Cousin marriage law in the United States by state

Cousin marriage acceptance differs from one U.S. state to another ranging from being legal to a criminal offense.

Laws regarding first-cousin marriage in the United States
  First-cousin marriage is legal
  Allowed with requirements or exceptions
  Banned with exceptions1
  Statute bans first-cousin marriage1
  Criminal offense1
---- 1Some states recognize marriages performed elsewhere, especially when the spouses were not residents of the state when married.clarification needed


Cousin marriage laws in: First cousin marriage allowed Sexual relations or cohabitation a criminal offense First-cousin marriages void Out-of-state marriages by state's residents void All out-of-state marriages void Sterility requirements to marry First-cousin-once-removed marriages allowed Half-cousin marriages allowed Marriage with an adopted cousin allowed
Alabama[1] Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes
Alaska[2][3] Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes
Arizona[4][5][6] Only if at least one is unable to reproduce Unknown Yes Yes[7] Yes Yes Yes Unknown Unknown
Arkansas[8][9][10] No No Yes No[11] No No Yes Unknown Unknown
California[12][13][14] Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes
Colorado[15][16] Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes
Connecticut[17][18] Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes
Delaware[19][20][21][22] No No Yes Yes Unknown No Yes Unknown Unknown
District of Columbia[23] Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes
Florida[24][25] Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes
Georgia[26][27] Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes
Hawaii[28][29] Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes
Idaho[30][31][32][33][34] No No Unknown Unknown Unknown No Yes Unknown Unknown
Illinois[35][36][37][38][39][40] No, unless both are over 50 or one is infertile No Yes Yes[41] Unknown Yes Yes No[42] Unknown
Iowa[43] No Yes No Yes Unknown
Indiana[44][45][46][47] No No Yes Yes No[48] Yes Yes Unknown Unknown
Kansas[49][50][51] No No Yes No[52] No[53] No Yes Unknown Unknown
Kentucky[54][55][56][57] No Yes[58] Yes Yes[59] Unknown No No No Unknown
Louisiana[60][61][62] No No Yes Unknown No[63] No Yes No If judicial approval in writing is obtained.
Maine[64][65][66] Civil violation/$100 fee No Civil violation/$100 fee Civil violation/$100 fee Civil violation/$100 fee No Yes Unknown Yes
Maryland[67][68] Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes
Massachusetts[69][70][71] Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes
Michigan No[72] No Yes No[73] No[74] No Yes Unknown Unknown
Minnesota[75][76][77] Only certain types No Yes Unknown Unknown No Yes No Unknown
Mississippi[78][79][80] No Yes Yes Yes Unknown No Yes Unknown Unknown
Missouri[81][82] No No Yes Unknown Unknown No Yes Unknown Unknown
Montana[83][84][85] No No Yes Unknown Unknown No Yes Unknown Unknown
Nebraska[86][87][88][89] No No Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes
Nevada[90][91] No Yes Yes Unknown Unknown No No Yes Unknown
New Hampshire[92][93][94] No No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Unknown No[95]
New Jersey[96][97] Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes
New Mexico[98][99] Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes
New York[100][101] Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes
North Carolina[102][103] Yes No Unknown Unknown Unknown No Yes Unknown Unknown
North Dakota[104][105][106] No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No Unknown
Ohio[107][108][109] No No No No No No No Unknown Unknown
Oklahoma[110][111] No No Yes No No No Yes Unknown Unknown
Oregon[112][113][114] No No Yes No[115] No No Yes Yes No
Pennsylvania[116][117][118] No No Yes Unknown Unknown No Yes Unknown Unknown
Rhode Island[119][120] Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes
South Carolina[121][122] Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes
South Dakota[123][124][125] No Yes Yes No[126] No No Yes Yes Unknown
Tennessee[127][128] Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes
Texas[129][130][131][132] No Yes No No No No Yes No No
Utah[133][134][135] No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Unknown Unknown
Vermont[136][137] Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes
Virginia[138][139] Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes
Washington[140][141][142] No No[143] Yes Yes[144] No No No No Unknown
West Virginia[145][146][147][148][149][150] No No Unknown Unknown Unknown No Yes No Yes
Wisconsin[151][152][153][154][155] Yes YesNo NO Unknown Yes Yes Yes Yes
Wyoming[156][157][158] No No Yes No No No Yes Unknown Yes
  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ Alaska Stat. § 25.05.021 (2010)
  3. ↑ Alaska Stat. § 11.41.450 (2010)
  4. ↑ A.R.S. § 25-101 (2010)
  5. ↑ A.R.S. § 25-112 (2010)
  6. ↑ A.R.S. § 13-3608 (2010)
  7. ↑ In addition to statute, see In re Mortenson's Estate, 83 Ariz. 87, 316 P.2d 1106 (1957)
  8. ↑ A.C.A. § 9-11-106 (2010)
  9. ↑ A.C.A. § 9-11-107 (2010)
  10. ↑ A.C.A. § 5-26-202 (2010)
  11. ↑ See Etheridge v. Shaddock (PDF), 288 Ark. 481, 706 S.W.2d 395 (1986).
  12. ↑ Cal Fam Code § 2200 (2010)
  13. ↑ Cal Pen Code § 285 (2010)
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ C.R.S. 14-2-110 (2010)
  16. ↑ C.R.S. 18-6-301 (2010)
  17. ↑ Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-21 (2010)
  18. ↑ Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-191 (2010)
  19. ↑ 13 Del. C. § 101 (2010)
  20. ↑ 13 Del. C. § 102 (2010)
  21. ↑ 13 Del. C. § 104 (2010)
  22. ↑ 11 Del. C. § 766 (2010)
  23. ↑ D.C. Code § 46-401.01 (2010)
  24. ↑ Fla. Stat. § 741.21 (2010)
  25. ↑ Fla. Stat. § 826.04 (2010)
  26. ↑ O.C.G.A. § 19-3-3 (2010)
  27. ↑ O.C.G.A. § 16-6-22 (2010)
  28. ↑ HRS § 572-1 (2010)
  29. ↑ HRS § 707-741 (2010)
  30. ↑ Idaho Code § 32-205 (2010)
  31. ↑ Idaho Code § 32-206 (2010)
  32. ↑ Idaho Code § 32-209 (2010)
  33. ↑ Idaho Code § 32-501 (2010)
  34. ↑ Idaho Code § 18-6602 (2010)
  35. ↑ § 750 ILCS 5/212 (2010)
  36. ↑ § 750 ILCS 5/213 (2010)
  37. ↑ § 750 ILCS 5/216 (2010)
  38. ↑ 750 ILCS 5/301 (2010)
  39. ↑ 720 ILCS 5/11-11 (2010)
  40. ↑ 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.
  41. ↑ In addition to statute, see Meisenhelder v. Chicago & N.W. Ry. Co., 170 Minn. 317, 213 N.W. 32 (1927)
  42. ↑ See In re Flores, 96 Ill. App. 3d 279, 51 Ill. Dec. 885, 421 N.E.2d 393 (1 Dist. 1981)
  43. ↑ Chaper 595.19 Void Marriages
  44. ↑ Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 31-11-1-2 (2010)
  45. ↑ Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 31-11-8-3 (2010)
  46. ↑ Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 31-11-8-6 (2010). Note that the laws listed do not pertain to cousin marriage.
  47. ↑ Burns Ind. Code Ann. § 35-46-1-3 (2010)
  48. ↑ See Mason v. Mason, 775 N.E.2d 706, 2002 Ind. App. LEXIS 1605 (2002).
  49. ↑ K.S.A. § 23-102 (2009)
  50. ↑ K.S.A. § 23-115 (2009)
  51. ↑ K.S.A. § 21-3602 (2009)
  52. ↑ Moore, A Defense of First-Cousin Marriage, 10 Cleveland Marshall L. Rev. 136 (1961)
  53. ↑ See In re Estate of Loughmiller, 229 Kan. 584, where a foreign first cousin marriage was recognized in Kansas.
  54. ↑ Kentucky Revised Statutes § 402.010 (2010)
  55. ↑ KRS § 402.040 (2010)
  56. ↑ KRS § 402.990 (2010)
  57. ↑ KRS § 530.020 (2010)
  58. ↑ Class B misdemeanor if marriage entered into; Class A misdemeanor if the couple cohabits after being convicted of entering into a prohibited marriage.
  59. ↑ A marriage between first cousins will not be recognized in Kentucky even if it is consummated in another state. OAG 71-78.
  60. ↑ La. C.C. Art. 90 (2010)
  61. ↑ La. C.C. Art. 94 (2010)
  62. ↑ La. R.S. 14:78 (2010)
  63. ↑ See Ghassemi v. Ghassemi
  64. ↑ 19-A M.R.S. § 659 (2010)
  65. ↑ 19-A M.R.S. § 701 (2010)
  66. ↑ 17-A M.R.S. § 556 (2010)
  67. ↑ Md. FAMILY LAW Code Ann. § 2-202 (2010)
  68. ↑ Md. CRIMINAL LAW Code Ann. § 3-323 (2010)
  69. ↑ ALM GL ch. 207, § 1 (2010)
  70. ↑ ALM GL ch. 207, § 2 (2010)
  71. ↑ ALM GL ch. 272, § 17 (2010)
  72. ↑ "Michigan Marriage License Laws > MI Wedding Officiants". Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  73. ↑ See In re Miller's Estate, 239 Mich. 455, 214 N.W. 428 (1927)
  74. ↑ In addition to statute and preceding reference, see Toth v Toth (1973) 50 Mich App 150, 212 NW2d 812.
  75. ↑ Minn. Stat. § 517.03 (2009)
  76. ↑ Minn. Stat. § 518.01 (2009)
  77. ↑ Minn. Stat. § 609.365 (2009)
  78. ↑ Miss. Code Ann. § 93-1-1 (2010)
  79. ↑ Miss. Code Ann. § 93-1-3 (2010)
  80. ↑ Miss. Code Ann. § 93-5-29 (2010)
  81. ↑ § 451.020 R.S.Mo. (2010)
  82. ↑ § 568.020 R.S.Mo. (2010)
  83. ↑ Mont. Code Anno., § 40-1-104 (2010)
  84. ↑ Mont. Code Anno., § 40-1-401 (2010)
  85. ↑ Mont. Code Anno., § 45-5-507 (2010)
  86. ↑ R.R.S. Neb. § 42-103 (2010)
  87. ↑ R.R.S. Neb. § 42-117 (2010)
  88. ↑ R.R.S. Neb. § 28-702 (2010)
  89. ↑ R.R.S. Neb. § 28-703 (2010)
  90. ↑ Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 125.290 (2010)
  91. ↑ Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 201.180 (2010)
  92. ↑ RSA 457:2 (2010)
  93. ↑ RSA 457:3 (2010)
  94. ↑ RSA 639:2 (2010)
  95. ↑ 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)
  96. ↑ N.J. Stat. § 37:1-1 (2010)
  97. ↑ N.J. Stat. § 2C:14-2 (2010)
  98. ↑ N.M. Stat. Ann. § 40-1-7 (2010)
  99. ↑ N.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-10-3 (2010)
  100. ↑ NY CLS Dom Rel § 5 (2010)
  101. ↑ NY CLS Penal § 255.25 (2010)
  102. ↑ N.C. Gen. Stat. § 51-3 (2010)
  103. ↑ N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-178 (2010)
  104. ↑ N.D. Cent. Code, § 14-03-03 (2010)
  105. ↑ N.D. Cent. Code, § 14-03-08 (2010)
  106. ↑ N.D. Cent. Code, § 12.1-20-11 (2010)
  107. ↑ ORC Ann. 3101.01 (2010)
  108. ↑ ORC Ann. 3105.31 (2010)
  109. ↑ ORC Ann. 2907.03 (2010)
  110. ↑ 43 Okl. St. § 2 (2010)
  111. ↑ 21 Okl. St. § 885 (2010)
  112. ↑ ORS § 106.020 (2009)
  113. ↑ ORS § 163.525 (2009)
  114. ↑ Oregon State Bar | http://www.osbar.org/public/legalinfo/1131_Marriage.htm
  115. ↑ See Leefield v. Leefield, (1917) 85 Or 287, 166 P 953.
  116. ↑ 23 Pa.C.S. § 1304 (2010)
  117. ↑ 23 Pa.C.S. § 3304 (2010)
  118. ↑ 18 Pa.C.S. § 4302 (2010)
  119. ↑ R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-1-1 (2010)
  120. ↑ R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-1-2 (2010)
  121. ↑ S.C. Code Ann. § 20-1-10 (2009)
  122. ↑ S.C. Code Ann. § 16-15-20 (2009)
  123. ↑ S.D. Codified Laws § 25-1-6 (2010)
  124. ↑ S.D. Codified Laws § 22-22A-2 (2010)
  125. ↑ S.D. Codified Laws § 25-1-38 (2010)
  126. ↑ See Garcia v. Garcia, 25 S.D. 645, 127 N.W. 586 (1910)
  127. ↑ Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-3-101 (2010)
  128. ↑ Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-15-302 (2010)
  129. ↑ Tex. Fam. Code § 2.004 (2010)
  130. ↑ Texas Family Code, Title 1, Chapter 6, Subtitle B
  131. ↑ Tex. Fam. Code § 6.201 (2010)
  132. ↑ Tex. Penal Code § 25.02 (2010)
  133. ↑ Utah Code Ann. § 30-1-1 (2010)
  134. ↑ Utah Code Ann. § 30-1-4 (2010)
  135. ↑ Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-102 (2010)
  136. ↑ 15 V.S.A. § 1a (2010)
  137. ↑ 13 V.S.A. § 205 (2010)
  138. ↑ Va. Code Ann. § 20-38.1 (2010)
  139. ↑ Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-366 (2010)
  140. ↑ Rev. Code Wash. (ARCW) § 26.04.020 (2010)
  141. ↑ Rev. Code Wash. (ARCW) § 26.09.040 (2010)
  142. ↑ Rev. Code Wash. (ARCW) § 9A.64.020 (2010)
  143. ↑ While no longer a criminal offense 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).
  144. ↑ 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).
  145. ↑ W. Va. Code § 48-2-302 (2010)
  146. ↑ W. Va. Code § 48-2-303 (2010)
  147. ↑ W. Va. Code § 48-2-503 (2010)
  148. ↑ W. Va. Code § 48-3-103 (2010)
  149. ↑ W. Va. Code § 48-2-602 (2010)
  150. ↑ W. Va. Code § 61-8-12 (2010)
  151. ↑ Wis. Stat. § 765.03 (2010)
  152. ↑ Wis. Stat. § 765.04 (2010)
  153. ↑ Wis. Stat. § 765.21 (2010)
  154. ↑ Note that marriage abroad to circumvent the laws carries criminal penalties in Wisconsin; see Wis. Stat. § 765.30 (2010)
  155. ↑ Wis. Stat. § 944.06 (2010)
  156. ↑ Wyo. Stat. § 20-1-111 (2010)
  157. ↑ Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-101 (2010)
  158. ↑ Wyo. Stat. § 6-4-402 (2010)

See also

References