Marrying Your Cousin in New Jersey: Is It Legal? People may not know much about the state’s rules on this subject, but they are pretty clear and in a national trend. Here’s a quick look at what the law in New Jersey says about cousin weddings.
Understanding Cousin Marriage Laws in the U.S.
Knowing what is happening in the other parts of the country would be great before getting into New Jersey laws. Rules about cousin weddings are different in different states in the US.
For example, it may be illegal in some parts while being legitimate in the other parts provided certain things are met.
For instance, some states prohibit marrying first cousins, while others permit it in cases where the spouse is too old for further offspring or if the marriage takes place as an act of certain religious rituals. Other states have no restrictions whatsoever.
New Jersey First Cousin Marriage
First Cousins Getting Marry in New Jersey In New Jersey, first cousins are allowed to get married. No regulations or rules of first cousins at any age, or under what circumstances, have a binding effect on the state.
This might be surprising to others coming from states that either do not allow or have very strict rules about such weddings. New Jersey is very lenient about it; first cousins can marry without any other requirements.
Both full first cousins and half first cousins are permitted. Full first cousins share both grandparents, while half first cousins share only one. New Jersey law allows two people to get married as long as they are not connected in a closer way, such as being siblings.
Why the Law Exists
Many states prohibit cousins from marrying. This law stems from the historical and cultural concern about inbreeding-that is, fears about physical health problems from siblings marriages.
Some people fear that their children will inherit more genetic disorders if close cousins get married. However, a new study has now revealed that children of first cousins are only slightly more likely to suffer from genetic problems than the general child population.
Maybe this is why some states, like New Jersey, decided not to ban weddings between cousins.
In addition, New Jersey’s laws take into account the reality that cousin marriages have occurred throughout many cultures and are still a common occurrence in various parts of the world today.
For some, marrying cousins is a family tradition. This may be true for certain religious or cultural traditions.
Other Types of Relative Marriages
In New Jersey, it is possible for first cousins to get married, but not for other types of marriages between relatives. In particular, New Jersey law does not allow marriages between close blood relations like
- Siblings (including half-siblings)
- Parents and children
- Aunts/uncles and nieces/nephews
- Grandparents and grandchildren
These rules are uniform with those of most other states, and they are premised on the same concerns about preserving genetic variety and avoiding potential problems caused by inbreeding.
Legal Procedure for First Cousins Marriages
In New Jersey, marrying a first cousin is identical to marrying at any other time. There are no unique forms or additional procedures that have to be followed.
In addition, to obtain a marriage license from a local town registrar, a couple is required to present proof of identity and a small fee. From there, they may proceed with the performing of their wedding ceremony before a legal official, such as a church leader, judge, or civil official.
Social Aspects
New Jersey is one of the states that permit marriage between first cousins, yet to many, this is something odd. Even if it’s allowed, there could be other cultural regulations that dictate one should not marry a cousin.
But these social perspectives are different in so many ways, and in many families or cultures, cousin marriages are legit or even encouraged.
If a couple wants to marry a cousin in New Jersey, they might want to talk to their families concerning the problems that might have arisen and consider the impact this might have on the society. However, from a formal point of view, the state does not interfere with these types of marriages.
Conclusion
In brief, it is legal in New Jersey to marry your first cousin. The state does not outlaw marriages between close relatives, while it does outlaw marriages between cousins.
This is due to the fact that generally, the genetic risks associated with such unions are relatively low. In New Jersey, first cousins are allowed to get married without any legal issues. Still, in accordance with their community, they could confront social or cultural problems.
