Authorized mechanisms exist for terminating a marital union. Two distinct approaches, although usually confused, are annulment and divorce. The previous treats the wedding as if it by no means legally existed, discovering that inherent flaws at its inception rendered it invalid from the beginning. Examples of such flaws may embrace bigamy, underage marriage, or fraud. The latter, nonetheless, acknowledges the authorized validity of the wedding however dissolves it on account of points that arose throughout the conjugal relationship, reminiscent of irreconcilable variations or adultery.
The implications of those differing approaches are important. An annulment usually has ramifications concerning property division, spousal help, and baby custody that diverge from these related to divorce proceedings. Moreover, spiritual and social views ceaselessly differentiate between these two types of marital dissolution, with some establishments holding stricter views on the permissibility and penalties of divorce versus annulment. Traditionally, annulments have been usually sought inside particular spiritual or authorized techniques the place divorce was both unavailable or extremely restricted.