What states allow cousin marriage?

Summary

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

How many US states legally allow first cousins to marry?

Twenty states and the District of Columbia allow cousins to marry; six states permit first-cousin marriage only under certain circumstances.

Is it legal for a cousin to get married in another state?

Cousin marriage law in the United States. 1 Some states recognize marriages performed elsewhere, while other states do not. Cousin marriage laws in the United States vary considerably from one state to another, ranging from cousin marriages being legal in some to being a criminal offense in others.

How old do you have to be to marry your cousin in Illinois?

In Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Utah and Wisconsin, cousin marriage is only legal between couples who are at least 50 years of age, although the age restrictions vary between states. In Maine, cousins hoping to marry must first obtain a certificate of genetic counseling from a physician. In all other states, cousin marriage is illegal.

Why was cousin marriage legal before the Civil War?

Cousin marriage was legal in all states before the Civil War. Anthropologist Martin Ottenheimer argues that marriage prohibitions were introduced to maintain the social order, uphold religious morality, and safeguard the creation of fit offspring.

Can a first cousin get married in NC?

First cousins may also marry each other in the District of Columbia, too. In North Carolina, double cousin marriage is not legal, however. In Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Utah and Wisconsin, cousin marriage is only legal between couples who are at least 50 years of age, although the age restrictions vary between states.

What are the laws regarding marrying cousins?

Five states allow first cousins to marry if the cousins are of a certain age (50, 55, or 65); four of those states also allow cousin marriages if one cousin is unable to reproduce. In Maine, first-cousin marriage is allowed if the couple receives genetic counseling by a physician.

What states can you marry your 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), Rhode Island, South Carolina,

Are cousins allowed to marry?

In the United States, second cousins are legally allowed to marry in every state. What’s more, the genetic risk associated with second cousins having children is almost as small as it would be between two unrelated individuals. Marriage between first cousins, however, is legal in only about half of American states.