It is not illegal to marry your cousin in Florida. Florida law specifically prohibits marriage between individuals who are related by lineal consanguinity, such as parent and child or grandparent and grandchild, as well as between siblings, uncles and nieces, and aunts and nephews. However, cousins are not included in this list of prohibited relationships, which means that first cousin marriage is legally permitted in Florida.
According to the 2024 Florida Statutes, Section 741.21, a man may not marry a woman to whom he is related by lineal consanguinity, nor his sister, aunt, or niece, and the same applies in reverse for women. Since cousins are not considered lineal relatives but rather collateral relatives, the law does not bar them from marrying each other in Florida.
Florida is among the states in the United States where first cousin marriage is explicitly allowed, and there are no special restrictions or requirements for cousins who wish to marry in the state.
Sources
[1] http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0700-0799%2F0741%2FSections%2F0741.21.html
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin_marriage_law_in_the_United_States
[3] https://cardozolawreview.com/the-unconstitutionality-of-state-bans-on-marriage-between-first-cousins/
[4] https://www.myfloridalegal.com/print/pdf/node/8268
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin_marriage
