Permanency Options Comparison Chart

Complaint for Annulment of Marriage

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

FAMILY COURT

Domestic Relations Branch

SUBSTITUTE ADDRESS: Check box if you have written someone else’s address because you fear harassment or harm.

I, , am the Plaintiff in this case and state that

1. This Court has the authority to decide my request for annulment and related issues because: [CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

I am currently a resident of the District of Columbia.

My spouse and I were married to one another in the District of Columbia.

2. My spouse and I were married: [CHECK ONE]

by ceremony on , in

by common law on or about , in

3. My marriage should be annulled because: [CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

at the time I married my spouse, one of us was already married to someone else.

at the time I married my spouse, one of us was insane, and we did not voluntarily continue to live together as husband and wife after I learned of the insanity.

I married my spouse as a result of my spouse’s force or fraud.

at the time I married my spouse, I was under 16 years old, and we did not voluntarily continue to live together as husband and wife after I turned 16 years old.

4. I state the following with regard to my married name: [CHECK ONE]

I did not change my name when I married my spouse.

I changed name when I married my spouse. I do not wish to return to a former name.

I changed my name when I married my spouse and I now wish to return to my birth name or another legal name I used before my marriage. I have no illegal or fraudulent reason for making this request. The former name I want restored is:

Marital Property & Marital Debt

5. I state the following about property from my marriage: [CHECK ONE]

My spouse and I have no marital property.

My spouse and I may have marital property, but I am not asking the Court to divide or distribute it.

My spouse and I have a written agreement resolving all of our marital property issues and I am not asking the Court to divide or distribute any marital property.

My spouse and I have marital property that I am asking the Court to divide or distribute, and I have completed and attached the additional information required on Attachment A, which I incorporate into this Complaint.

I am not sure if my spouse and I have marital property.

6. I state the following about debt from my marriage: [CHECK ONE]

My spouse and I have no marital debt.

My spouse and I may have marital debt, but I am not asking the Court to assign responsibility for it.

My spouse and I have a written agreement resolving all of our marital debt issues and I am not asking the Court to assign responsibility for it.

My spouse and I have marital debt that I am asking the Court to assign responsibility for, and I have completed and attached the additional information required on Attachment A, which I incorporate into this Complaint.

I am not sure if my spouse and I have marital debt.

Alimony

7. I state the following about my need for temporary financial support from my spouse until the time the Court grants my Annulment: [CHECK ONE]

I need temporary financial support and will file a separate motion (“Motion for Temporary Alimony”) asking the Court to grant this request.

I do not want temporary financial support at this time.

8. I state the following about alimony: [CHECK ONE]

I need alimony from my spouse and I believe my spouse has the ability to pay alimony to me.

I do not want my spouse to pay alimony to me.

Custody

9. I state the following about our child(ren) who are under the age of 18: [CHECK ONE]

My spouse and I do not have any children together (through birth or adoption) who are under the age of 18.

My spouse and I do have children together (through birth or adoption) who are under the age of 18, but I am not asking the court to decide custody at this time.

My spouse and I do have children together (through birth or adoption) who are under the age of 18, and we have a written agreement about custody and I am not asking the court to decide custody at this time.

My spouse and I do have children together (through birth or adoption) who are under the age of 18, and I am asking the court to decide custody. I have completed and attached the additional information required on Attachment B, which I incorporate into this Complaint.

Child Support

10. My spouse has the legal obligation to contribute to the support of our child(ren) who are 21 years old or younger or who are adult disabled children.

11. I state the following about my request for child support: [CHECK ONE]

My spouse and I do not have any children together (through birth or adoption) or our children together are over the age of 21 years and are not adult disabled children.

My spouse and I do have children together (through birth or adoption), but I am not asking the Court to award child support at this time.

My spouse and I have an agreement regarding child support, and that agreement is consistent with the Child Support Guideline of the District of Columbia and/or it is fair and just.

I am asking the Court to award child support, and I have completed and attached the additional information required on Attachment C, which I incorporate into this Complaint.

Attachments

12. I have included the following attachment(s): [CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

No attachments

Attachment A (Marital Property, Debt or Alimony)

Attachment B (Child Custody)

Attachment C (Child Support)

Request for Relief

I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST that the Court: [CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]

Grant me an Annulment.

Divide marital property and/or assign marital debts in a manner that is equitable, just and reasonable.

Award alimony in a manner that is fair and just.

Award custody in the best interests of the child(ren).

Hold a hearing on my request for child support within 45 days of filing and issue a Notice of Hearing and Order Directing Appearance (“NOHODA”) to the other parent with the date and time of the hearing.

Award child support according to the Child Support Guideline of the District of Columbia and other applicable laws, including:

current child support (support starting today and continuing into the future)

retroactive child support (support for time before today)

medical support

Note that we have a written agreement. I request that the Court:

include our written agreement as a part of its order.

not include our written agreement as a part of its order.

Restore me to my former name.

I ALSO REQUEST that the Court award any other relief it considers fair and proper.

[CHECK ONE]

I do not know of any proceedings in the District of Columbia or in any state or territory involving the same claim or subject matter as this case.

I do know of proceedings in the District of Columbia or in any state or territory involving the same claim or subject matter as this case, as listed on the first page of this Complaint (“Related Cases”).

I solemnly swear or affirm under criminal penalties for the making of a false statement that I have read the foregoing Complaint for Annulment of Marriage and that the factual statements made in it are true to the best of my personal knowledge, information and belief.

RULE 4

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

WHEN YOU FILE YOUR COMPLAINT, THE FAMILY COURT CENTRAL INTAKE CENTER WILL GIVE YOU A SUMMONS THAT YOU MUST SERVE ON THE OTHER PARTY WITH A COPY OF YOUR COMPLAINT.

YOU MUST SERVE THE OTHER PARTY BEFORE THE SUMMONS EXPIRES IN 60 DAYS.

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO SERVE THE OTHER PARTY WITHIN THE 60 DAYS, YOU CAN ASK THE FAMILY COURT CENTRAL INTAKE CENTER TO GIVE YOU ANOTHER SUMMONS. THE SECOND SUMMONS IS CALLED AN “ALIAS SUMMONS.” YOU MUST ASK FOR THE ALIAS SUMMONS BEFORE THE FIRST SUMMONS EXPIRES.

AFTER YOU SERVE THE OTHER PARTY, YOU MUST COMPLETE THE CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE PORTION FOUND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SUMMONS AND FILE IT WITH THE FAMILY COURT CENTRAL INTAKE CENTER.

HERE ARE THE WAYS YOU CAN SERVE YOUR COMPLAINT AND THE SUMMONS:

• by having someone else, who is over 18 years old and not a party to the case (NOT you), hand it to the other party; or
• by having someone else, who is over 18 years old and not a party to the case (NOT you), leave a copy at the other party’s home with a person of suitable age and discretion who lives there; or
• by mailing it to the other party by certified mail, return receipt requested.

IF THE RETURN RECEIPT (“GREEN CARD”) COMES BACK TO YOU, FILE IT WITH THE FAMILY COURT CENTRAL INTAKE CENTER BY ATTACHING IT TO AN “AFFIDAVIT OF RETURN OF SERVICE BY CERTIFIED MAIL.”

SUMMONS

Superior Court of the District of Columbia / Family Court / Domestic Relations Branch

A Complaint for:

Divorce Legal Separation Annulment Other

In the Matter of:

PLAINTIFF / DEFENDANT INFORMATION

TO:

Name:

Address:

PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY OR PLAINTIFF

Name:

Address:

Date of Issue:

By:

Cross Reference Intake Form

1. What type of case are you filing today?

2. Do you have any other court cases in this court? If yes, please list the name, type, and case number:

3. Do you have any other court cases in another court? If yes, please list the name of the court, case, type, and number:

4. Are you pro se (representing yourself)? If yes, please visit the Family Court Self-Help Center in Room JM-570.