Florida Representative Seeking Annulment

Earlier this year, Florida Representative Alan Grayson was accused by his wife of domestic assault, specifically pushing her against a door. Shortly afterward, Grayson revealed a video of the incident that showed his wife was the one who escalated the domestic altercation, and she took back her allegations. Now, Grayson has filed his own court documents with some interesting accusations against his wife.

Aside from alleging abuse, libel, and slander stemming from the domestic incident, Grayson seeks to end their marriage after 24 years by requesting an annulment. Grayson accuses his wife of bigamy, which means being married to more than one person at one time. Grayson claims that his wife was secretly married to another person but told him she was single at the time of their marriage. Court documents state that she did not get a divorce from her first husband until several years after she married Grayson.

Reasons for Annulments

Some people seek to end a marriage simply because they no longer get along, while others may have more serious reasons. As we have previously discussed on this blog, some of these serious reasons may lead the court to grant an annulment instead of simply a divorce. An annulment does not simply end a marriage, but renders the entire marriage null and void. An annulment works retroactively, as well, so once it is granted, it is as if the marriage had never occurred.

Some reasons why an annulment may be granted include:

• Bigamy;
• Incest;
• Fraud;
• Coercion;
• One or both parties is under age 18; or
• One or both parties otherwise lacked the capacity to marry.

Bigamy in Florida

A person lacks the capacity to marry if they are currently married to another individual. Being knowingly married to two different individuals at the same time is not only grounds for an annulment, but it is also against the law in Florida.

Bigamy is a criminal offense, which may be charged as a third degree felony and may be punishable by up to five years in Florida state prison. People convicted of bigamy may also face probation, significant fines, and other consequences. However, the crime of bigamy must be prosecuted while the person is still married to two people. Therefore, if Grayson’s wife was actually divorced from her first husband years ago, she will not face criminal charges.

If the court discovers that Alan Grayson’s allegations are true, it may grant him an annulment. Grayson also seeks full custody of his five children and more than $15,000 in damages.

Contact a Florida Family Law Attorney for Assistance

No matter what type of issues may arise in your divorce, experienced divorce attorney Alan R. Burton can assist you with every aspect of your case. He knows how to address serious concerns and claims such as bigamy or fraud, and to get you the best outcome possible in your divorce case despite any negative claims against you. If you are thinking about divorce in Boca Raton or Ft. Lauderdale, contact our office today as soon as possible for help.