In Nevada, it is illegal to marry your cousin. The state’s laws on this matter are among the strictest in the United States and leave no room for ambiguity. According to Nevada law, marriage between cousins—whether first cousins or second cousins, including cousins by half-blood—is strictly prohibited. The legal rationale behind this prohibition centers on concerns related to genetic health and the prevention of inbreeding within family bloodlines.
The prohibition is codified in Nevada law under a statute that defines incest not only as a sexual relationship between certain types of relatives, but also includes marriage between those relatives. This means that simply marrying your cousin—without any sexual relationship—constitutes criminal incest under Nevada’s laws. Offenses under this law are treated seriously: marrying your cousin is not just an invalid or void union but is also classified as a felony-level criminal offense. A conviction for violating this law can result in penalties that include significant jail time (ranging from two years to life in prison) and a fine of up to $10,000.
Furthermore, Nevada’s prohibition is particularly far-reaching because it includes both first cousins (children of a person’s aunt or uncle) and second cousins (children of a person’s parent’s cousin). The law applies regardless of whether the marriage was legally recognized in another jurisdiction. In other words, if a couple who are cousins marry in a state where such a union is legal and then move to Nevada, that marriage is not legally recognized by the state and is considered void. In addition, the parties could be prosecuted under Nevada law simply for living as a married couple within the state.
The rationale provided by lawmakers often refers to the perceived risk of genetic disorders in the offspring of cousins. Although this is a controversial topic and the scientific evidence is nuanced, Nevada has opted for a precautionary approach, making any marriage between cousins a criminally punishable act as well as a civilly invalid contract.
Thus, for anyone living in or planning to reside in Nevada, it is essential to understand that the state treats cousin marriage exceptionally harshly. Ignorance of the law is not a defense, and the penalties are severe enough that anyone even contemplating such a union should reconsider or seek legal counsel before proceeding. The risks associated with violating this law are not merely theoretical: past prosecutions and the plain language of the statute indicate that law enforcement is committed to upholding these restrictions. Accordingly, marrying your cousin in Nevada is a crime with potentially lifelong consequences, including imprisonment and substantial fines.
Sources
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin_marriage
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin_marriage_law_in_the_United_States
[3] https://courtroomproven.com/blog/is-it-legal-to-marry-your-cousin-in-nevada/
[4] https://www.lvcriminaldefense.com/incest-and-child-brides-in-nevada/
[5] https://cardozolawreview.com/the-unconstitutionality-of-state-bans-on-marriage-between-first-cousins/
