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

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 therefore void. This includes any attempts to evade the law by marrying in another state where such marriages are legal; Mississippi does not recognize those marriages upon return to the state.

However, Mississippi does allow marriages between more distant relatives. For instance, individuals can legally marry their first cousins once removed (the children of first cousins) and other more distant cousins, such as second cousins.

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The relevant section of the Mississippi Code (Section 93-1-1) outlines these prohibitions clearly, listing various close familial relationships that are not permitted to intermarry.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin_marriage_law_in_the_United_States
2. https://law.justia.com/codes/mississippi/title-93/chapter-1/section-93-1-1/
3. https://www.dataminingdna.com/can-first-cousins-marry-in-mississippi-explained/