Kissing Cousins: The States Where Marrying Your Relative Is Legal

Kissing Cousins: The States Where Marrying Your Relative Is LegalNewsGetty ImagesBy IE Staff

8:40 AM PST, November 7, 2018

Emily Dickinson once said, “The heart wants what it wants, or else it does not care.”

So what happens when what the heart wants is generally considered taboo? Many may raise an eyebrow to the idea of marrying their cousin, but the practice was long considered commonplace for those entrenched in communities over the course of several generations.

Between 1650 and 1850, the average married couple was fourth cousins, meaning they shared the same great-great-great grandparents, research shows. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor, were fifth cousins once removed, while notable figures Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin married their own first cousins.

Though it is less common now, marriage of some form between first cousins is legal in many of America's 50 states. Think you know where your state falls on such laws? Click through to find out!

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Alabama

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In Alabama, first cousins are allowed to marry, and they are also allowed to have sexual relations and cohabitate. First cousins once-removed, half-cousins and cousins through adoption are also allowed to marry.

Alaska

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Alaska, like Alabama, does not outlaw marriage between first cousins. First cousins, first cousins once-removed, half-cousins and cousins through adoption are allowed to marry, have sexual relations and cohabitate.

Arizona

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First cousins in Arizona can only marry if one or both parties are 65 or older. They can also marry in the event that one or both parties are infertile. If not married, sexual relations or cohabitation are not allowed.

The rules for first cousins once-removed are a bit more lax, as they, as well as half-cousins and cousins through adoption, are allowed to wed.

Arkansas

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First cousins in Arkansas are not allowed to marry, but they can have sexual relations and cohabitate. First cousins once-removed are allowed to marry.

California

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In California, first cousins are allowed to marry, and they are also allowed to have sexual relations and cohabitate. First cousins once-removed, half-cousins and cousins through adoption are also allowed to marry.

Colorado

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Colorado, like California, does not outlaw marriage between first cousins. First cousins, first cousins once-removed, half-cousins and cousins through adoption are allowed to marry, have sexual relations and cohabitate.

Connecticut

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First cousins in Connecticut who want to marry: rejoice! You can do so in the Constitution State. Connecticut also allows first cousins to have sexual relations and cohabitate. First cousins once-removed, half-cousins and cousins through adoption can also wed.

Delaware

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Marriage is not allowed between first cousins in Delaware, but they can have sexual relations and cohabitate. First cousins once-removed are allowed to marry.

District of Columbia

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Those living in the nation’s capital can marry their first cousins, as well as have sexual relations and cohabitate with them. First cousins once-removed, half-cousins and cousins through adoption can also wed.

Florida

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First cousins are allowed to marry in Florida, where they can also cohabitate and have sexual relations. First cousins once-removed, half-cousins and cousins through adoption can also wed.

Georgia

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Like in Florida, Georgia permits first cousins to wed, have sexual relations and cohabitate. First cousins once-removed, half-cousins and cousins through adoption can also wed.

Hawaii

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In Hawaii, first cousins, first cousins once-removed, half-cousins and cousins through adoption are allowed to marry, cohabitate and have sexual relations.

Idaho

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First cousins are not allowed to marry in Idaho, but they can live together and have sexual relations. First cousins once-removed, however, are allowed to wed.

Illinois

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First cousins in Illinois are allowed to marry only if both parties are 50 or older, or if one of the parties is infertile. Sexual relations and cohabitation between first cousins, however, is permitted, and first cousins once-removed are allowed to marry. But half-cousins are not allowed to marry, the law states.

Indiana

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In Indiana, first cousins can marry only if both parties are 65 or older. Cohabitation or sexual relations between first cousins are legal. First cousins once-removed are allowed to marry.

Iowa

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In Iowa, first cousins are not allowed to marry, but they can cohabitate and have sexual relations. First cousins once-removed can marry, however.

Kansas

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Like in Iowa, first cousins in Kansas are not allowed to marry, but they can cohabitate and have sexual relations. First cousins once-removed and half-cousins are allowed to marry.

Kentucky

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First cousins in Kentucky are not allowed to marry, cohabitate or have sexual relations. Kentucky also does not allow first cousins once-removed or half-cousins to marry.

Louisiana

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In Louisiana, first cousins cannot marry, but they can cohabitate or have sexual relations. First cousins once-removed are allowed to marry, but half-cousins are not allowed to be wed. Cousins through adoption can marry only if they have written judicial approval.

Maine

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In Maine, first cousins wanting to marry must show proof they underwent genetic counseling. Such counseling helps advise individuals and families affected by or at risk of genetic disorders to help them understand and adapt to the medical, psychological and familial implications of genetic contributions to disease.

First cousins can cohabitate or have sexual relations. First cousins once-removed and cousins through adoption are allowed to marry.

Maryland

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In Maryland, first cousins, first cousins once-removed, half-cousins and cousins through adoption are allowed to marry, cohabitate and have sexual relations.

Massachusetts

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Like Maryland, Massachusetts allows first cousins, first cousins once-removed, half-cousins and cousins through adoption to marry, cohabitate and have sexual relations.

Michigan

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First cousins in Michigan cannot marry, but they can cohabitate and have sexual relations. However, first cousins once-removed are allowed to wed in the state.

Minnesota

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Minnesota does not allow first cousins to marry in the state, but does allow first cousins to cohabitate and have sexual relations. First cousins once-removed are allowed to marry, but half-cousins cannot wed.

Mississippi

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It is illegal in Mississippi for first cousins to marry, have sexual relations or cohabitate. However, first cousins once-removed and cousins through adoption are allowed to marry.

Missouri

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Though first cousins in Missouri cannot wed, they are allowed to have sexual relations and cohabitate. First cousins once-removed are allowed to get married.

Montana

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First cousins in Montana are not allowed to marry, but they can have sexual relations and cohabitate. First cousins once-removed and half-cousins are allowed to marry.

Nebraska

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Though first cousins in Nebraska cannot wed, they can legally live together and have sexual relations. First cousins once-removed, cousins through adoption and half-cousins can marry in Nebraska.

Nevada

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First cousins and first cousins once-removed in Nevada are not allowed to marry, have sexual relations or live together, but half-cousins are allowed to marry in the state.

New Hampshire

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The Granite State does not allow first cousins to marry, but they can live together and have sexual relations. First cousins once removed can wed, but cousins through adoption are not allowed to marry in New Hampshire.

New Jersey

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New Jersey allows first cousins, first cousins once-removed, half-cousins and cousins through adoption to marry, cohabitate and have sexual relations.

New Mexico

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Like New Jersey, New Mexico allows first cousins, first cousins once-removed, half-cousins and cousins through adoption to marry, cohabitate and have sexual relations.

New York

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First cousins in New York are allowed to marry, as well as live together and have sexual relations. First cousins once-removed, half-cousins and cousins through adoption are also afforded the same permissions.

North Carolina

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First cousins in North Carolina can marry, so long as they are not double first cousins. Double first cousins have both sets of grandparents in common, and can occur when siblings marry into the same family, such as a pair of brothers marrying a pair of sisters.

There are no restrictions when it comes to first cousins living together or having sexual relations. First cousins once-removed are allowed to marry in North Carolina.

North Dakota

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Only first cousins once removed are allowed to marry in North Dakota. First cousins are not allowed to marry, nor can they live together or have sexual relations, according to state law.

Ohio

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First cousins in Ohio cannot wed, but they can legally have sexual relations and live together. First cousins once-removed are also not allowed to marry each other.

Oklahoma

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In Oklahoma, first cousins cannot marry, but they can cohabitate and have sexual relations. First cousins once-removed and half-cousins are allowed to marry in Oklahoma.

Oregon

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Like in Oklahoma, first cousins in Oregon cannot marry, but can live together and have sexual relations. But first cousins once-removed, half-cousins and cousins through adoption are legally able to marry.

Pennsylvania

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In Pennsylvania, it is illegal for first cousins to marry, but they can have sexual relations and live together. First cousins once removed are allowed to wed in Pennsylvania.

Rhode Island

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Rhode Islanders who share a grandparent and want to marry need not worry; the state allows first cousins, first cousins once-removed, half-cousins and cousins through adoption to wed, live together and have sexual relations.

South Carolina

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First cousins in South Carolina are allowed to marry, live together and have sexual relations, as are first cousins once-removed, half-cousins and cousins through adoption.

South Dakota

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First cousins in South Dakota cannot marry, nor can they live together or have sexual relations. However, first cousins once-removed, half-cousins and cousins through adoption are allowed to wed.

Tennessee

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Tennessee allows its residents that are first cousins to marry, as well as live together and have sexual relations. Half-cousins, first cousins once-removed and cousins through adoption can also marry.

Texas

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In Texas, the only relations with permission to marry are first cousins once-removed. First cousins, half-cousins and cousins through adoption are not allowed to marry. First cousins in Texas are also not allowed to live together, nor can they have sexual relations.

Utah

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Utah allows first cousins to marry only if both parties are 65 or older, or both are 55 or older with a district court finding one or both parties are infertile. First cousins in Utah are not allowed to live together or have sexual relations. First cousins once-removed, however, can marry.

Vermont

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First cousins in Vermont are allowed to marry, live together and have sexual relations. First cousins once-removed, half-cousins and cousins through adoption are also afforded the same rights.

Virginia

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Like in Vermont, Virginia allows first cousins, cousins once-removed, half-cousins and cousins through adoption to marry, cohabitate and have sexual relations.

Washington

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First cousins in Washington cannot marry, but they can live together and have sexual relations. First cousins once-removed and half-cousins are not allowed to marry, either.

West Virginia

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In West Virginia, first cousins can’t get married, but they can cohabitate and have sexual relations. First cousins once-removed and cousins through adoption can be wed, but half-cousins cannot.

Wisconsin

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In Wisconsin, first cousins and first cousins once-removed can only marry if any woman in the relationship is at least 55, or either is permanently sterile. They cannot otherwise live together or have sexual relations, either. Half-cousins and cousins through adoption are allowed to marry in the state.

Wyoming

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In Wyoming, first cousins cannot marry, but they can cohabitate and have sexual relations. First cousins and cousins through adoption can marry.

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