Jump to content

Voidable marriages (Australia)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Until 1975, some marriages in Australia were voidable under Australian family law. The Family Law Act 1975 (Cth.) abolished the concept of a voidable marriage.

Void v. voidable marriage

[edit]

A void marriage is regarded for all legal purposes as no marriage at all. On the other hand, a voidable marriage was considered a valid marriage until it was annulled by a judicial decree of nullity.[1]

Legislation

[edit]

Under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1959 (Cth.) (repealed by the FLA) a marriage was voidable on one of four grounds. Section 21(1) of the Act provided:[1][2]

"A marriage that takes place after the commencement of this Act, not being a marriage that is void, is voidable, where, at the time of the marriage:

(a) either party to the marriage is incapable of consummating the marriage;

(b) either party to the marriage is:

(i) of unsound mind; or
(ii) a mental defective;

(c) either party to the marriage is suffering from a venereal disease in a communicable form; or

(d) the wife is pregnant by a person other than the husband,

and not otherwise."

Current status

[edit]

Under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth.) an annulment can now only be granted if a marriage is void. This Act abolished prospectively voidable marriages.[1]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Dickey, A. (2007) Family Law (5th Ed)
  2. ^ Hodgson Law Office