Annulment Rules in Oklahoma

• In Oklahoma, an annulment is granted when a judge declares that a marriage was never valid. Polka Dot/Polka Dot/Getty Images

  An annulment is an official judicial order proclaiming that no "valid" marriage took place between the two participants. Unlike a divorce, getting an annulment makes it as if the marriage had never existed. In Oklahoma -- as in many other states -- annulments are difficult to get, as only specific circumstances are grounds for an annulment. In order to get an annulment, you must establish cause for an annulment, as well as meet Oklahoma's requirements for residency.

Grounds for a Annulment

• In Oklahoma, an annulment may be granted if a marriage was illegal -- this includes if one party was already married, if one or both parties were underage, if incest is involved, if a person is impotent, or if the marriage was based on fraud. Other issues include a person being mentally ill or otherwise unable to give consent for the marriage, or if the marriage occurred under duress. Unlike in other states, failure to consummate a marriage is not grounds for annulment, nor is being married only a few days or weeks.

Filing Procedures

• According to Oklahoma state law, a party filing for an annulment must file in a court in the county where he resided for 30 days prior to filing, or in the county where the other party -- the respondent -- is a resident. Once one party files for an annulment, the opposing party has the chance to also file a reason for an annulment.

Oklahoma Residency

• To file for an annulment in Oklahoma, if one party is not a resident of Oklahoma, the marriage must have taken place in Oklahoma. In order to qualify as an Oklahoma resident for the purpose of an annulment, you must have lived in Oklahoma for at least six months prior to filing.