No, it is not illegal to marry your cousin in Vermont. Vermont allows first‑cousin marriages, and the state does not classify such unions as void or criminal under its domestic‑relations laws.
What Vermont’s Law Actually Bans
Vermont’s marriage statute (15 V.S.A. § 1a) expressly prohibits a person from marrying a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling, sibling’s child, or parent’s sibling. That list stops short of cousins, which means first cousins, half‑cousins, first cousins once removed, and adopted cousins are all legally permitted to marry in the state.
Civil‑Marriage and Void‑Marriage Rules
Under Vermont’s “void civil marriages” rule (15 V.S.A. § 511), a marriage is void if it violates the consanguinity or affinity restrictions spelled out in the statute. Because cousins are not included in those prohibited categories, a marriage between cousins solemnized in Vermont is treated as a valid civil marriage, not a null or illegal union.
Practical Considerations
While Vermont permits cousin marriages, couples should still meet general marriage requirements, such as age, consent, and not being currently married to someone else.
Some states that do ban cousin marriages may refuse to recognize an out‑of‑state cousin‑marriage if the couple later moves there, so couples planning to relocate should check the laws of the destination state.
SOURCES :
- https://wjbq.com/ixp/701/p/is-it-illegal-to-marry-your-first-cousin-in-new-england/
- https://www.insideedition.com/gallery/kissing-cousins-states-where-marrying-your-relative-legal-48234
