seeking annulment based on (believed) unqualified officiant

[amc5427]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Pennsylvania

I've been married for a little over a year now. my wife and I are mutually seeking to terminate our marriage because of irreconcilable differences. (she lives in Florida now, and has been for some time.) We are on good terms. my question is: rather than go through the whole divorce process, is it possible to get an annulment based on our officiant not being qualified? she's not a minister of any kind, not a mayor, not anything. the signed marriage license says "minister (non denominational)." i assume she got ordained on-line. from the little bit of research I've done, the only way she would be qualified would be if she is "A minister, priest or rabbi of any regularly established church or congregation." which i'm sure she is not. would this make the marriage "voidable?"

any help on this subject would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Zigner]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Pennsylvania

I've been married for a little over a year now. my wife and I are mutually seeking to terminate our marriage because of irreconcilable differences. (she lives in Florida now, and has been for some time.) We are on good terms. my question is: rather than go through the whole divorce process, is it possible to get an annulment based on our officiant not being qualified? she's not a minister of any kind, not a mayor, not anything. the signed marriage license says "minister (non denominational)." i assume she got ordained on-line. from the little bit of research I've done, the only way she would be qualified would be if she is "A minister, priest or rabbi of any regularly established church or congregation." which i'm sure she is not. would this make the marriage "voidable?"

any help on this subject would be greatly appreciated!

She got ordained online...get a divorce.

 

[adjusterjack]

regularly established church or congregation

Those online churches ARE regularly established churches.

Forget annulment. You'll need a divorce.

If she's met the residency requirements in Florida it shouldn't be too difficult to determine which state has the faster, more efficient, and less costly no fault uncontested divorce process.

 

[cbg]

I grew up in Pennsylvania and there are a number of churches that are NOT online churches but are nonetheless considered non-denominational for various reasons. They are legitimate churches and their ministers are ordained, licensed officiants. For that matter you can find them here in my state, too.

You're going to need more than that the church is non-denominational to successfully claim that the officiant is unqualified.