Understanding Marriage Eligibility in Oklahoma
Hello, I’m Oklahoma City attorney Dillan Savage of Wirth Law Office. Today we are going to be discussing some of the law in Oklahoma that states who cannot be married in the state of Oklahoma. More specifically, we will look at Title 43, Section 2, consanguinity.
This statute simply states that if you are a descendant and an ancestor, and you are associated by blood, you cannot be married. It expands on this a bit further and states that a stepparent cannot marry their stepchild, the aunt cannot marry the nephew, and the uncle cannot marry the niece. Essentially, it aims to prevent incestuous relationships.
Details on Consanguinity Laws
You cannot marry an individual by blood, and this law is taken seriously in Oklahoma. However, there is a little bit of a loophole here. If you want to marry your first cousin and you marry them in another state where that is legal, and then come back to Oklahoma, the state will recognize that marriage. However, they will not allow first cousins to marry within the state.
In simpler terms, if you marry outside of Oklahoma in a state where it is legal to marry your first cousin, Oklahoma will acknowledge that marriage. Otherwise, you won’t be able to marry your first cousin within Oklahoma’s jurisdiction.
Additional Considerations for Marriage
In addition, if an uncle and a niece are not related by blood and their connection is purely by marriage, that marriage is permitted. The main concern of the state of Oklahoma is to prevent incestuous relationships under this statute. Thus, if you are related by blood, it is likely that your marriage will be deemed illegal.
Just to reiterate, the state of Oklahoma does not allow ancestors and descendants to marry one another. If you find this information helpful or believe it could assist someone else, please visit theoklahomacityattorney.com. My name is Dillan Savage, and thank you for watching.
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If you have further questions about marriage laws in Oklahoma or need legal assistance, contact us today at 405-888-5400 for a low-cost consultation. We are here to help you navigate the complexities of family law!
