Can you marry your first cousin in North Carolina? What state law says

Photo byAsso MyrononUnsplash

When it comes to deciding who to marry, many people choose to spend the rest of their lives with a high school sweetheart, college classmate, or someone they met at work. Others decide to tie the knot with someone who they have known their whole lives — and maybe even met at a family reunion.

According to the North Carolina Bar Association, “the law discourages marriage by persons who are in the same family.”

While marriage between immediate family members is illegal in the U.S., some states allow first cousins to wed. Is North Carolina one of them? Here’s what to know about the state’s marriage laws.

• Legal Status in North Carolina:
• • It is legal to marry your first cousin in North Carolina according to the N.C. Judicial Branch.
  • Marriages between double first cousins (the children of two sisters who married two brothers) are prohibited.
• Marrying and Moving to Another State:
• • The validity of cousin marriages depends on the state according to LegalMatch. While North Carolina allows first cousin marriages, other states may have different rules, especially regarding distinctions between cousins and conditions such as age or infertility.
• States Allowing First Cousin Marriages:
• • Legal Without Conditions:
  • • Alabama
    • Alaska
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • District of Columbia
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Hawaii
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • New Mexico
    • Rhode Island
    • South Carolina
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
    • Vermont
  • Legal With Conditions: Some states allow first cousin marriages under specific conditions, such as age or infertility. For example:
  • • Arizona: Legal if both parties are over 65 or if at least one party is infertile.

North Carolina permits first cousin marriages, but the legality varies across the United States. It's essential to understand the laws in both your current state and any state you plan to move to, especially if your marriage is between cousins.