In Connecticut, it is currently legal to marry your first cousin. Connecticut is one of approximately 18 states in the U.S. that permits first-cousin marriages without restrictions. However, marriage to closer relatives such as an uncle, grandfather, or niece is prohibited and considered void under state law.
That said, there are recent legislative moves seeking to change this status. Bills have been introduced in the Connecticut legislature that would prohibit first-cousin marriages, making first cousins ineligible to marry one another, though these bills have not yet become law. The legislation aims to make these marriages void and subject to penalties if knowingly entered into.
Connecticut law generally forbids marriage between closer blood relatives—such as parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts/uncles, nieces/nephews, and step-relations—and such marriages are considered void from the start. Marriages permitted with cousins are classified as consanguineous (related by blood) but remain lawful unless new laws are enacted.
As of now, marrying your first cousin in Connecticut is legal, but legislative efforts may soon seek to ban such marriages. It remains illegal to marry closer relatives, and marriages within those prohibited degrees are void and without legal recognition in the state.
If you plan to marry a cousin in Connecticut, it is advisable to stay updated on legislative changes, as this legal landscape may shift in the near future.
Sources
[1] https://ctnydivorcelawyer.com/blogs/what-is-consanguinity-in-marriage/
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin_marriage_law_in_the_United_States
[3] https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/JFR/H/PDF/2025HB-06918-R00JUD-JFR.PDF
[4] https://www.ctinsider.com/connecticut/article/ct-cousin-marriage-legal-where-connecticut-20158492.php
[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCAkH0cA274
