State Laws Regarding Marriages Between First Cousins Twenty-five states prohibit marriages between first cousins. Six states allow first cousin marriage under certain circumstances, and North Carolina allows first cousin marriage but prohibits double-cousin marriage. States generally recognize marriages of first cousins married in a state where such marriages are legal. | Cousin marriage legal | First cousin marriage prohibited | Allowed under certain circumstances | | Alabama Alaska California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Maryland Massachusetts | New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina* Rhode Island South Carolina Tennessee Texas Vermont Virginia | Arkansas Delaware Idaho Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana | Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania South Dakota Washington West Virginia Wyoming | Arizona Illinois Indiana Maine Utah Wisconsin | First cousin marriage is allowed in these states under the following circumstances: Arizona- if both are 65 or older, or one is unable to reproduce. Illinois- if both are 50 or older, or one is unable to reproduce. Indiana- if both are at least 65. Maine- if couple obtains a physician's certificate of genetic counseling. Utah- if both are 65 or older, or if both are 55 or older and one is unable to reproduce. Wisconsin- if the woman is 55 or older, or one is unable to reproduce. *North Carolina- First cousin marriage is legal. Double cousin marriage is prohibited |