Technically, You Can Get Married To Your First Cousin In Illinois

Most people—and I say most because you know some people out there are like this—don't have an attraction to their first cousins.

Getting married to a blood relative is icky and can really mess things up genetically if they have children. That's why 31 states make it illegal to marry your cousin, including in Illinois... well, kind of. While 31 states with laws on the books about making it illegal to marry your cousin or any blood relative seems low, wait until I show you which states are "cool" with it.

So, how is it technically legal for you to marry your first cousin in Illinois even though it's illegal? Let's read the fine print, shall we?

Marrying Your First Cousin In Illinois? It's Complicated

Out of the 7 billion people on this planet and the 12.58 million people in Illinois, if you can't find someone other than your first cousin to marry and love for the rest of your life, you aren't trying hard enough or have been on dating apps.

Illinois statute 750, section 212 describes several prohibited marriages recognized by the state. That includes marrying your brother, mother, sister, dad, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, and all of those other half and whole blooded relatives. When you get to the cousin part of the law, this is how it reads:

(a) The following marriages are prohibited:

(4) a marriage between cousins of the first degree;

Seems to be on track with normalcy, right?

Well, subsection 4 continues to describe just exactly what needs to happen if you really want to marry your first cousin:

(4) a marriage between cousins of the first degree; however, a marriage between first cousins is not prohibited if:
(i) both parties are 50 years of age or older; or
(ii) either party, at the time of application for
a marriage license, presents for filing with the county clerk of the county in which the marriage is to be solemnized, a certificate signed by a licensed physician stating that the party to the proposed marriage is permanently and irreversibly sterile;

Ah, there it is. If you both are over 50 or if you're forever unable to conceive children, you're all good!

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States Where You Can Marry Your Cousin

After you see which states are cool with you marrying your first cousin, you probably won't be too shocked. Here they are:

1. Alabama
2. Alaska
3. Arizona (Both parties 65+ or one is infertile)
4. California
5. Colorado
6. Connecticut
7. Florida
8. Georgia
9. Hawaii
10. Indiana (both parties 65+)
11. Maine (proof of genetic counseling)
12. Marylan
13. Massachusetts
14. Minnesota (only certain types)
15. New Jersey
16. New Mexico
17. New York
18. North Carolina (except in the rare case of double first cousins)
19. Rhode Island
20. South Carolina
21. Tennessee
22. Utah (both parties are 65+ or both are 55+ and one party is infertile)
23. Vermon
24. Virginia
25. Wisconsin (the woman is 55+ or either party is sterile)
26. Washington D.C.
27. Illinois (both parties 50+ or one party is infertile)