Montgomery, AL – If you’ve ever wondered whether marrying your cousin is legal in Alabama, the answer might surprise you. While many U.S. states ban or restrict cousin marriages, Alabama law explicitly allows it — making it one of the more permissive states on this issue.
First Cousin Marriage Is Legal in Alabama
In Alabama, first cousins can legally marry without any additional requirements or conditions. The state’s marriage laws make no distinction between full cousins, half-cousins, or adopted cousins. This stands in stark contrast to other states where cousin marriage is either banned, criminalized, or subject to special conditions.
Bottom line: If you are first cousins and over the age of 16, you can legally get married in Alabama with no need for special approvals.
Which Family Relationships Are Prohibited?
While Alabama is lenient about cousin marriages, it does prohibit marriages between close blood relatives. These include:
- Parent and child
- Siblings (including half-siblings)
- Grandparents and grandchildren
- Aunts/uncles with nieces/nephews
- Great-grandparents and great-grandchildren
- Stepparents and stepchildren (if that relationship was created by the marriage)
These bans aim to prevent consanguineous (close-blood) unions that pose high genetic risks to offspring or violate societal norms.
General Marriage Requirements in Alabama
Anyone considering marriage in Alabama, cousin or not, must meet these standard requirements:
- Minimum marriage age is 16. Those aged 16–17 need parental or guardian consent.
- No residency requirement, so non-residents can marry here.
- A 60-day waiting period is required after divorce before remarrying.
Marriage applications are submitted through the county probate court, and no blood test is required.
How Alabama Compares to Other States
Alabama is one of only 18 states where first cousin marriage is completely legal. Conversely:
- 24 states outright ban cousin marriages, including Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Kentucky.
- A few others allow it only under specific conditions, such as advanced age or medical proof of infertility.
For example, Illinois and Arizona permit cousin marriages only if the couple is infertile or over a certain age. In Texas, marrying your cousin is considered a criminal offense.
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Will Other States Recognize the Marriage?
If you marry your cousin in Alabama, the marriage is recognized as valid within the state. However, if you move to a state where cousin marriage is illegal, you could face non-recognition or legal complications — especially with property, inheritance, or spousal rights.
It’s essential for couples planning to relocate or split residence between states to check the marriage recognition laws in their destination state.
Cultural Attitudes vs. Legal Status
Even though it’s legal, cousin marriage is still culturally taboo for many in Alabama and the broader U.S. The practice is rare and often subject to social stigma, despite being legal and medically not as risky as once thought.
Still, legality means couples who do choose this path have the full protection of Alabama law.
In summary: It is not illegal to marry your cousin in Alabama. The state permits it without conditions. But while the law is clear, social norms and out-of-state recognition can complicate things. For those with questions about legality, inheritance, or relocation, it’s wise to consult a family law attorney.
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