Annulment Attorney in San Diego

Clarity When You Are Considering Annulment

If you are questioning whether your marriage can be annulled under California law, you are not alone. Many people quietly search for answers before they are ready to talk about what happened in their relationship. You may be unsure where to start, what the law requires, or whether you even need an annulment attorney in San Diego.

At Andrew J. Botros, APC, we help clients understand how California annulment laws apply to their specific circumstances. Our team brings advanced family law training, membership in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and a reputation for smart, strategic advocacy in complex cases. We combine careful legal analysis with practical judgment so you can make decisions with confidence.

Annulment is not the right path for every marriage, and the rules in this area are technical. Our goal is to give you clear, honest guidance about your options and the potential consequences, then work with you to move forward in a way that fits your values and long-term goals.

Need help with an annulment? Speak with a San Diego annulment attorney today—schedule a consultation online or call us at (858) 422-1377.

Why Choose Our Firm For Annulment

Choosing the right legal team matters whenever your marital status and family future are at stake. Annulment cases often involve unusual facts, time limits, and strong personal or religious concerns. You need counsel that understands both the legal framework and the human impact of these decisions.

At Andrew J. Botros, APC, our family law practice includes attorneys who have earned certification in family law and who are active in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. These are significant markers of dedication to this field. They reflect years of focused work on complex family disputes, including matters where the validity of a marriage is questioned.

We describe our approach as a blend of book smarts and street smarts. The book smarts are our deep knowledge of California family law and the rules that govern annulments, property, support, and parentage. The street smarts are our practical instincts about how facts play out in real life, how cases move through the San Diego County Superior Court, and what strategies tend to help clients reach workable resolutions.

Clients who come to us for annulment questions often feel embarrassed or conflicted about what has happened in their relationship. We provide a steady, confidential space to sort through the facts, evaluate any possible grounds for annulment, and compare that path to divorce or legal separation. Our role is to give you clear information, realistic expectations, and thoughtful recommendations, not pressure you toward any single outcome.

Understanding Annulment Under California Law

Annulment in California is about whether a marriage was legally valid in the first place. In some situations, the law treats a marriage as void from the beginning. In other situations, a marriage is considered voidable, which means a judge may declare that it never should have been recognized if certain conditions are proven.

This is very different from divorce. In a divorce, the court ends a valid marriage and then addresses property, support, and other issues. In an annulment, the focus is on whether a legal marriage existed at all. The label on the relationship can affect how other issues are handled, which is why it is important to understand the distinctions before you decide how to proceed.

California family law sets specific grounds that can support an annulment. These can include situations such as a prior existing marriage, certain types of fraud, lack of legal capacity, or a marriage that did not meet age requirements. Each ground has its own legal standards and, in many cases, specific filing periods. The San Diego County Superior Court applies these statewide rules to cases that arise in this area.

Even if a marriage is found to be invalid, questions about children and finances often remain. Courts can still address parentage, custody, and child support, and under some circumstances may consider the financial expectations of a spouse who reasonably believed the marriage was valid. Our annulment lawyer helps clients understand how these principles might apply in their situation so they do not rely on assumptions or incomplete information.

Grounds & Eligibility For Annulment

One of the most common questions we hear is whether a particular set of facts is enough to support an annulment petition. California does not grant annulments simply because a marriage was brief or disappointing. Instead, the law focuses on legally recognized grounds and the evidence available to support them.

Common grounds for annulment in California include:

• Bigamy: One spouse was already married to someone else at the time of the ceremony.
• Incest: The spouses are close blood relatives within prohibited degrees of relationship.
• Age: A spouse was under the legal age to marry and did not obtain proper consent or ratify the marriage as an adult.
• Fraud: One spouse was induced to marry based on a serious misrepresentation that goes to the essence of the relationship.
• Unsound mind: A spouse lacked the mental capacity to understand the nature of marriage at the time of the ceremony.
• Force: A spouse was compelled into the marriage by threats or coercion.
• Physical incapacity: A spouse was physically unable to consummate the marriage, and the condition appears incurable.

Some of these grounds can be raised at any time. Others have time limits that begin on the date of the marriage or the date the issue was discovered. For example, certain fraud-based claims must be pursued within a limited period after learning the truth. Waiting too long can make it harder to ask the court to annul the marriage, even if the underlying facts are serious.

Part of our work as an annulment lawyer in San Diego is to review the details of your situation in light of these rules. We typically look at how and where you married, what each person knew or believed at that time, and what has happened since. Timelines, documents, communications, and witness information can all be important. After we understand the complete picture, we can give you a candid assessment of any potential grounds, along with other options that may be more realistic.

How Annulment Affects Property & Children

Many people assume that if a marriage is annulled, all financial and parenting issues simply disappear. In reality, California courts can still address a range of family law questions, even if the marriage is declared invalid. Understanding these effects is critical before you decide how to proceed.

With property and debt, the starting point is different from a typical divorce, because the court may not treat the relationship as a community property marriage. However, California recognizes the concept of a putative spouse in some situations. This can allow the court to consider the reasonable expectations of a person who believed in good faith that the marriage was valid, even if it later turns out that it was not.

Children are always a priority. The San Diego County Superior Court can still determine parentage, establish custody and visitation orders, and set child support, regardless of whether the parents’ marriage is annulled, dissolved, or never existed under the law. The court’s focus remains on the best interests of the child and on helping ensure that children receive appropriate financial and emotional support.

Clients often worry that pursuing an annulment might somehow harm their children or undermine their legal rights. We work carefully to explain how parentage actions interact with annulment and what steps may be needed to protect your children’s interests. Our annulment attorney helps you think through both the legal and practical consequences so you do not unintentionally create gaps in protection for yourself or your family.

Our Approach To Annulment Cases

When you contact Andrew J. Botros, APC about a possible annulment, our priority is to understand your story. We typically begin by asking you to walk us through the key events, starting from when you met your spouse, through the wedding, and up to the present. This helps us identify any facts that might fit into the legal grounds discussed above.

From there, we explain how California law views those facts and what options might be available. Sometimes that includes pursuing an annulment in the San Diego County Superior Court. In other cases, it may be more appropriate to consider divorce, legal separation, or a combination of approaches. We aim to give you a clear sense of the path ahead, the possible advantages and drawbacks of each route, and the kinds of documents or information that would support your chosen course.

Throughout the process, we focus on communication and discretion. Annulment cases often involve deeply personal details that clients do not want widely known. We handle these matters carefully and respectfully, and we work to keep you informed about each step, from the preparation of court filings to any negotiations or hearings that may follow.

Because our firm is recognized as a leader in family law here, we are accustomed to dealing with complicated issues that intersect with annulment, including property rights, support claims, and parenting disputes. We bring thoughtful analysis and strategic planning to annulment matters, similar to our work in high-stakes divorces and other family law disputes. Our goal is to help you navigate a difficult situation with clarity and confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I qualify for an annulment?

The only way to evaluate eligibility is to compare your specific facts to California’s legal grounds. During a consultation, we review your timeline, documents, and concerns, then explain how the law may apply. If annulment is unrealistic, we also discuss other options so you can make an informed choice.

Will an annulment change how property is divided?

Annulment can affect how property and debt are analyzed, because the court may not treat the relationship as a standard community property marriage. In some situations, putative spouse principles apply. We walk you through how your assets, debts, and financial expectations might be addressed before you decide how to proceed.

What happens with our children if we get an annulment?

Children’s rights do not depend on whether their parents’ marriage is annulled, dissolved, or never legally existed. The court can still establish parentage, custody, visitation, and child support. We help parents understand how these proceedings work and focus on protecting their children’s stability and long-term welfare.

How private is the annulment process?

Family law cases are filed in court, but most sensitive details are shared only as needed for your case. We approach annulment matters with discretion and respect, and we discuss privacy concerns with you before filings or hearings. Our annulment attorney works to minimize unnecessary exposure of personal information.

What will happen in my first meeting with your firm?

In an initial consultation, we listen to your story, ask clarifying questions, and identify any facts that might support annulment or other remedies. We outline possible next steps, explain the role of the San Diego County Superior Court, and answer your questions so you leave with a clearer sense of your options.

Talk With Our Team About Your Options

If you are weighing whether to pursue an annulment under California law, you do not have to sort through the rules on your own. A conversation with our annulment lawyer can help you understand what is realistic, how different choices might affect your future, and what a case in this area could involve.

At Andrew J. Botros, APC, we combine advanced family law training with practical, real-world strategy for people in and around San Diego. We strive to provide clear explanations, careful analysis, and a plan that reflects your priorities. Your consultation is confidential, and our team treats your concerns with the seriousness they deserve.

Schedule your confidential consultation online or call us at (858) 422-1377 today to speak with a San Diego annulment attorney about your options.