Is It Illegal to Marry Your Cousin in Michigan? Here’s What the Law Says

Cousin Marriage Laws in Michigan

In Michigan, marrying a first cousin is illegal. Michigan Compiled Laws Section 551.3 states that “No marriage shall be contracted between parties who are within the degrees of consanguinity [blood relationship] within which marriages are prohibited or declared by law to be incestuous and void”. First cousins are considered too closely related because they share a set of grandparents.

Specifics of the Law

Michigan law prohibits marriage between ancestors or descendants, siblings (by blood or affinity), aunts and nephews, uncles and nieces, and first cousins. “Affinity” refers to being related by marriage.The law explicitly lists other family members that an individual is not allowed to marry, including a mother, sister, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, stepmother, grandfather’s wife, son’s wife, grandson’s wife, wife’s mother, wife’s grandmother, wife’s daughter, wife’s granddaughter, brother’s daughter, sister’s daughter, father’s sister, and mother’s sister.

Exceptions

Michigan does permit marriages between more distant relatives, such as first cousins once removed or second cousins.

Marriages Performed Out-of-State

A marriage between first cousins that is validly performed in another state may be recognized as valid in Michigan, even though it would be illegal if performed in Michigan. The prohibition of marriage between first cousins applies only to marriages solemnized in Michigan.

Penalties

Violating Michigan’s marriage laws could have legal ramifications, potentially leading to the marriage being declared void or resulting in other penalties.