Void or illegal marriages are marriages that do not exist in the eyes of the law. Spouses in a void marriage do not have any spousal rights. For example, the spouse of a person already married cannot claim their spouse's estate when they die. Since they were married at the time of their marriage, the marriage is void.

Theoretically, these "non-existent" marriages would not require a judicial decree dissolving the marriage, but obtaining an annulment resolves any legal issues that might arise regarding whether or not the parties are single and free to marry again.

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