No, it is not illegal to marry your cousin in Florida. First cousins are legally permitted to marry in the state.
What Florida Law Says
Florida law specifically prohibits marriage between individuals who are related by lineal consanguinity (meaning direct descendants or ancestors, such as parent-child or grandparent-grandchild), as well as between siblings, uncles/aunts and nieces/nephews. However, the law does not prohibit marriage between first cousins, since cousins are considered to be related by collateral consanguinity, not lineal consanguinity.
Here is the relevant statute:
“A man may not marry any woman to whom he is related by lineal consanguinity, nor his sister, nor his aunt, nor his niece. A woman may not marry any man to whom she is related by lineal consanguinity, nor her brother, nor her uncle, nor her nephew.”
— Florida Statutes, Section 741.21
Since cousins are not included in this list, their marriage is legal in Florida.
Additional Details
- First Cousins: Marriage is allowed and legal.
- First Cousins Once Removed, Half-Cousins, Adopted Cousins: These relationships are also not prohibited and such marriages are legal.
- Criminal Law: Florida criminal statutes prohibiting incest do not include cousin relationships; the focus is on lineal relatives and siblings.
Summary Table
| Relationship | Marriage Legal in Florida? |
|---|---|
| Parent/Child | No |
| Siblings | No |
| Uncle/Aunt & Niece/Nephew | No |
| First Cousins | Yes |
| First Cousins Once Removed | Yes |
| Half-Cousins | Yes |
| Adopted Cousins | Yes |
It is legal to marry your first cousin in Florida. The law only prohibits marriages between close lineal relatives and siblings, not cousins. This makes Florida one of the states in the U.S. where cousin marriage is explicitly permitted by law.
If you are curious about cousin marriage laws in other states, the legal status varies widely across the U.S., so it’s important to check the specific statutes for each state
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin_marriage_law_in_the_United_States
- https://www.myfloridalegal.com/print/pdf/node/8268
- https://www.avvo.com/legal-answers/can-cousins-get-married-in-the-state-of-florida-2378692.html
- https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2016/0741.21
- https://www.rpfoley.com/incest-marrying-or-having-sex-with-a-blood-relative-florida-stat.html
