Different parts of the United States have different laws about family relationships and levels of kinship when it comes to marriage. It is not easy to marry a cousin in Minnesota, as it is in many other states.
The rules can be confusing for some. So, can you marry your cousin in Minnesota? What does the law say in 2024? What are the details if you want to get married to someone in your family?
Minnesota’s Law on Marrying First Cousins
It is against the law in Minnesota for first cousins to get married. This is one of the strictest rules in the United States. Minnesota Statutes say that siblings, half-siblings, and first cousins can not get married to each other.
This is because of concerns about genetic health risks, social stigma, and the need for clear boundaries in family relationships. The law is mostly about first cousins, which means that marriages between them are limited.
There is one important exception for older people, though: first cousins over 65 can get married as long as one or both of them can prove they can not have children. The reason for this exception is that there is concern about genetic risks for children.
By making sure that infertility is a factor, the law gives first cousins who want to get married later in life, when having children is no longer important an option.
Second Cousins and Beyond: What’s Allowed
In Minnesota, it is illegal for first cousins to get married, but second cousins and other relatives who are farther away can legally get married.
It is actually pretty common for second or even third cousins to get married. It is also legal and generally seen as a good thing. As a result, the law is not as strict when it comes to closer family relationships because there are not as many genetic concerns.
In reality, Minnesota’s policy is to let cousins who are some distance apart get married. This way, the law limits the formation of closer family ties.
This fits with a less open-minded view on family relationships compared to states where cousin marriages are more common.
Why Do These Laws Exist?
Laws that make it illegal for cousins to get married come from both scientific and social concerns.
In the past, there has been more attention paid to stopping genetic disorders that can happen when close relatives get married, especially when first cousins get married.
Studies show that the risk of birth defects is slightly higher for children born to first cousins, but not by much. Still, this worry has caused many states to pass strict laws as a safety measure.
There are also social and cultural factors. For example, in many societies, it is frowned upon for close relatives to get married, which affects the law.
How Do Minnesota’s Laws Compare to Other States?
Minnesota’s rules are stricter than those in some states but not as strict as those in others. For instance, states like California and New York do let first cousins get married without any rules.
On the other hand, states like Kentucky and Texas do not allow these kinds of marriages at all. Minnesota’s exception for cousins over 65 who can not have children is unusual, but it shows a flexible approach that can work in some situations.
In the U.S. as a whole, about 24 states either allow cousin marriages under certain conditions or do not have any restrictions at all.
The other 19 states, including Minnesota, have restrictions or bans in place. This patchwork of rules shows how different areas still have different ideas about cousin marriage.
Conclusion
In Minnesota, first cousins can not get married unless one of them is over 65 and can not have children. But if you are second cousins or less distantly related, Minnesota law does not put any limits on your marriage.
This method strikes a balance between protecting genetic health and respecting the freedom of consenting adults, especially when it comes to making decisions about marriage later in life.
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