In Washington State, it is illegal to marry your first cousin or any relative closer than a second cousin. This prohibition applies to both full-blood and half-blood first cousins, as well as first cousins once removed.
The relevant law explicitly states that marriages are not permitted if the spouses are “nearer of kin to each other than second cousins,” whether by whole or half blood, as determined by civil law rules.
Key Points About Cousin Marriage Laws in Washington
- Prohibited Relationships:
- Marriages between first cousins are explicitly prohibited.
- First cousins once removed (e.g., the child of your first cousin) are also not allowed to marry in Washington.
- Half-first cousins (those whose parents are half-siblings) are similarly barred from marrying.
- Allowed Relationships:
- Marriages between second cousins and more distant relatives are legal in Washington.
- Legal Basis:
- The prohibition is codified in Washington’s Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 26.04.020, which outlines that marriages between individuals closer than second cousins are unlawful.
- No Exceptions:
- Unlike some states that allow exceptions for cousin marriages under specific conditions (e.g., infertility or advanced age), Washington enforces a blanket ban on first-cousin marriages without exceptions.
Broader Context
Washington’s stance aligns with the laws of several other U.S. states that prohibit first-cousin marriages, reflecting concerns about potential genetic risks associated with close-relative unions. However, it is worth noting that these laws vary widely across the country, with some states allowing such marriages under certain conditions or outright permitting them.
Marrying your first cousin in Washington is unequivocally illegal. However, second-cousin marriages and those involving more distant relatives are permitted under state law.
SOURCES:-
[1] https://www.findlaw.com/state/washington-law/washington-annulment-and-prohibited-marriage-laws.html
[2] https://dataminingdna.com/can-first-cousins-marry-in-washington/
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin_marriage_law_in_the_United_States
[4] https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=26.04&full=true
[5] https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=26.04.020
