{"id":377276,"date":"2016-03-31T21:37:19","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:37:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/wisconsin-law\/wisconsin-annulment-and-prohibited-marriage-laws.html"},"modified":"2023-01-19T10:40:46","modified_gmt":"2023-01-19T15:40:46","slug":"wisconsin-annulment-and-prohibited-marriage-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/wisconsin-law\/wisconsin-annulment-and-prohibited-marriage-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Wisconsin Annulment and Prohibited Marriage Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\">\n        <h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">Wisconsin Annulment and Prohibited Marriage Laws<\/h1>\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw Staff<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/nicole-prebeck-esq\/\">Nicole Prebeck, Esq.<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            January 19, 2023\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n<p>Though it may seem simple, the legal proceedings surrounding marriage actually have strict rules. Each state has its own set of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/family-laws\/details-on-state-annulment-and-prohibited-marriage-laws.html\">annulment and prohibited marriage laws<\/a>&nbsp;that prohibit marriage in certain circumstances. A prohibited marriage is void because the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/marriage.html\">marriage<\/a>&nbsp;was never lawful. Generally, there&#8217;s no need to get an annulment or divorce in these cases. Commonly prohibited marriages typically include bigamous marriages, where a person tries to marry more than one spouse, or incestuous marriages, where a person tries to marry their relative.<\/p>\r\n<p>An&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/divorce\/annulments-overview.html\">annulment<\/a>, on the other hand, is a way to void a marriage that would be otherwise invalid. While both an annulment and a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/divorce.html\">divorce<\/a>&nbsp;end a marriage, an annulment wipes the slate clean as if there had been&nbsp;no marriage to begin with. However, you usually need to get an annulment within a certain amount of time, so it is important to know the laws and act promptly if you are considering annulling your marriage.<\/p>\r\n<p>This article provides a brief overview of annulment and prohibited marriages in the state of Wisconsin.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Wisconsin Annulment and Prohibited Marriage Laws<\/h2>\r\n<p>The chart below lists the details of Wisconsin&#8217;s annulment and prohibited marriage statutes.<\/p>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><p>Grounds for Annulment<\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n<td>A court may annul a marriage upon any of the following grounds: a party lacked the capacity to consent to marriage at the time of the marriage, either because of age, mental incapacity, infirmity, or because of the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other incapacitating substances, or if a party was induced to enter into a marriage by force or duress, or by fraud involving the essentials of marriage; or a party lacks the physical capacity to consummate the marriage by sexual intercourse; the party was 16 or 17 years old did not have the consent of their parent or guardian or judicial approval, or a party was under the age of 16; a judicial proceeding is required to annul a marriage (<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.legis.wisconsin.gov\/statutes\/statutes\/767\/iv\/313\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wis. Stat. \u00a7 767.313<\/a>)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><p>Time Limits for Obtaining Annulment<\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n<td><ul>\r\n<li>Underage: Within one year (by parent if party before age 18) of marriage (<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.legis.wisconsin.gov\/statutes\/statutes\/767\/iv\/313\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wis. Stat. \u00a7 767.313<\/a>)<\/li>\r\n<li>Mental infirmity, alcohol, drugs, force, duress, fraud, no capacity to consummate: Within one year of knowledge (<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.legis.wisconsin.gov\/statutes\/statutes\/767\/iv\/313\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wis. Stat. \u00a7 767.313<\/a>)<\/li>\r\n<li>Where marriage prohibited by law: 10 years (<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.legis.wisconsin.gov\/statutes\/statutes\/767\/iv\/313\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wis. Stat. \u00a7 767.313<\/a>)<\/li>\r\n<li>Bigamy: Until either party dies (<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.legis.wisconsin.gov\/statutes\/statutes\/767\/iv\/313\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wis. Stat. \u00a7 767.313<\/a>)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><p>Legitimacy of Children<\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n<td>If the father and mother of a nonmarital child enter into a lawful marriage or a marriage which appears and they believe is lawful, the child becomes a marital child and shall enjoy all rights and privileges of a marital child as if they had been born during the lawful marriage of their parents (<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.legis.wisconsin.gov\/statutes\/statutes\/767\/ix\/803\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wis. Stat. \u00a7 767.803<\/a>)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><p>Prohibited Marriages<\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n<td><ul>\r\n<li>No marriage shall be contracted while either of the parties has a spouse living, nor between persons who are nearer of kin than second cousins, except that marriage may be contracted between first cousins where the female has attained the age of 55 or where either party submits an affidavit signed by a physician stating that either party is permanently sterile (<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.legis.wisconsin.gov\/statutes\/statutes\/765\/03\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wis. Stat. \u00a7 765.03<\/a>)<\/li>\r\n<li>It is unlawful for any person who is or has been a party in an action for divorce in any state to marry again until six months after the judgment of divorce is granted, and the marriage of any such person solemnized before the expiration of the six months shall be void (<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.legis.wisconsin.gov\/statutes\/statutes\/765\/03\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wis. Stat. \u00a7 765.03<\/a>)<\/li>\r\n<li>If a person who is disabled or prohibited from contracting marriage under the laws of this state goes into another state to marry, the marriage shall be void (<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.legis.wisconsin.gov\/document\/statutes\/765.04\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wis. Stat. \u00a7 765.04<\/a>)<\/li>\r\n<li>Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a class I felony: contracts a marriage in the state with knowledge that their other marriage is not dissolved; or contracts a marriage with knowledge that the prior marriage of the person they married is not dissolved; or cohabits in the state with a person they married outside the state with knowledge that their marriage had not been dissolved (<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.legis.wisconsin.gov\/document\/statutes\/944.05\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wis. Stat. \u00a7 944.05<\/a>)<\/li>\r\n<li>Whoever marries or has nonmarital sexual intercourse with a person they know to be a blood relative and such relative is in fact related in a degree within which the marriage is prohibited by law is guilty of a class F felony (<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.legis.wisconsin.gov\/statutes\/statutes\/944\/ii\/06#:~:text=944.06%20Incest.,of%20a%20Class%20F%20felony.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wis. Stat. \u00a7 944.06<\/a>)<\/li>\r\n<li>If a person enters into a subsequent marriage, and the marriage is entered into in good faith, in the full belief that the former spouse was dead, or that the former marriage had been annulled, or dissolved by a divorce shall, after the impediment is removed by the death or divorce of the party to the former marriage, if they continue to live together as spouses in good faith, be held to have been legally married (<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.legis.wisconsin.gov\/document\/statutes\/765.24\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wis. Stat. \u00a7 765.24<\/a>)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><tr><th scope=\"row\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><p>Same-Sex Marriages<\/p>\r\n<\/th>\r\n<td><ul>\r\n<li>The U.S. Supreme Court&#8217;s decision in&nbsp;<i><a href=\"https:\/\/caselaw.findlaw.com\/court\/us-supreme-court\/14-556.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Obergefell v. Hodges<\/a>&nbsp;<\/i>(2015) established that bans on same-sex marriages in any state violate the Fourteenth Amendment&#8217;s equal protection clause. With this ruling, same-sex marriages were legalized.<\/li>\r\n<li>On December 13, 2022, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. signed into law the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/117th-congress\/house-bill\/8404\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Respect for Marriage Act<\/a>, which codified laws related to protections for same-sex marriage.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\r\n<p><i>Note:&nbsp;State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.<\/i><\/p>\r\n<h2>Research the Law<\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/wi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wisconsin Statutes and Constitution<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/state-codes.html\">Official State Codes<\/a>&nbsp;\u2014 Links to the official online statutes (laws) in all 50 states and D.C.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Related Resources: Annulment and Prohibited Marriage Laws<\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/divorce\/questionnaire-are-you-entitled-to-an-annulment.html\">Are You Entitled to an Annulment?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/wisconsin-law\/wisconsin-marital-property-laws.html\">Wisconsin Marital Property Laws<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/wisconsin-law\/wisconsin-marriage-age-requirements-laws.html#:~:text=State%20Marriage%20Age%20Laws&amp;text=All%20states%20allow%20individuals%20to,16%20for%20those%20with%20consent.\">Wisconsin Marriage Age Requirements Laws<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/wisconsin-law\/wisconsin-family-laws.html\">Wisconsin Family Laws<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Next Steps: Speak to a Family Law Attorney<\/h2>\r\n<p>If you are considering annulling your marriage or have questions regarding its legitimacy, you should speak to a local family law attorney. An experienced attorney can view the specific facts of your case and give you legal advice using the relevant laws of your state.<\/p>\r\n<p>Get started by receiving a consultation from a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/family-law\/wisconsin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wisconsin family law attorney<\/a>&nbsp;today.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-up\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3418)\">\n                        <path id=\"Vector\"\n                              d=\"M6 21H3C2.46957 21 1.96086 20.7893 1.58579 20.4142C1.21071 20.0391 1 19.5304 1 19V12C1 11.4696 1.21071 10.9609 1.58579 10.5858C1.96086 10.2107 2.46957 10 3 10H6M13 8V4C13 3.20435 12.6839 2.44129 12.1213 1.87868C11.5587 1.31607 10.7956 1 10 1L6 10V21H17.28C17.7623 21.0055 18.2304 20.8364 18.5979 20.524C18.9654 20.2116 19.2077 19.7769 19.28 19.3L20.66 10.3C20.7035 10.0134 20.6842 9.72068 20.6033 9.44225C20.5225 9.16382 20.3821 8.90629 20.1919 8.68751C20.0016 8.46873 19.7661 8.29393 19.5016 8.17522C19.2371 8.0565 18.9499 7.99672 18.66 8H13Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\n                              stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path>\n                    <\/g>\n                    <defs>\n                        <clipPath id=\"clip0_604_3418\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"No\"\n                value=\"no\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">No<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-down\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3423)\">\n                        <path id=\"Vector\"\n                              d=\"M16 0.999995H18.67C19.236 0.989986 19.7859 1.18813 20.2154 1.55681C20.645 1.9255 20.9242 2.43905 21 3V10C20.9242 10.5609 20.645 11.0745 20.2154 11.4432C19.7859 11.8119 19.236 12.01 18.67 12H16M9.00003 14V18C9.00003 18.7956 9.3161 19.5587 9.87871 20.1213C10.4413 20.6839 11.2044 21 12 21L16 12V0.999995H4.72003C4.2377 0.994543 3.76965 1.16359 3.40212 1.47599C3.0346 1.78839 2.79235 2.22309 2.72003 2.7L1.34003 11.7C1.29652 11.9866 1.31586 12.2793 1.39669 12.5577C1.47753 12.8362 1.61793 13.0937 1.80817 13.3125C1.99842 13.5313 2.23395 13.7061 2.49846 13.8248C2.76297 13.9435 3.05012 14.0033 3.34003 14H9.00003Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\n                    <\/g>\n                    <defs>\n                        <clipPath id=\"clip0_604_3423\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"\/>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n    <span class=\"was-this-helpful__taken-action fl-text-sm-bold\"><\/span>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-container\">\n        <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n            <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n        <form class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form\">\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback was-this-helpful__feedback--positive\">\n                <fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--understandable\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Easy to understand\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--understandable\"\n                        >Easy to understand<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--solved-problem\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Solved my problem\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--solved-problem\"\n                        >Solved my problem<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--other\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"positive-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback was-this-helpful__feedback--negative\">\n                <fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this not helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n                        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Missing Information\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                        >Missing the information I need<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Too complicated\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--complicated\"\n                        >Too complicated \/ too many steps<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Out of date\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--dated\"\n                        >Out of date<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Other\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n                                for=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--negative-other\"\n                        >Other<\/label>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/fieldset>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"was-this-helpful__form-buttons-container\">\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--positive at-feedback-submit fl-button secondary\"\n                    type=\"submit\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Submit<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--cancel fl-button primary disabled\"\n                    type=\"reset\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Cancel<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-times-circle medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message\" role=\"status\">\n        <i class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-icon fa fa-check\"><\/i>\n        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-text\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-section-sidebar\">\n        <div class=\"fl-editors-summary\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content\">\n                    <h2>Can I Solve This on My Own or Do I Need an Attorney?<\/h2>\n                <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\">\n            \n        <\/div>\n        <ul class=\"fl-list-style-none\">\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    Divorces are tough and a lawyer can seek the best outcome\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    A lawyer can help protect your children&#8217;s interests\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    Divorce lawyers can secure alimony, visitation rights, and property division\n\n                <\/li>\n                    <\/ul>\n                    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\">\n                <p>Get tailored divorce advice and ask a lawyer questions. Many attorneys offer free consultations.<\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n                            <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-link fl-flex\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-link\">\n                <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                <p class=\"find-attorney\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/divorce\/#USER_GEO\/?fli=esum\" title=\"Divorce Attorney Directory\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">If you need an attorney, find one right now.<\/a><\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"email-subscription fl-mb30\">\n    <div class=\"email-subscription-header\">\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-header-content\">\n            <h3 class=\"fl-callout-sm fl-no-margin\">Stay Up-to-Date With How the Law Affects Your Life<\/h3>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-header-image fl-flex fl-items-end\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\"\n                src=\"https://www.findlaw.com/static/c/images\/images\/w_1200,c_limit,dpr_auto\/f_auto,q_auto:eco\/v1745902396\/ability-law\/wp-prod\/general-components-subscribe-module-Image-subscribeModule_1\/general-components-subscribe-module-Image-subscribeModule_1.png?_i=AA\"\n                alt=\"\"\n                loading=\"lazy\"\n            \/>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"email-subscription-content fl-flex fl-flex-wrap\">\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-content-text fl-mb25\">\n            <h4 class=\"fl-no-margin\">Enter your email address to subscribe<\/h4>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <form class=\"email-subscription-content-form\">\n            <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distributionList\" value=\"latl\" \/>\n            <label for=\"email-subscription-content-form-group-input\" class=\"fl-text-sm-bold\">Email (Required)<\/label>\n            <div class=\"email-subscription-content-form-group\">\n                <input id=\"email-subscription-content-form-group-input\" name=\"email\" autocomplete=\"email\"\/>\n                <button type=\"submit\" aria-label=\"Submit\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n            <p class=\"email-subscription-content-form-success subscribe-success-message fl-text-sm-bold\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"status\">Thank you for subscribing!<\/p>\n            <p class=\"email-subscription-content-form-error subscribe-error-message fl-text-sm-bold\" role=\"alert\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/p>\n\n            <div id=\"email-subscription-content-form-recaptcha\" class=\"email-subscription-content-form-recaptcha subscribe-recaptcha\"\n                data-sitekey=\"0x4AAAAAAABGBEkK9kEeKxO-\"><\/div>\n        <\/form>\n\n        <div class=\"email-subscription-content-footer fl-text-sm\">\n            <p><a href=\"https:\/\/newsletters.findlaw.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn more about FindLaw\u2019s newsletters<\/a>, including our terms of use and privacy policy.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"general-list\">\n    <h3>Helpful Links<\/h3>\n    <ul class=\"fl-list fl-no-margin\">\n                                    <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state.html\">\n                        Find Your State&#8217;s Laws\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/all-topics.html\">\n                        View All State Law Topics\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/statutes-of-limitations.html\">\n                        State Statutes of Limitations\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                        <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"popularDirectory\">\n        <div class=\"general-popular-directory \">\n            <div class=\"general-popular-directory-title\">\n                <h3>Popular Directory Searches<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <ul>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/divorce\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Divorce Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/family-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Family Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/child-support\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Child Support Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/same-sex\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Same Sex Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/fathers-rights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Father&#8217;s Rights Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/adoption\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Adoption Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                                    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/custody-visitation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Custody and Visitation Lawyers<\/a><\/li>\n                            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Some types of marriage are prohibited in Wisconsin, while others can be open to annulment. Learn about how Wisconsin legislates annulment, prohibited marriage, and much more at FindLaw.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41135,"featured_media":0,"parent":377263,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"app\/Http\/Controllers\/Templates\/ArticleWithBreadcrumbsController.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_autodraft_ids":[],"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"_sb_is_suggestion_mode":false,"_sb_show_suggestion_boards":false,"_sb_show_comment_boards":false,"_sb_suggestion_history":"","_sb_update_block_changes":"","_is_real_time_mode":false,"_realtime_collaborators":"","footnotes":"","cf_checklist_status":[]},"categories":[2743],"tags":[],"state_laws_tags":[3582],"flmsa":[],"class_list":["post-377276","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-state","state_laws_tags-statelaws_50_2"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/377276","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=377276"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/377276\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/377263"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=377276"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=377276"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=377276"},{"taxonomy":"state_laws_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/state_laws_tags?post=377276"},{"taxonomy":"flmsa","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/flmsa?post=377276"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}