In what states can you marry your sibling?
No state in the United States allows individuals to marry their siblings.
Universal Prohibition of Sibling Marriage
Across all political units within the United States, marriage between a person and their sibling is strictly prohibited. This is a fundamental aspect of incest laws, which are designed to prevent unions between close relatives due to genetic, social, and ethical considerations. The prohibition extends universally, meaning that no state or U.S. territory recognizes such marriages as legal.
Varying Prohibitions for Other Relationships
While the ban on sibling marriage is absolute throughout the country, laws concerning other degrees of collateral relationships can vary considerably between states. For instance, laws regarding marriage between an aunt and a nephew or an uncle and a niece are not uniformly prohibited across all jurisdictions. An example of such variation is that the marriage of an uncle and a niece is not prohibited in Georgia, and among Jews in Rhode Island, this specific union is also not forbidden. These differences highlight that while the core prohibition on sibling marriage remains constant nationwide, the legal landscape for other specific familial relationships can differ based on individual state laws and, in some cases, cultural or religious considerations within those states.
