How Many US States Legally Allow First Cousins To Get Married?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Twenty-four states prohibit marriages between first cousins. Twenty states and the District of Columbia allow cousins to marry;

six states

permit first-cousin marriage only under certain circumstances.

What states let you marry your first cousin?

State First cousin marriage allowed Sexual relations or cohabitation allowed Alaska No Yes Arizona Only if both parties are 65 or older, or one is infertile No Arkansas No Yes California Yes Yes

Can first cousins marry in the USA?

As of February 2014, 24 U.S. states prohibit marriages between first cousins,

19 U.S. states allow marriages between first cousins

, and 7 U.S. states allow only some marriages between first cousins. Six states prohibit first-cousin-once-removed marriages.

What state has the most cousin marriages?

  • Georgia.
  • South Carolina.
  • North Carolina.
  • Virginia.
  • West Virginia.
  • Maryland.
  • Delaware.
  • Maine.

Can first cousins marry in Texas?


Texas does not allow first cousins to marry in the state

. … They’re crossing two big hurdles to get married.

Is it illegal to sleep with your cousin?

This is how California defines its incest law. But because first cousins can marry in California, as mentioned above, that means adult first cousins in California may legally have sex.

What will happen if you have a baby with your cousin?

First cousins are somewhat more likely than unrelated parents to have a child with a

serious birth defect

, mental retardation or genetic disease, but their increased risk is nowhere near as large as most people think, the scientists said.

Who is the most inbred person?

“El Hechizado,” or “the bewitched,” as

Charles II

was dubbed for his overlarge tongue, epilepsy and other illnesses, had a whopping inbreeding coefficient of . 25, about the same as the offspring of two siblings.

Where can I marry my cousin?

According to the NCSL, cousin marriage is legal in:

Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico

, New York, North Carolina (in North Carolina, first-cousin marriage is legal, but double-cousin marriage is prohibited), …

What are signs of inbreeding?

  • Reduced fertility both in litter size and sperm viability.
  • Increased genetic disorders.
  • Fluctuating facial asymmetry.
  • Lower birth rate.
  • Higher infant mortality and child mortality.
  • Smaller adult size.

Is it legal to marry your sister in Alabama?


You cannot marry children, siblings

, parents, uncles, aunts, grandchildren, grandparents or great grandparents of any relation. You can marry first cousins without restriction, however.

Is it legal to marry your sister?

In the United States,

second cousins are legally allowed to marry in every state

. However, marriage between first cousins is legal in only about half of the American states.

Where is it legal to marry your sibling?

State First cousin marriage allowed Sexual relations or cohabitation allowed
Alabama


Yes

Yes
Alaska Yes Yes Arizona Only if both parties are 65 or older, or one is infertile No Arkansas No Yes

Does the Bible allow cousins to marry?

Must first cousins be forbidden to marry? In the Bible, and in many parts of the world, the answer is no. But the answer is

yes in much of church law

How much DNA do cousins share?

Relationship Average % DNA Shared Range
2nd Cousin


3.13%


2.85% – 5.04%
2nd Cousin once removed 1.5% 0.57% – 2.54% 3rd Cousin 0.78% 0.3% – 2.0% 4th Cousin 0.20% 0.07% – 0.5%

Can cousins have babies together?

Contrary to widely held beliefs and longstanding taboos in America,

first cousins can have children together without

a great risk of birth defects or genetic disease, scientists are reporting today. They say there is no biological reason to discourage cousins from marrying.

Maria LaPaige
Author
Maria LaPaige
Maria is a parenting expert and mother of three. She has written several books on parenting and child development, and has been featured in various parenting magazines. Maria's practical approach to family life has helped many parents navigate the ups and downs of raising children.