Yes, it is illegal to marry your first cousin in New Hampshire. The state explicitly prohibits marriage between people who are related by blood as first cousins or in any closer (more direct) lineage.
What the Law Says
- New Hampshire Statute: “Marriage is not permitted in New Hampshire between people who are related by blood as first cousins or in any more direct lineage.”
- Who Is Covered: This ban applies to first cousins and anyone more closely related (siblings, parents, children, etc.).
- Other New England States: New Hampshire is unique in New England for this restriction. All other New England states (Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut) allow first-cousin marriage, sometimes with conditions (like genetic counseling in Maine).
- Exceptions:
- First cousins once removed (your cousin’s child or your parent’s cousin) are not covered by the ban and may marry.
- Cousins related only by adoption are also not permitted to marry in New Hampshire.
- The law does not prohibit first cousins from living together or having a relationship—it only bans marriage.
Additional Notes
- No Proxy or Common-Law Marriage: New Hampshire also does not allow proxy marriages, cousin marriages, or common-law marriages.
- Legal Context: The law is strictly enforced for marriage licenses and ceremonies; clerks will not issue a marriage license to first cousins.
It is illegal to marry your first cousin in New Hampshire. The state is the only one in New England with this explicit ban, while most other states in the region permit first-cousin marriages under certain conditions.
If you are considering marriage to a cousin in New Hampshire, you will not be able to obtain a marriage license if you are first cousins by blood.
Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin_marriage_law_in_the_United_States
- https://wokq.com/is-it-legal-to-marry-your-first-cousin-new-hampshire/
- https://www.exeternh.gov/townclerk/who-can-get-married
- https://www.fremont.nh.gov/town-clerk/pages/marriage-license-information