Cousin marriage law in the United States
Appearance
Cousin marriage acceptance differs from one U.S. state to another ranging from being legal to a criminal offense.
State | First cousin marriage allowed | Sexual relations or cohabitation allowed | First-cousin marriages void | Out-of-state marriages by state's residents void | All out-of-state marriages void | Sterility requirement to marry cousin | First-cousin-once-removed marriage allowed | Half-cousin marriage allowed | Adopted-cousin marriage allowed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama[1] | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Alaska[2][3] | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Arizona[4][5][6] | Only if both parties are 65 or older, or one is infertile | No[7] | Yes | Yes[8] | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes[9] | Yes |
Arkansas[10][11][12] | No | Yes | Yes | No[13] | No | No | Yes | Unknown | Unknown |
California[14][15][16] | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Colorado[17][18] | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Connecticut[19][20] | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Delaware[21][22][23][24] | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unknown | No | Yes | Unknown | Unknown |
District of Columbia[25] | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Florida[26][27] | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Georgia[28][29] | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Hawaii[30][31] | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Idaho[32][33][34][35][36] | No | Yes | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | No | Yes | Unknown | Unknown |
Illinois[37][38][39][40][41][42] | Only if both parties are 50 or older, or one is infertile | Yes | Yes | Yes[43] | Unknown | Yes | Yes | No[44] | Unknown |
Indiana[45][46][47][48] | Only if both parties are 65 or older | Yes | Yes | Yes | No[49] | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Unknown |
Iowa[50] | No | Yes | Yes | Unknown | No | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Unknown |
Kansas[51][52][53] | No | Yes | Yes | No[54] | No[55] | No | Yes | Yes | Unknown |
Kentucky[56][57][58][59] | No | No[60] | Yes | Yes[61] | Unknown | No | No | No | Unknown |
Louisiana[62][63][64] | No | Yes | Yes | Unknown | No[65] | No | Yes | No | If judicial approval in writing is obtained |
Maine[66][67] | Proof of genetic counselling from a genetic counsellor | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Unknown | Yes |
Maryland[68][69] | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Massachusetts[70][71][72] | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Michigan | No[73] | Yes | Yes | No[74] | No[75] | No | Yes | Unknown | Unknown |
Minnesota[76][77][78] | Only certain types | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Unknown | No | Yes | No | Unknown |
Mississippi[79][80][81] | No | No | Yes | Yes | Unknown | No | Yes | Unknown | Yes |
Missouri[82][83] | No | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Unknown | No | Yes | Unknown | Unknown |
Montana[84][85][86] | No | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Unknown | No | Yes | Yes | Unknown |
Nebraska[87][88][89][90] | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Nevada[91][92] | No | No | Yes | Unknown | Unknown | No | No | Yes | Unknown |
New Hampshire[93][94][95] | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Unknown | No[96] |
New Jersey[97][98] | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
New Mexico[99][100] | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
New York[101][102] | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
North Carolina[103][104] | Yes, except in the rare case of double first cousins | Yes | Yes, but cannot be declared void after all of cohabitation, birth of issue, and death of one of the parties has occurred | Unknown | Unknown | No | Yes | Unknown | Unknown |
North Dakota[105][106][107] | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Unknown |
Ohio[108][109][110] | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | Unknown | Unknown |
Oklahoma[111][112] | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Unknown |
Oregon[113][114][115] | No | Yes | Yes | No[116] | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Pennsylvania[117][118][119] | No | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Unknown | No | Yes | Unknown | Unknown |
Rhode Island[120][121] | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
South Carolina[122][123] | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
South Dakota[124][125][126] | No | No | Yes | No[127] | No | No | Yes | Yes | Unknown |
Tennessee[128][129] | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Texas[130][131][132][133] | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Utah[134][135][136] | Only if both parties are 65 or older, or both are 55 or older with a district court finding of infertility of either party | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Unknown |
Vermont[137][138] | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Virginia[139][140] | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Washington[141][142][143] | No | Yes[144] | Yes | Yes[145] | No | No | No | No | Unknown |
West Virginia[146][147][148][149][150][151] | No | Yes | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Wisconsin[152][153][154][155][156] | Only if the woman is at least 55, or either is permanently sterile | No | No | No | Unknown | Yes | Only if the woman is at least 55, or either is permanently sterile | Yes | Yes |
Wyoming[157][158][159] | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Unknown | Yes |
State | First cousin marriage allowed | Sexual relations or cohabitation allowed | First-cousin marriages void | Out-of-state marriages by state's residents void | All out-of-state marriages void | Sterility requirement to marry cousin | First-cousin-once-removed marriage allowed | Half-cousin marriage allowed | Adopted-cousin marriage allowed |
See also
References
- ^ Code of Ala. § 13A-13-3. Alabama appears to have no law voiding incestuous marriages, although § 30-1-3 does mention incestuous marriages being annulled.
- ^ Alaska Stat. § 25.05.021 (2010)
- ^ Alaska Stat. § 11.41.450 (2010)
- ^ A.R.S. § 25-101 (2010)
- ^ A.R.S. § 25-112 (2010)
- ^ A.R.S. § 13-3608 (2010)
- ^ See Etheridge v. Shaddock (PDF), 288 Ark. 481, 706 S.W.2d 395 (1986).
- ^ In addition to statute, see In re Mortenson's Estate, 83 Ariz. 87, 316 P.2d 1106 (1957)
- ^ https://www.thespruce.com/cousin-marriage-laws-listed-by-state-2300731
- ^ A.C.A. § 9-11-106 (2010)
- ^ A.C.A. § 9-11-107 (2010)
- ^ A.C.A. § 5-26-202 (2010)
- ^ See Incest Statutes 2013 (PDF).
- ^ Cal Fam Code § 2200 (2010)
- ^ Cal Pen Code § 285 (2010)
- ^ Estate of Levie (1975, Cal App 1st Dist) was a California case on a purported first-cousin marriage contracted in Nevada. It found the marriage void per the usual rule.
- ^ C.R.S. 14-2-110 (2010)
- ^ C.R.S. 18-6-301 (2010)
- ^ Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-21 (2010)
- ^ Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-191 (2010)
- ^ 13 Del. C. § 101 (2010)
- ^ 13 Del. C. § 102 (2010)
- ^ 13 Del. C. § 104 (2010)
- ^ 11 Del. C. § 766 (2010)
- ^ D.C. Code § 46-401.01 (2010)
- ^ Fla. Stat. § 741.21 (2010)
- ^ Fla. Stat. § 826.04 (2010)
- ^ O.C.G.A. § 19-3-3 (2010)
- ^ O.C.G.A. § 16-6-22 (2010)
- ^ HRS § 572-1 (2010)
- ^ HRS § 707-741 (2010)
- ^ Idaho Code § 32-205 (2010)
- ^ Idaho Code § 32-206 (2010)
- ^ Idaho Code § 32-209 (2010)
- ^ Idaho Code § 32-501 (2010)
- ^ Idaho Code § 18-6602 (2010)
- ^ § 750 ILCS 5/212 (2010)
- ^ § 750 ILCS 5/213 (2010)
- ^ § 750 ILCS 5/216 (2010)
- ^ 750 ILCS 5/301 (2010)
- ^ 720 ILCS 5/11-11 (2010)
- ^ In re Estate of Mary Kathrein was an Illinois Supreme Court case ruling that first cousins once removed are not to be confused with first cousins.
- ^ In addition to statute, see Meisenhelder v. Chicago & N.W. Ry. Co., 170 Minn. 317, 213 N.W. 32 (1927)
- ^ See In re Flores, 96 Ill. App. 3d 279, 51 Ill. Dec. 885, 421 N.E.2d 393 (1 Dist. 1981)
- ^ Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 31-11-1-2 (2010)
- ^ Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 31-11-8-3 (2010)
- ^ Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 31-11-8-6 (2010). Note that the laws listed do not pertain to cousin marriage.
- ^ Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 35-46-1-3 (2010)
- ^ See Mason v. Mason, 775 N.E.2d 706, 2002 Ind. App. LEXIS 1605 (2002).
- ^ Chapter 595.19 Void Marriages
- ^ K.S.A. § 23-102 (2009)
- ^ K.S.A. § 23-115 (2009)
- ^ K.S.A. § 21-3602 (2009)
- ^ Moore, A Defense of First-Cousin Marriage, 10 Cleveland Marshall L. Rev. 136 (1961)
- ^ See In re Estate of Loughmiller, 229 Kan. 584, where a foreign first cousin marriage was recognised in Kansas.
- ^ Kentucky Revised Statutes § 402.010 (2010)
- ^ KRS § 402.040 (2010)
- ^ KRS § 402.990 (2010)
- ^ KRS § 530.020 (2010)
- ^ Class B misdemeanour if marriage entered into; Class A misdemeanour if the couple cohabits after being convicted of entering into a prohibited marriage.
- ^ A marriage between first cousins will not be recognised in Kentucky even if it is consummated in another state. OAG 71-78.
- ^ La. C.C. Art. 90 (2010)
- ^ La. C.C. Art. 94 (2010)
- ^ La. R.S. 14:78 (2010)
- ^ See Ghassemi v. Ghassemi
- ^ http://usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/maine/index.shtml
- ^ http://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/state-laws-regarding-marriages-between-first-cousi.aspx
- ^ Md. FAMILY LAW Code Ann. § 2-202 (2010)
- ^ Md. CRIMINAL LAW Code Ann. § 3-323 (2010)
- ^ ALM GL ch. 207, § 1 (2010)
- ^ ALM GL ch. 207, § 2 (2010)
- ^ ALM GL ch. 272, § 17 (2010)
- ^ "Michigan Marriage License Laws > MI Wedding Officiants". Retrieved 10 February 2013.
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suggested) (help) - ^ See In re Miller's Estate, 239 Mich. 455, 214 N.W. 428 (1927)
- ^ In addition to statute and preceding reference, see Toth v Toth (1973) 50 Mich App 150, 212 NW2d 812.
- ^ Minn. Stat. § 517.03 (2009)
- ^ Minn. Stat. § 518.01 (2009)
- ^ Minn. Stat. § 609.365 (2009)
- ^ Miss. Code Ann. § 93-1-1 (2010)
- ^ Miss. Code Ann. § 93-1-3 (2010)
- ^ Miss. Code Ann. § 93-5-29 (2010)
- ^ § 451.020 R.S.Mo. (2010)
- ^ § 568.020 R.S.Mo. (2010)
- ^ Mont. Code Anno., § 40-1-104 (2010)
- ^ Mont. Code Anno., § 40-1-401 (2010)
- ^ Mont. Code Anno., § 45-5-507 (2010)
- ^ R.R.S. Neb. § 42-103 (2010)
- ^ R.R.S. Neb. § 42-117 (2010)
- ^ R.R.S. Neb. § 28-702 (2010)
- ^ R.R.S. Neb. § 28-703 (2010)
- ^ Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 125.290 (2010)
- ^ Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 201.180 (2010)
- ^ RSA 457:2 (2010)
- ^ RSA 457:3 (2010)
- ^ RSA 639:2 (2010)
- ^ Prohibition of marriages between first cousins is applicable where the persons to be married are related only by adoption. 1987 Op. Att'y Gen. 46. (New Hampshire)
- ^ N.J. Stat. § 37:1-1 (2010)
- ^ N.J. Stat. § 2C:14-2 (2010)
- ^ N.M. Stat. Ann. § 40-1-7 (2010)
- ^ N.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-10-3 (2010)
- ^ NY CLS Dom Rel § 5 (2010)
- ^ NY CLS Penal § 255.25 (2010)
- ^ N.C. Gen. Stat. § 51-3 (2010)
- ^ N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-178 (2010)
- ^ N.D. Cent. Code, § 14-03-03 (2010)
- ^ N.D. Cent. Code, § 14-03-08 (2010)
- ^ N.D. Cent. Code, § 12.1-20-11 (2010)
- ^ ORC Ann. 3101.01 (2010)
- ^ ORC Ann. 3105.31 (2010)
- ^ ORC Ann. 2907.03 (2010)
- ^ 43 Okl. St. § 2 (2010)
- ^ 21 Okl. St. § 885 (2010)
- ^ ORS § 106.020 (2009)
- ^ ORS § 163.525 (2009)
- ^ Oregon State Bar | http://www.osbar.org/public/legalinfo/1131_Marriage.htm
- ^ See Leefield v. Leefield, (1917) 85 Or 287, 166 P 953.
- ^ 23 Pa.C.S. § 1304 (2010)
- ^ 23 Pa.C.S. § 3304 (2010)
- ^ 18 Pa.C.S. § 4302 (2010)
- ^ R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-1-1 (2010)
- ^ R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-1-2 (2010)
- ^ S.C. Code Ann. § 20-1-10 (2009)
- ^ S.C. Code Ann. § 16-15-20 (2009)
- ^ S.D. Codified Laws § 25-1-6 (2010)
- ^ S.D. Codified Laws § 22-22A-2 (2010)
- ^ S.D. Codified Laws § 25-1-38 (2010)
- ^ See Garcia v. Garcia, 25 S.D. 645, 127 N.W. 586 (1910)
- ^ Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-3-101 (2010)
- ^ Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-15-302 (2010)
- ^ Tex. Fam. Code § 2.004 (2010)
- ^ Texas Family Code, Title 1, Chapter 6, Subtitle B
- ^ Tex. Fam. Code § 6.201 (2010)
- ^ Tex. Penal Code § 25.02 (2010)
- ^ Utah Code Ann. § 30-1-1 (2010)
- ^ Utah Code Ann. § 30-1-4 (2010)
- ^ Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-102 (2010)
- ^ 15 V.S.A. § 1a (2010)
- ^ 13 V.S.A. § 205 (2010)
- ^ Va. Code Ann. § 20-38.1 (2010)
- ^ Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-366 (2010)
- ^ Rev. Code Wash. (ARCW) § 26.04.020 (2010)
- ^ Rev. Code Wash. (ARCW) § 26.09.040 (2010)
- ^ Rev. Code Wash. (ARCW) § 9A.64.020 (2010)
- ^ While no longer a criminal offence in Washington, prosecutions for sexual relations between cousins had taken place under a former statute. See State v. Nakashima, 62 Wash. 686, 114 P. 894 (1911).
- ^ Evasive marriages were held to be void in Washington even though there was no statute specifically making them such. See Johnson v. Johnson, 57 Wash. 89, 106 Pac. 500 (1910).
- ^ W. Va. Code § 48-2-302 (2010)
- ^ W. Va. Code § 48-2-303 (2010)
- ^ W. Va. Code § 48-2-503 (2010)
- ^ W. Va. Code § 48-3-103 (2010)
- ^ W. Va. Code § 48-2-602 (2010)
- ^ W. Va. Code § 61-8-12 (2010)
- ^ Wis. Stat. § 765.03 (2010)
- ^ Wis. Stat. § 765.04 (2010)
- ^ Wis. Stat. § 765.21 (2010)
- ^ Note that marriage abroad to circumvent the laws carries criminal penalties in Wisconsin; see Wis. Stat. § 765.30 (2010)
- ^ Wis. Stat. § 944.06 (2010)
- ^ Wyo. Stat. § 20-1-111 (2010)
- ^ Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-101 (2010)
- ^ Wyo. Stat. § 6-4-402 (2010)
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