Is It Illegal to Marry Your Cousin in Massachusetts? Here’s What the Law Says

Posted by Mike Spencer January 6, 2025
Is It Illegal to Marry Your Cousin in Massachusetts Here's What the Law Says

No, it is not illegal to marry your cousin in Massachusetts. The state allows first-cousin marriages without any restrictions.

Massachusetts Marriage Laws

Massachusetts is one of 17 states in the United States that permit first-cousin marriages.

The state’s laws do not prohibit unions between first cousins, half-cousins, or cousins through adoption.

However, Massachusetts does have restrictions on marriages between other close relatives. According to Chapter 207, Section 1 of the Massachusetts General Laws: “No man shall marry his mother, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, stepmother, grandfather’s wife, grandson’s wife, wife’s mother, wife’s grandmother, wife’s daughter, wife’s granddaughter, brother’s daughter, sister’s daughter, father’s sister or mother’s sister.

Similarly, Section 2 of the same chapter outlines prohibitions for women marrying certain close relatives.

Comparison to Other States

While Massachusetts allows first-cousin marriages, it’s important to note that laws vary significantly across the United States:

  • 24 states prohibit first-cousin marriages entirely.
  • 19 states, including Massachusetts, allow first-cousin marriages without restrictions.
  • 7 states allow first-cousin marriages under certain conditions, such as age requirements or genetic counseling.

For example, Maine allows first-cousin marriages only if the couple undergoes genetic counseling, while states like Arizona and Indiana permit such unions only if both parties are 65 or older or if one is infertile.

It’s worth noting that even in states where first-cousin marriages are legal, the practice is not widespread. According to a 2015 estimate, approximately 0.2% of the American population is married to a first or second cousin, though this data may be outdated.

Sources

  1. https://wbsm.com/massachusetts-first-cousins-marry/
  2. https://www.draslamabdullah.com/post/first-cousin-marriage-laws-in-the-u-s
  3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin_marriage_law_in_the_United_States
  4. https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartII/TitleIII/Chapter207/Section1