Can one marry his/her cousin in Utah?
Full Question:
I am 35 years old and I live in Utah. I wish to marry a person who is my first cousin. He is 45 years old. Can I marry him? Is it permitted under Utah law?
01/04/2017 |
Category: Marriage |
State: Utah |
#29432
Answer:
“(1) The following marriages are incestuous and void from the beginning, whether the relationship is legitimate or illegitimate:
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(e) marriages between first cousins, except as provided in Subsection (2);
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(2) First cousins may marry under the following circumstances: (a) both parties are 65 years of age or older; or (b) if both parties are 55 years of age or older, upon a finding by the district court, located in the district in which either party resides, that either party is unable to reproduce.”
In Utah, marriages between first cousins are incestuous, and incestuous marriages are void from the beginning, whether the relationship is legitimate or illegitimate. However, in Utah, cousins may marry, if both are 65 or older. Further, they may marry if both parties are 55 or older and at least one is found by the district court to be unable to reproduce. Thus, as marriages between first cousins are prohibited and your relationship doesn’t fulfill the age criteria as mentioned in the statute, you may not be permitted to get married under Utah law. The provisions related to the incestuous marriages are enumerated under Utah Code Ann. § 30-1-1. This reads in pertinent part as follows:
“(1) The following marriages are incestuous and void from the beginning, whether the relationship is legitimate or illegitimate:
***
(e) marriages between first cousins, except as provided in Subsection (2);
***
(2) First cousins may marry under the following circumstances: (a) both parties are 65 years of age or older; or (b) if both parties are 55 years of age or older, upon a finding by the district court, located in the district in which either party resides, that either party is unable to reproduce.”
***
(e) marriages between first cousins, except as provided in Subsection (2);
***
(2) First cousins may marry under the following circumstances: (a) both parties are 65 years of age or older; or (b) if both parties are 55 years of age or older, upon a finding by the district court, located in the district in which either party resides, that either party is unable to reproduce.”
In Utah, marriages between first cousins are incestuous, and incestuous marriages are void from the beginning, whether the relationship is legitimate or illegitimate. However, in Utah, cousins may marry, if both are 65 or older. Further, they may marry if both parties are 55 or older and at least one is found by the district court to be unable to reproduce. Thus, as marriages between first cousins are prohibited and your relationship doesn’t fulfill the age criteria as mentioned in the statute, you may not be permitted to get married under Utah law. The provisions related to the incestuous marriages are enumerated under Utah Code Ann. § 30-1-1. This reads in pertinent part as follows:
“(1) The following marriages are incestuous and void from the beginning, whether the relationship is legitimate or illegitimate:
***
(e) marriages between first cousins, except as provided in Subsection (2);
***
(2) First cousins may marry under the following circumstances: (a) both parties are 65 years of age or older; or (b) if both parties are 55 years of age or older, upon a finding by the district court, located in the district in which either party resides, that either party is unable to reproduce.”
***
(e) marriages between first cousins, except as provided in Subsection (2);
***
(2) First cousins may marry under the following circumstances: (a) both parties are 65 years of age or older; or (b) if both parties are 55 years of age or older, upon a finding by the district court, located in the district in which either party resides, that either party is unable to reproduce.”