As of January 2025, it is not illegal to marry your first cousin in Maryland. Maryland is one of 18 states in the United States where first-cousin marriages are legal.
The state’s marriage laws do not prohibit unions between first cousins, allowing such marriages to take place without any specific restrictions or conditions.
Maryland’s Marriage Laws
Maryland’s marriage laws prohibit unions between certain close relatives, but first cousins are not included in this list. The state specifically bans marriages between:
- Parents and children
- Grandparents and grandchildren
- Siblings
- Aunts/uncles and nieces/nephews
- Stepparents and stepchildren
- In-laws (such as parents-in-law and children-in-law)
However, the law does not mention first cousins, effectively allowing such marriages to occur.
Historical Context
Maryland’s relatively lax marriage laws regarding first-cousin unions have historically attracted out-of-state couples seeking to marry. In the past, Maryland has seen cases of cousins from neighboring states, where such marriages are prohibited, coming to the state to obtain marriage licenses.
Attempts to Change the Law
It’s worth noting that there have been efforts to change Maryland’s stance on first-cousin marriages:
- In 2000, Maryland delegates Henry B. Heller and Kumar P. Barve sponsored a bill to ban first-cousin marriages.
- The bill passed the House of Delegates but ultimately failed in the state senate.
Despite these attempts, as of 2025, the law remains unchanged, and first-cousin marriages continue to be legal in Maryland.
Considerations
While legal, it’s important to note that first-cousin marriages are not common in the United States, even in states where they are permitted. Some concerns have been raised about potential genetic risks for offspring of first-cousin unions, although the extent of these risks is debated.
In conclusion, as of 2025, Maryland law does not prohibit marriages between first cousins, making such unions legal in the state.
Sources
- https://cnsmaryland.org/1999/12/03/marylands-lax-marriage-law-lures-kissing-cousins-looking-to-go-legit/
- https://www.peoples-law.org/who-may-marry-maryland
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin_marriage_law_in_the_United_States