It is illegal to marry your first cousin in Iowa. The state’s marriage laws specifically list first cousins among the relationships that are prohibited from legally marrying. Iowa places a blanket ban on marriage between first cousins, with no exceptions based on age, sterility, or other factors that might provide allowances in other jurisdictions. This prohibition is enforced clearly in state law and confirmed by the Iowa State Bar Association and recent analyses of the Iowa Code.
The law in Iowa distinguishes degree of consanguinity, focusing on close, blood relations. Marriages are deemed void if they involve immediate or certain extended family members, including parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and first cousins. The aim is to prevent close familial unions that might present higher risks for genetic disorders in offspring, as well as to uphold public policy and social conventions that have developed over time.
While this restriction applies strictly to first cousins, it does not extend to more distant relatives. Marriages between first cousins once removed (children of one’s cousin) and further out—such as second, third, or fourth cousins—are explicitly allowed under Iowa law. These relationships are not considered prohibited, and couples with a more remote familial link can marry in Iowa without legal impediments.
This ban only applies to legal marriages performed within Iowa. Couples who are legal first cousins and who marry in a state that permits such marriages may find their union is not recognized by Iowa authorities for official or legal purposes. This is a crucial consideration for couples who travel out of state with the intention of returning to Iowa after marriage. Recognition of out-of-state marriages between first cousins is not guaranteed and may be subject to review or denial. It is advisable for anyone in this situation to consult with legal counsel or contact state authorities to confirm recognition rights.
The prohibition on first cousin marriage is rooted in longstanding statutory law. Iowa introduced its initial marriage regulations in the 1840s, initially focusing on more immediate family, such as parent-child and sibling unions. The explicit inclusion of first cousins as a banned relationship came later, reflecting reinforcement of the state’s position on consanguinity in marriage. Over the years, these provisions have been reaffirmed in subsequent versions of the state code, further codifying the restriction.
Other types of cousin relationships, such as second cousins, are completely permitted. The law is only specific in its ban on first cousins. Given this specificity, marriage application forms in Iowa may include a section requiring disclosure of blood relations between prospective spouses as part of the approval process for obtaining a marriage license.
Religious institutions, such as the Roman Catholic Church, may have separate processes regarding cousin marriage. For example, while civil law prohibits first cousin marriage in Iowa, a dispensation may be sought for church ceremonies, subject to ecclesiastical authority. This, however, does not affect the civil legality of the marriage under state law.
Lowa law categorically prohibits the marriage of first cousins, but more distant cousins are permitted to wed legally. The state’s approach is clear, uncompromising, and designed to maintain strict boundaries regarding marital relationships among closely related individuals.
Sources
[1] https://www.iowabar.org/?pg=MarriageAndDivorce
[2] https://dataminingdna.com/can-first-cousins-marry-in-iowa/
[3] https://law.justia.com/codes/iowa/2014/title-xv/subtitle-1/chapter-595/section-595.19
[4] https://11points.com/11-state-laws-marrying-cousins-strictest-loosest/
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin_marriage_law_in_the_United_States
