Kim Kardashian Divorce: Will an Annulment Void the Prenup?

Kris Humphries filed for an annulment this week, seeking to void his 72-day marriage to Kim Kardashian. The stated reason? Fraud.

Sources close to Humphries told TMZ that the NBA star feels he was just slotted in the plot line of Kim Kardashian's latest headline and newest business venture, and resents being seen as an accomplice in the charade.

Humphries reportedly thinks Kardashian had no intention of staying married to him, and that he was simply cast as the groom in the E! wedding special. Once they were finished taping, she just didn't need a groom anymore.

[Humphries] is sensitive to marriage both emotionally and religiously. He entered the marriage in good faith and genuinely loved her and is devastated that it turned out like this, a source told the New York Daily News.

But one lawyer has suggested that Humphries may have some financial motivations -- an annulment of the marriage could also nullify the couple's prenuptial agreement, and free the NBA star to run his mouth off to the highest bidder.

If they were never married, then the prenup wouldn't be in effect and there would be no confidentiality, Lisa Helfend Meyer, a senior partner at Meyer Olson & Lowry, told E!. [Humphries] could make a lot of money disclosing what went on during their 72 days of bliss.

Meyers also said that Kardashian could be liable for palimony if the marriage and the prenup are invalidated.

But she is doubtful that Humphries will be able to prove his soon-to-be ex-wife committed fraud.

I think he is going to be hard-pressed to prove the fraud, Meyers said.

Kardashian filed for divorce on Oct. 31 after getting married in a lavish, televised ceremony on Aug. 20.

After careful consideration, I have decided to end my marriage, Kardashian said in a statement announcing the split. I hope everyone understands this was not an easy decision. I had hoped this marriage was forever but sometimes things don't work out as planned. We remain friends and wish each other the best.

Kim is reportedly now defending the legitimacy of her marriage to her friends, who told TMZ she said married Humphries for love, not for ratings, but the marriage just fell apart quickly.

According to California law, grounds for marital annulment are incest, bigamy, an underage petitioner at the time of marriage, prior existing marriage, unsound mind, fraud, force, and physical incapacity.

If someone filed to annul a marriage based on fraud, The fraud must have been about something vital to the relationship that directly affected why the party who was deceived agreed to the marriage or domestic partnership.