Keeping it in the family: Can you marry your first cousin in NC? What state law says
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.
Can you marry your first cousin in NC?
It is actually legal to marry your first cousin in North Carolina, according to the N.C. Judicial Branch.
However, marriages between double first cousins (the children of two sisters who married two brothers) are prohibited, state law says.
What if you marry your first cousin then move out of NC?
The validity of marriage licenses between cousins depends on the state, according to LegalMatch.
“For example, there are certain states that make distinctions between the categories of cousins as well as half-cousins and adopted cousins,” LegalMatch says. “In general, the rule of thumb is that the more distant the blood relationship between the parties, the more likely the state will allow a marriage to occur between them.”
What other states allow first cousin marriages?
First cousin marriages are legal in 18 states and the District of Columbia, according to Gettysburg College:
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
Seven states allow first cousin marriages with conditions. For example, marriages between first cousins are legal in Arizona if both parties are over the age of 65, or if at least one party is infertile.
This story was originally published November 16, 2023 at 12:50 PM with the headline "Keeping it in the family: Can you marry your first cousin in NC? What state law says."
