If you want to marry a cousin in Michigan, you have to follow the state’s marriage rules, which say how close family members can be in a marriage. Different parts of the U.S. have different laws about cousin marriage, which can be hard to understand.
Some states do not let cousins get married at all, but others do allow certain kinds of weddings. This is what the law in Michigan says about getting married to your cousin.
Understanding Michigan’s Marriage Laws
In the Michigan Compiled rules (MCL), you can find Michigan’s marriage rules. In particular, MCL Section 551.3 talks about weddings that are not allowed.
The law says that grandparents and grandchildren, parents and children, siblings, and aunts and uncles with their cousins and nephews are not allowed to get married. However, it is also clear that weddings between first cousins are not allowed in Michigan.
One state that does not let first cousins get married is Michigan. In law, “no man shall marry his mother, sister, daughter, aunt, or niece” plus “no woman shall marry her father, brother, son, uncle, or nephew.”
To make things even more complicated, the law says that weddings between “first cousins” are not legal because they are related by blood.
What About Other Types of Cousin Marriages?
Michigan does not allow marriages between first cousins, but it does not stop weddings between cousins who are farther apart. For instance, second cousins, third cousins, and even further back are not on the list of ties that are not allowed.
These marriages are allowed in Michigan because they do not meet the state’s definition of an incestuous marriage.
It is important to remember that these rules only apply to people who are blood relatives and not married relations. So, Michigan law does not stop people from getting married if they are connected to a cousin only by marriage and not by blood.
The Role of Age and Consent
Michigan law not only says that first cousins can not get married, but it also sets strict age and consent requirements for marriage. To get married without parental permission, a person must be at least 18 years old.
People who are 16 or 17 years old, on the other hand, can get married with adult permission. No matter if the people are related or not, they must meet this age standard.
Michigan’s age of consent is part of the state’s larger effort to make sure that people get married freely and fully understand the responsibilities that come with it. According to Michigan law, a marriage license must be received before a wedding can take place.
Both people involved must appear in person to apply for the license and show proof of their age and identification.
Exceptions to Cousin Marriage Laws
First cousin marriage is illegal in Michigan, but it is not always illegal in other states and countries. For example, cousin marriages are culturally or religiously okay in some places and countries.
Even if a first cousin marriage takes place legally in a different state or country, Michigan will not accept it as valid if the couple lives in Michigan.
Also, cousin weddings are legal in some states, but only if certain conditions are met, like showing proof of infertility or being too old to have children. But in Michigan, these factors do not hold true.
If there is an exception like this in another state, Michigan’s rules take precedence once the couple moves to or lives in Michigan.
Changing Social Attitudes
Over time, rules about cousin marriages have changed because of changes in society and new scientific findings. In the past, cousin marriages were more usual, especially in small towns or rural areas.
Unfortunately, current worries about genetic problems that can happen when close relatives get married have led many states, including Michigan, to ban first cousin marriages.
Genetic studies have shown that first cousins’ children are more likely than the general community to have birth defects. Laws and policies that protect public health have been changed in part because of these results.
In spite of this, some say that the genetic risks of cousin marriage are exaggerated, and there are groups that want cousin marriage to be allowed.
Conclusion
To sum up, it is clear that Michigan law does not allow first cousins to get married.
State law says that these marriages are not valid, and Michigan will not accept first cousin marriages that happened in other states. However, it is allowed and recognized in the state for second cousins or other distant relatives to get married.
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