marriage. An annulment, on the other hand, declares that a marriage was never valid from its inception ( void ab initio ), or was voidable and is now...