We have all made major decisions that we later wish we could undo. When it comes to undoing a marriage, the qualifying reasons under Illinois law to get a marriage annulled are very limited. If your situation does not meet one of the four reasons listed below, you must follow the legal procedures for divorce under Illinois law, even if your marriage has not lasted very long. It is best to work with an experienced attorney who can learn about your situation and guide you through the process.

Qualifying Reasons for an Annulment in Illinois

There are four circumstances in Illinois under which a married couple can have their marriage annulled. Each case also has a time limit before which the Declaration of Invalidity of Marriage must be filed. If the marriage does not meet one of the criteria or the time limit has passed, the couple either must stay married or seek a divorce. The qualifying circumstances and time limits are:

• One spouse did not legally consent to the marriage. This can be due to a mental disability, the influence of drugs or alcohol, or through coercion, fraud, or distress. Under this situation, the annulment must be filed within 90 days of the marriage.

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Annulments, also known in the state of Illinois as a Declaration of Invalidity of Marriage, is a way for a couple who wish to no longer be married to legally dissolve the marriage. However, there are things you should know about annulments and the special circumstances that must be met.

Specifically, in the state of Illinois, there are several grounds that must be in order to qualify for an annulment, as well as a time limit in which a case must be filed.

These grounds and time limits in the state of Illinois are as follows: