Yes, it is illegal to marry your first cousin in Wyoming.
What Wyoming Law Says
Wyoming law explicitly prohibits marriages between close blood relatives, including first cousins. According to Wyoming Statute § 20-2-101, marriages are void if the parties are related as “parent and child, grandparent and grandchild, brother and sister of half or whole blood, uncle and niece, aunt and nephew, or first cousins, whether either party is illegitimate”. This means that first cousin marriages are not recognized or permitted under any circumstances in Wyoming.
There are no exceptions to this prohibition—Wyoming enforces a blanket ban on first cousin marriages, unlike some states that allow such unions under certain conditions (such as age or infertility).
Which Cousins Can Marry in Wyoming?
- First Cousins: Not allowed to marry.
- First Cousins Once Removed and More Distant Relatives: Allowed to marry. This includes relationships such as second cousins, third cousins, and so on.
The law specifically targets first cousin relationships; more distant cousin marriages are legal in Wyoming.
Recognition of Out-of-State Marriages
If first cousins legally marry in another state where such marriages are permitted, Wyoming law does not recognize that marriage as valid within its borders.
Summary Table: Wyoming Cousin Marriage Laws
| Relationship Type | Marriage Allowed in Wyoming? |
|---|---|
| First cousins | No |
| First cousins once removed | Yes |
| Second cousins or further | Yes |
Additional Notes
- Marriage Application: Wyoming marriage license forms do not ask about blood relationships, but applicants must affirm there is no legal impediment to their marriage.
- Religious Ceremonies: Separate religious rules may apply; for example, the Catholic Church may require special dispensation for cousin marriages, but this is independent of state law.
Marrying your first cousin is illegal in Wyoming. The law is clear and does not allow for exceptions, so couples in this situation must look to other states if they wish to marry legally.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin_marriage_law_in_the_United_States
- https://dataminingdna.com/can-first-cousins-marry-in-wyoming/
- https://getordained.org/state-marriage-laws/wyoming
- https://law.justia.com/codes/wyoming/title-20/chapter-2/article-1/section-20-2-101/
- https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title20.pdf
