In Mississippi, it is illegal for first cousins to marry. The state’s marriage laws explicitly prohibit marriages between first cousins by blood, categorizing such unions as incestuous and void under Mississippi Code § 93-1-1.
However, the law does allow for marriages between more distant relatives. For instance, first cousins once removed (the children of first cousins) and other more distant relationships, such as second cousins, are permitted to marry.
Additionally, Mississippi does not recognize first cousin marriages that are legally conducted in other states where such unions are permitted.Here is a summary of the relevant legal points regarding cousin marriage in Mississippi:
- First Cousins: Prohibited from marrying.
- First Cousins Once Removed: Allowed to marry.
- Second Cousins: Allowed to marry.
- Recognition of Out-of-State Marriages: First cousin marriages performed in other states are not recognized in Mississippi.
These laws reflect a broader trend in the United States, where cousin marriage is illegal in 32 states while being legal in 18 others, although it remains a culturally sensitive topic across various regions.
Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin_marriage_law_in_the_United_States
- https://law.justia.com/codes/mississippi/title-93/chapter-1/section-93-1-1/
- https://www.dataminingdna.com/can-first-cousins-marry-in-mississippi-explained/
