Only One New England State Where Marrying Your Cousin is Illegal

This is too wild to believe, but it is true.

In. Every. Single. New. England. State. (besides one) You can legally marry your first cousin.

According to a Newsweek article, first cousin marriage is completely legal in 17 states, which include five New England states. Although one does have some restrictions.

Can you marry your cousin in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire is the only New England state where marrying your first cousin is illegal.

New Hampshire is not messing around with this "grey" area of a question.

According to the Town of Exeter website, "Marriage is not permitted in New Hampshire between people who are related by blood as first cousins or in any more direct lineage."

Can you marry your cousin in Massachusetts?

Yes. Yes, you can.

Massachusetts outlaws marriage of "closer" family lineage; however, there are no restrictions on cousins. According to the Massachusetts Legislature, Title III, Chapter 207, Section 1:

Section 1. No man shall marry his mother, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, stepmother, grandfather's wife, grandson's wife, wife's mother, wife's grandmother, wife's daughter, wife's granddaughter, brother's daughter, sister's daughter, father's sister or mother's sister.

Can you marry your cousin in Maine?

Yet again...yes, you can.

Maine is the only state in New England that allows this, under restrictions.

According to Maine's Legislation (title 19-A, Chapter 23, Section 701) as long as "the man or woman provides the physician's certificate of genetic counseling," first cousin marriage is permitted.

Can you marry your cousin in Vermont or Rhode Island?

You see the trend...yes.

Vermont's legislation is similar to Massachusetts's. They specify people you cannot marry in family lineage, such as parent, child, sibling; however, they do not include any mention of first cousins.

§ 1a. Person forbidden to marry a relativeNo person shall marry his or her parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling, sibling’s child, or parent’s sibling. (Added 2009, No. 3, § 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2009.)