It is generally illegal to marry your first cousin in Utah except under specific conditions. Utah law states that marriages between first cousins are considered incestuous and void, and thus prohibited, except in two cases: if both parties are 65 years of age or older, or if both parties are at least 55 and a district court finds that either party is unable to reproduce. Outside these exceptions, cousin marriages are not legally recognized and are void from the beginning.
The law also forbids marriage between closer relatives such as siblings, parent-child, uncle-niece/nephew, and other close blood relatives. These marriages are considered incestuous and void regardless of age.
Marrying your cousin in Utah is only legal if both individuals are seniors (65+) or both are at least 55 years old with infertility, validated by a court. Otherwise, such marriages are prohibited by state law.
This legal framework reflects Utah’s cautious stance on cousin marriages, balancing prohibition with limited exceptions based on age and reproductive capability.
Sources
[1] https://www.yahoo.com/news/first-cousins-legally-married-utah-040148370.html
[2] https://law.justia.com/codes/utah/2023/title-30/chapter-1/section-1/
[3] https://cardozolawreview.com/the-unconstitutionality-of-state-bans-on-marriage-between-first-cousins/
[4] https://www.yeklaw.com/blog/2024/july/immigration-and-marriage-between-cousins/
[5] https://www.utcourts.gov/en/self-help/case-categories/family/marriage.html
