Many people believe that annulment is common for short marriages, and that it is a proceeding that is easier and less expensive than divorce. Actually annulment is more complicated than divorce.
Annulment is a procedure to establish that a marriage was entered into improperly.
For example, if a person was still married to someone else at the time of a marriage, that second marriage would be void. There are often strict time requirements as well. So in an annulment proceeding, a hearing is required to prove that the marriage should be nullified, whereas in divorce without children, no hearing is required unless the parties are in dispute. Different considerations apply when a religious annulment is sought through a church. Divorce by default takes place when the party who is served by papers completely fails to respond within the time required, usually 30 days.