Nevada Annulment Laws

Nevada annulment laws apply to marriages performed in Nevada, including Las Vegas annulments.

NRS 125.290    Void marriages
1.  Consanguinity between the parties; or2.  Either of the parties having a former husband or wife then living, if solemnized within this State, are void without any decree of divorce or annulment or other legal proceedings. A marriage void under this section shall not bar prosecution for the crime of bigamy pursuant to NRS 201.160.

[though the marriage is void and a decree is not required, in reality, the fact that the marriage is void needs to be established by filing an annulment. Otherwise, how can you prove you took care of the matter and had no malicious intent? Though prosecution is possible, we have found it to be extremely rare. In twenty-five years of practice, no client has ever experienced this. We file an average of 15 or more cases per year for this valid reason]

NRS 125.300    Voidable marriages: Causes for annulment.
A marriage may be annulled for any of the causes provided in NRS 125.320 to 125.350, inclusive.

NRS 125.320    Cause for annulment: Lack of consent of parent or guardian.
1.  When the consent of the father, mother, guardian or district court, as required by NRS 122.020 or 122.025, has not been obtained, the marriage is void from the time its nullity is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction.

      2.  If the consent required by NRS 122.020 or 122.025 is not first obtained, the marriage contracted without the consent of the father, mother, guardian or district court may be annulled upon application by or on behalf of the person who fails to obtain such consent, unless such person after reaching the age of 18 years freely cohabits for any time with the other party to the marriage as husband and wife. Any such annulment proceedings must be brought within 1 year after such person reaches the age of 18 years.

NRS 125.330    Cause for annulment: Want of understanding.
1.  When either of the parties to a marriage for want of understanding shall be incapable of assenting thereto, the marriage shall be void from the time its nullity shall be declared by a court of competent authority.

      2.  The marriage of any insane person shall not be adjudged void, after his restoration to reason, if it shall appear that the parties freely cohabited together as husband and wife after such insane person was restored to a sound mind.

NRS 125.340    Cause for annulment: Fraud.
1.  If the consent of either party was obtained by fraud and fraud has been proved, the marriage shall be void from the time its nullity shall be declared by a court of competent authority.

      2.  No marriage may be annulled for fraud if the parties to the marriage voluntarily cohabit as husband and wife having received knowledge of such fraud.

NRS 125.350    Cause for annulment: Grounds for declaring contract void in equity.
A marriage may be annulled for any cause which is a ground for annulling or declaring void a contract in a court of equity.

NRS 125.360    Annulment of marriage contracted within State: No requirement of residence.
Annulment of marriages contracted, performed or entered into within the State of Nevada may be obtained by complaint, under oath, to any district court of the State of Nevada for any cause provided by law for annulment of marriage.

NRS 125.370    Annulment of marriage not contracted within State: Jurisdiction of district court.

      1.  Annulment of marriages contracted, performed or entered into without the State of Nevada may, for any cause provided by law for annulment of marriage, be obtained by complaint, under oath, to the district court of any county if the plaintiff shall have resided 6 weeks in the State before suit be brought; otherwise, by complaint, under oath, to the district court of the county in which:

      (a) The defendant shall reside or be found; or

      (b) The plaintiff shall reside, if the latter be the county in which the parties last cohabited.

      2.  No court in this State shall have authority to annul any marriage contracted, performed or entered into without the State of Nevada unless one of the parties shall have resided in this State for the period of 6 weeks before filing of the complaint.

NRS 125.380    Cause for annulment may be pleaded in divorce complaint.
A cause of action for annulment may be pleaded in the same complaint with a cause of action for divorce.

NRS 125.390    Action in rem; status of parties determined.
Any action brought in this State for annulment of marriage shall be an action in rem, and in addition to annulling or declaring the contract of marriage void the courts shall regulate and determine the status of the parties.

NRS 125.400    Service of process.
In any suits brought under this chapter for annulment of marriage, process shall be served in the same manner as in actions at law, and the courts shall have the same power upon a substituted or constructive service of process to annul a marriage and regulate and determine the status of the parties as they would have had if process had been personally served.

NRS 125.410     Issue of marriages are legitimate.
1.  Nothing in this chapter shall be construed so as to make the issue of any marriage illegitimate if the person or persons shall not be of lawful age.

      2.  The issue of all marriages deemed null in law shall be legitimate.

NRS 125.420     Presumption: Law of another state same as law of Nevada.
In any suit in this State for an annulment of marriage in anywise affected by the law of another state, it shall be presumed that the law of such other state is the same as the law of this State, unless and until the law of such other state shall be alleged and proved.

NRS 125.430     Reporting and transcription of evidence: Filing and costs.

     1.  When ordered by the court, the evidence in annulment of marriage actions shall be reported and transcribed and the transcript thereof filed with the pleadings in the case.

      2.  The cost of such transcript shall be immediately computed by the reporter and paid by the party ordered by the court to do so to the clerk of the court, who shall pay the same to the reporter upon receiving from the latter the transcript of evidence.

      3.  In all cases heretofore or hereafter where a transcript of evidence has not been filed due to the death of the reporter, and a period of not less than 5 years has elapsed and no claim has been made during that period by any party, the amount of money on deposit with the clerk, and payable to such reporter if a transcript of the evidence had been filed, shall be, by the clerk, paid to the county treasurer, who shall deposit the same in the county general fund.

NRS 125.440     Judgment for arrearages in payment of support.
1.  When either party to an action for annulment or declaration of nullity of a void marriage, makes default in paying any sum of money as required by the judgment or order directing the payment thereof, the district court may make an order directing the entry of judgment for the amount of such arrears, together with costs and a reasonable attorney’s fee.

      2.  The application for such order shall be upon such notice to the defaulting party as the court may direct.

      3.  The judgment may be enforced by execution or in any other manner provided by law for the collection of money judgments.

      4.  The relief herein provided for is in addition to any other remedy provided by law.