As of January 2025, it is still legal to marry your first cousin in Tennessee. However, this is likely to change in the near future due to recent legislative developments.
Current Legal Status
Currently, Tennessee law allows first cousins to marry. This has been the case since at least 1960, when the state’s attorney general issued an opinion determining that the statute did not prohibit marriage between cousins.
Pending Legislation
A bill has recently passed through the Tennessee General Assembly that would ban marriages between first cousins.
This legislation, if signed into law, would:
- Prohibit marriage between lineal descendants of a grandparent
- Expand the current law, which only disallows marriage between the children of a grandparent
The bill passed with significant support in both chambers of the legislature:
- Unanimous approval in the Senate
- A 75-2 vote in the House of Representatives
Arguments For and Against
Supporters of the ban argue that it’s time to close this “loophole” in Tennessee law, citing potential genetic risks associated with first-cousin marriages.
Opponents, including Republican Representative Gino Bulso, argued for an amendment that would allow first-cousin marriages if the couple first sought genetic counseling. Bulso contended that while there is an increased risk of birth defects in first-cousin marriages, it’s not as significant as some might believe (citing a range of 1.7% to 2.8% according to the Journal of Genetic Counseling).
Next Steps
The bill has been sent to Governor Bill Lee’s desk for consideration.
If signed into law, Tennessee would join the majority of U.S. states that prohibit first-cousin marriages. Currently, 32 states have laws making such marriages illegal or largely illegal.
It’s worth noting that even in states where first-cousin marriage is legal, the practice is not widespread.
Additionally, some states have specific conditions for allowing such marriages, such as genetic counseling requirements or age restrictions.
Sources
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AVUt_bUvu4
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFBZGqvTmUc
- https://www.ctas.tennessee.edu/eli/who-can-marry
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin_marriage_law_in_the_United_States
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtSDBjrl4pc