Catholic Annulment Lawyer Virginia Beach, VA

You have received a civil divorce, but your faith requires a Catholic annulment before you can remarry within the Church. The civil annulment process in Virginia is separate from the ecclesiastical one, and it demands careful legal handling—especially when property, support, or custody issues remain unresolved. You need a Virginia Beach family law attorney who understands both the civil and church annulment dimensions and can coordinate your legal strategy without jeopardizing your religious standing. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. – Advocacy Without Borders.

Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., founded in 1997, serves clients across Virginia, including Virginia Beach, Sandbridge, and Oceana. Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder, and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys bring extensive combined legal experience to annulment matters, working to resolve the civil side of your marriage dissolution while being mindful of the parallel church process. To request a consultation, reach the firm at (888) 437-7747.

Reviewed by Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder

Admitted in Virginia, Maryland, District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York

Practicing since 1997

Last reviewed: July 2026

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What Catholic Annulment Means in Virginia Beach

A civil annulment under Virginia law is a legal decree that a marriage was void from the start—as if it never existed. The grounds are set out in Va. Code § 20-89.1 and include a marriage entered into while one spouse was still lawfully married, a marriage between certain relatives, or a marriage that lacked proper consent due to fraud or duress. A Catholic annulment is an ecclesiastical process that determines, according to Church law, whether a valid sacramental marriage occurred. The two processes run on separate tracks, but they often intersect in practical terms: a civil annulment may be necessary before or after the Church issues its decree, and a person pursuing both needs coordinated legal and pastoral guidance.

Virginia Beach family law matters are heard in the Virginia Beach Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court for custody, support, and protective orders, and in the Virginia Beach Circuit Court for divorce, annulment, and equitable distribution. The Circuit Court is located at 2425 Nimmo Parkway, Bldg 10B, Virginia Beach, VA 23456. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. represents clients through its Richmond Location—by appointment only—and appears regularly in the Virginia Beach courts. The firm’s multi-state practice also serves clients in Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York.

How Mr. Sris and the Firm’s Of Counsel Attorneys Handle Annulment Cases

Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys begin by evaluating whether a civil annulment is available under Virginia’s limited statutory grounds and whether it is consistent with your religious objectives. They gather evidence—marriage records, witness statements, and any documentation of fraud or incapacity—and prepare the Complaint for annulment, filing it in the Virginia Beach Circuit Court. The team also addresses related family law issues: if the marriage produced children, custody and support arrangements must be established; if property was acquired, equitable distribution or property classification may be needed.

The process is sensitive. You must prove the specific annulment ground, and the burden can be higher than in a no-fault divorce. Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys work to present your case clearly, while respecting the religious and personal dimensions that brought you to seek an annulment. They handle communication with the opposing party, negotiate agreements where possible, and advocate for you in court if the matter is contested. Throughout, the team coordinates with your church tribunal’s schedule to avoid conflicts that could delay either proceeding.

About Mr. Sris and the Firm’s Of Counsel Attorneys

Mr. Sris is a former prosecutor and has practiced family law since founding Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. in 1997. He is admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. Mr. Sris testified before the Virginia House Courts of Justice Committee in support of 2019 HB 635 (chief patron Del. David Bulova), which concerned equitable distribution in divorce—a background that informs the firm’s handling of property issues that can arise in annulment cases.

The firm’s Of Counsel attorneys contribute extensive combined legal experience to family law matters in Virginia Beach. They include practitioners with backgrounds in criminal law, CPS defense, and complex civil litigation—skills that benefit annulment cases where fraud, coercion, or competency are at issue. Every attorney works as independent Of Counsel to Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., and each brings a distinct perspective to the collaborative case review the firm employs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a civil annulment and a Catholic annulment?

A civil annulment is a legal determination that a marriage was void from the start, while a Catholic annulment is an ecclesiastical finding that no valid sacramental marriage existed. The civil annulment affects your legal status—remarriage rights, property, and support—and is granted by a Virginia court. The Catholic annulment affects your standing in the Church and is granted by a diocesan tribunal. Both may be necessary, but each follows its own rules.

Do I need a separate lawyer for a Catholic annulment in Virginia Beach?

Your family law attorney handles the civil annulment; the Catholic annulment is an internal church process that typically does not require a civil lawyer, though your attorney can coordinate with the church tribunal. You work directly with your parish and the diocesan tribunal for the ecclesiastical case. Your Virginia Beach annulment lawyer, however, can help you understand the interaction between the two proceedings, especially regarding property, custody, and support issues that may arise from the civil case.

How long does a civil annulment take in Virginia Beach?

The timeline for a civil annulment in Virginia Beach depends on the complexity of the grounds, the court’s calendar, and whether the case is contested. Uncontested annulments with clear evidence of a void marriage may resolve in a few months once filed. When the other party disputes the annulment, the process extends longer—similar to a contested divorce—and may involve evidentiary hearings, discovery, and negotiation. The Virginia Beach Circuit Court at 2425 Nimmo Parkway schedules hearings based on its docket.

Does Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. handle annulments in Virginia Beach?

Yes, Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys represent clients seeking civil annulments in Virginia Beach Circuit Court. The firm’s Richmond Location serves Virginia Beach and the surrounding communities of Sandbridge and Oceana. The attorneys evaluate your eligibility under Va. Code § 20-89.1, prepare the Complaint, and advocate for you through the court process. For a consultation, reach the firm at (888) 437-7747.

What are the grounds for a civil annulment in Virginia?

Virginia Code § 20-89.1 provides specific grounds such as bigamy, marriage between close relatives, mental incapacity, fraud, duress, and underage marriage without consent. The court requires clear and convincing evidence on the ground alleged. Unlike a no-fault divorce, which requires only a separation period, an annulment demands proof that the marriage was defective from the beginning. An experienced family law attorney can assess which ground fits your situation.

How does a civil annulment affect property and children in Virginia Beach?

A civil annulment in Virginia may impact property division, spousal support, and parental rights, even though it declares the marriage void. Virginia courts can still address custody, visitation, and child support under the same best-interest standards used in divorce cases. Regarding property, the court may apply equitable principles to divide assets acquired during the relationship, though the analysis differs from a divorce. Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys work through these issues as part of the annulment proceeding.

For full statutory breakdown, see our comprehensive analysis at srislawyer.com/family-law.

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