A marriage can be terminated by divorce, annulment, or by the death of either spouse.

A final divorce is one which irrevocably ends the marriage relationship. In some jurisdictions, this type of divorce is known as a "divorce a vinculo matrimonii," or a divorce from the bonds of matrimony. Apply State law to determine whether a divorce is final. (See GN 00305.165.)

A decree of annulment may:

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  constitute a judicial declaration that a purported marriage was always void (see GN 00305.125) - a nullity that never existed (some States hold that if a marriage is void, an annulment decree is unnecessary);

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  terminate a voidable marriage (see GN 00305.130); or

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  terminate a valid marriage (This is usually called a divorce. See SSR 69-1, C.B. 1966-1970,p. 7.).