Fewer flash annulments in 2006

Last year, 3.9 thousand marriages were dissolved by a flash annulment procedure, a decrease by 800 relative to one year previously. In 2005, the number of flash annulments also declined slightly by 300. The popularity of the flash annulment procedure appears to be waning.

Flash annulments

The annual number of flash annulments and divorces was fairly stable at 36.5 thousand over the past six years.

Fewer marriages downgraded to registered partnerships

Prior to a flash annulment, the marriage must be downgraded to a registered partnership. In 2006, the share of conversions to partnership registrations declined to 37 percent. In the preceding four years, approximately half of partnership registrations concerned conversions from marriages to registered partnerships. The amount of new partnerships gradually increased over the past six years.

Partnership registrations

Flash annulments also down among couples without children

The decline of flash annulments in 2006 applies to couples with and without children. Last year, more than half of women involved in flash annulment procedures had children who were still living at home. More than seven in ten women involved in divorce procedures had children living at home.

Divorcing women

Mila van Huis