No, it is not illegal to marry your first cousin in California. The state’s Family Code explicitly permits cousin marriages, treating them like any other union without restrictions or special requirements.
Legal Basis
California Family Code Section 2200 prohibits marriages only between close relatives like parents/children, siblings (full or half), ancestors/descendants, and aunts/uncles with nieces/nephews.
First cousins fall outside this list, making such unions fully legal and valid statewide as of 2026. No genetic testing, counseling, or permits are mandated, unlike some states with bans.
Marriage Process
Apply for a standard marriage license at any county clerk’s office with valid ID and fees (around $100, varying by county). The ceremony follows general rules—performed by an officiant within 90 days—and the license records normally for full legal recognition, including taxes, inheritance, and benefits.
Prohibited Relations Recap
- Allowed: First cousins, second cousins, distant relatives.
- Illegal: Siblings, parent-child, grandparent-grandchild, aunt/uncle-niece/nephew.
Penal Code 285 criminalizes sexual relations (not marriage) with those prohibited relatives.
National Context
Of U.S. states, about half allow first-cousin marriage; California joins permissive ones like New York and Vermont. Recognition holds federally and across states performing the marriage, though immigration or out-of-state residency may complicate matters.
Health and Social Notes
While legal, genetic counseling is recommended due to slightly elevated risks for offspring (e.g., recessive disorders), though not required. Social views vary culturally, but law protects the right without discrimination.
SOURCES:
- https://www.wksexcrimes.com/practice-areas/california-incest-laws-pc-285/
- https://officiantguy.com/cousin-marriage-ceremony/
