No, it is not illegal to marry your first cousin in NY. New York is among the states where marriage between first cousins is fully legal.
Legal Details
First Cousin Marriage: New York law allows first cousins to marry. There are no special conditions or requirements for such marriages in the state.
Who Cannot Marry: New York prohibits marriage between certain close relatives, including:
- Ancestors and descendants (e.g., parent-child, grandparent-grandchild)
- Siblings (whole or half-blood)
- Uncles and nieces, aunts and nephews
These restrictions do not include cousins, meaning both first cousins and more distant cousins (second, third, etc.) may legally marry in New York.
Recognition in Other States
While New York recognizes first cousin marriages, some other states do not. If you marry your cousin in New York and move to a state where such marriages are prohibited, that state may not recognize your marriage as valid.
Summary Table
| Relationship | Marriage Allowed in NY? |
|---|---|
| First Cousins | Yes |
| Second/Third Cousins | Yes |
| Siblings | No |
| Parent/Child | No |
| Uncle/Niece, Aunt/Nephew | No |
It is legal to marry your first cousin in New York. The state explicitly allows cousin marriages, though it bans marriage between closer relatives such as siblings, parents and children, and uncles/aunts with nieces/nephews.
Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin_marriage_law_in_the_United_States
- https://991thewhale.com/legal-to-marry-first-cousin-in-new-york/
- https://981thehawk.com/can-i-marry-my-cousin-in-ny/
- https://wblk.com/is-it-legal-to-marry-your-cousin-in-new-york/
- https://www.draslamabdullah.com/post/first-cousin-marriage-laws-in-the-u-s