Unlike a divorce which dissolves a valid marriage, an annulment is a legal decree that a marriage is void. In addition, an annulment proceeding can resolve some of the same issues that would be the subject of a divorce proceeding, such as child custody, support and alimony. Annulments are granted only in limited circumstances such as a marriage entered into because of fraud, duress or coercion. An annulment cannot be granted merely because the marriage is of short duration, and annulments are normally not granted for “religious" reasons.