Annuls

To officially declare a marriage, law, agreement, or action invalid and no longer legally binding. This typically involves a formal process, often through a court or governmental authority, to revoke something's legal status. The act of annulling implies that the original action was flawed, defective, or based on circumstances that render it unenforceable from its inception. It differs from a cancellation, which may only end an agreement's future obligations, while annulment essentially wipes it clean as if it never occurred. The aim is to restore the parties or legal positions to their state before the invalidated event. It focuses on declaring a thing to be void and erasing its original effects.

Annuls meaning with examples

• The church decided to annul the marriage of the couple, citing that the ceremony wasn't performed correctly. This action meant that the pair was never formally married in the eyes of the church, returning both to their previous single status. Legal counsel was needed to begin the annulment procedure, as the rules for dissolution are often intricate.
• The government was forced to annul the controversial land deal after public outcry revealed corrupt practices. This annulment meant the agreement was considered invalid, returning the land ownership to the original state. All involved parties, including the beneficiaries, were required to face the law in this type of annulment.
• Due to a clerical error, the judge was forced to annul the court order, realizing that the paperwork was not filed correctly. The judge had to void the order and start again, causing a significant delay in the ongoing case. The original court order would be considered as if it was never signed.
• After discovering that the contract was signed under duress, the company chose to annul the agreement, opting for negotiations. The annulment saved the company from abiding the terms and conditions, which were considered unfair. The action meant both sides went back to before signing the agreement.