This is a nuanced question, and the honest answer is: it depends entirely on which ground you rely on, because time itself does not automatically bar a marriage from being declared void in Delhi, but it can significantly complicate certain types of claims. Under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, a marriage is void ab initio — meaning invalid from the very beginning — where it violates conditions such as bigamy (one party already having a living spouse), prohibited degrees of relationship without custom permitting it, or lack of valid ceremonies. In such cases, a declaration of nullity can technically be sought even after many years, since a void marriage has no legal existence to begin with, regardless of how long the parties cohabited.

However, voidable marriages — such as those affected by fraud, coercion, or non-consummation due to impotence — operate differently. These require the aggrieved party to approach the Delhi family court within a reasonable time of discovering the ground, and courts do scrutinise long delays carefully. If you continued living together for years after learning of the fraud or defect and effectively treated the marriage as valid, a court may view this as implied acceptance, which can weaken a nullity petition considerably.

Where bigamy is the underlying issue, Delhi courts have consistently held that the length of cohabitation does not validate an otherwise void marriage, since a second marriage during the subsistence of a first is void regardless of how the parties behaved afterward. This is one of the stronger and more time-resistant grounds available to someone seeking to have their marriage declared void in Delhi even decades later.

Practically, filing such a petition after many years requires careful assembly of historical evidence — marriage certificates, witness statements, and any documentation establishing the void condition at the time of marriage. Memory fades and documents get lost over long periods, so building a credible record takes skilled legal handling.

Given how fact-specific and evidentiary-heavy these matters become over time, reaching out via Aapka Legal Advice early allows an experienced advocate to assess whether your situation genuinely qualifies as void, voidable, or potentially time-barred, before you commit resources to litigation.

The platform's Best Delhi Lawyers & Retired Judges | Aapka Legal Advice listing also includes a panel of retired judges who regularly advise on complex nullity matters, offering valuable perspective on how a Delhi court is likely to view long-delayed petitions based on real judicial experience.

In summary, a marriage can be declared void in Delhi even after many years of cohabitation, particularly where bigamy or fundamental legal defects are involved, though voidable grounds are more sensitive to delay. Consulting counsel promptly ensures your petition is framed on the strongest available legal footing.