Cousin marriage is one of the controversial topic of discussions in the United States. And to crown it all, it has not been accepted or legalized in every state. This means that while some states allow cousins to marry, others do not.
The reason for the controversy surrounding this issue varies and we will not be able to discuss all of them in this article. All the same, in this article, you are going to find out the states that have legalized cousin marriage as well as those that have not.
But before looking into the legal status of this issue across the country, let’s first find out what cousin marriage means and why there are controversies surrounding it.
What Is Cousin Marriage?
As the name suggests, cousin marriage simply means that two persons, who are related as cousins, become partners in marriage.
Let’s put this differently to make it clearer.
In cousin marriage, the couple that got married are cousins. They can be first cousins or second cousins but the issue here is that they are related as cousins.
As we mentioned earlier, many people frown at this while others accept it as the right thing to do. We will get to the arguments for and against cousin marriage later. For now, let’s look at some concerns people have about this type of relationship.
Is Cousin Marriage an Incest?
One of the controversies surrounding cousin marriage is that it is incestuous. People that have this belief argue that cousins are too closely related to have sexual relationships.
Well, to be fair, whether cousin marriage is incestuous or not depends on several factors, among which are the cultural, social, religious, and legal definitions of this type of marriage.
What this means is that if your culture, religion, society, or state says that cousin marriage is an incest, then it is incestuous. But if they say otherwise, then it is not an incest.
What Does Genetics Say about Cousin Marriage?
This is the major concern of cousin marriage that you should consider before choosing your cousin as your life partner.
Scientists have shown that when two people that are closely related get married and have a child together, that child is likely going to inherent genetic diseases that have been recessive in her parents. This is so because both parents, being closely related, are likely to carry the same recessive genes that could become dominant in the child.
This is why children, whose parents are cousins, are more likely to have birth defects and disorders than those whose parents are not related.
Arguments for and against Cousin Marriage
Let’s use this section to look at the major arguments for and against cousin marriage in the United States.
Arguments for Cousin Marriage
Here is a recap of the arguments that support cousin marriage:
- It keeps the family’s wealth and properties within the family.
- It helps maintain and strengthen family bonds, relationships, and structures.
- It helps maintain the family’s social status (marrying an outsider can break or dilute such standing).
- It is tradition and should not be broken.
Arguments against Cousin Marriage
Now, here is a recap of the argument against cousin marriage:
- It increases the risks of genetic disorders in children.
- It increases the chances of giving birth to children with birth defects.
- Children of such marriages are more likely to develop certain illnesses.
Should You Marry Your Cousin?
Whether you should marry your cousin or not depends on several factors, among which is the legal status of the relationship in your state.
If you are living in a state that allows cousin marriage and you want to build a home with your cousin, you should go ahead and do so. But remember the risks involved.
Cousin Marriage Legal States
Before you consider getting married to your cousin, you need to know if it is legal to do so in your state.
In this section, we are going to show you where cousin marriage is legal and where it is prohibited. Let’s take this walk together.
States that Allow Cousin Marriage without Restrictions
If you are living in any of the following states, you will be allowed to marry your cousin. Not only that, the state government does not have any conditions that you must fulfill before tying the knot.
So, here are the states that legalizes cousin marriage without restrictions:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- The District of Colombia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Vermont
- Virginia
There is a bill that is supposed to ban cousin marriage in Connecticut. This bill is supposed to go into effect on October 1, 2025. But it is currently unclear if it has been signed into law and we can’t verify what it states. All the same, remember to ask your local authority about the current legal status of cousin marriage before going ahead with your plan because laws do change.
States that Allow Cousin Marriage with Restrictions
These states allow cousins to marry if they meet the required conditions. You will find the conditions given by each state in the bracket beside it.
So, here are the states that allow cousin marriage with restrictions:
- Arizona (couple is 65 years or older or one of the partners is infertile)
- Illinois (couple is 50 years or older or one of the partners is infertile)
- Indiana (couple is 65 years or older)
- Louisiana (they are cousins through adoption)
- Maine (they have to undergo genetic testing)
- Mississippi (they are cousins through adoption)
- North Carolina (they are not double cousins)
- South Dakota (they are cousins through adoption)
- Utah (they are 65 years or older, or they are 55 years or older and also infertile)
- Wisconsin (the woman is at least 55 years or one of the partners is infertile)
States that Banned Cousin Marriage
If you are living in any of these states, you will not be allowed to marry your cousin if you are related by blood. Doing so will be considered a crime and can land you a jail time.
So, here are states that do not allow cousin marriage:
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Let’s Wrap It Up
Cousin marriage is legal in 28 states (likely 27 states if Connecticut has successfully banned it). However, about ten of these states have conditions that must be met before cousins are allowed to marry each other. So, if you are planning to marry your cousin, you should first find out the legal status of the relationship in your state so you don’t have a fallout with the law.