Michigan law prohibits first cousins from marrying. Such marriages are considered void from the beginning. However, Michigan may recognize a marriage between first cousins if it was legally performed in another state.
Legality of First Cousin Marriages
- Michigan Law: Marriages between first cousins are illegal and void in Michigan.
- Out-of-State Marriages: Michigan may recognize a marriage between first cousins that occurred in another state or country where such unions are legal. A Michigan Supreme Court ruling in 1973 found that a marriage between first cousins in Hungary was valid in Michigan.
- Other States: Laws regarding cousin marriage vary across the United States. Some states ban first-cousin marriages, while others have restrictions based on age or proof of infertility. States like Alabama, Vermont, and California have no prohibitions against first-cousin marriages.
Related Considerations
- Immigration: For immigration purposes, the U.S. government considers a marriage valid if it is legal both where it took place and in the state where the couple currently lives or plans to live.
- Fraudulent Marriages: Faking a wedding and misrepresenting marital status to the court can have legal consequences.
- Other prohibited marriages: Michigan law also prohibits marriage between a man and his mother, sister, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, stepmother, grandfather’s wife, son’s wife, or grandson’s wife. Similarly, a woman is prohibited from marrying her father, brother, grandfather, son, grandson, stepfather, grandmother’s husband, daughter’s husband, or granddaughter’s husband.
Sources:
[1] https://answers.justia.com/question/2021/06/19/can-two-first-cousins-marry-in-michigan-848720
[2] https://cardozolawreview.com/the-unconstitutionality-of-state-bans-on-marriage-between-first-cousins/
[3] https://fam.state.gov/fam/09FAM/09FAM010208.html
