An annulment is a legal procedure that cancels a marriage, and it declares that the marriage never existed from a legal perspective. Unlike a divorce, which ends a valid marriage, an annulment is a court ruling that the marriage was never valid in the first place. The grounds for annulment vary by state, but common reasons include fraud, misrepresentation, bigamy, incest, or marriage to an underage person. In some cases, a very short marriage is not a legal reason for an annulment. The party initiating the annulment must prove that they have the grounds to do so, and if it can be proven, the marriage will be considered null and void by the court. An annulment can be initiated by either party in a marriage.