In South Carolina, it is legal to marry your cousin. The state’s laws do not prohibit marriages between first cousins, which distinguishes it from many other states that have stricter regulations regarding cousin marriages.
The South Carolina Code of Laws Section 20-1-10 specifically prohibits many types of family members from marrying, but cousins are not included in this list.
The law explicitly states which familial relationships are prohibited from marriage, such as marrying one’s mother, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, stepmother, sister, and various in-laws.
South Carolina is one of 17 states in the United States where first-cousin marriage is completely legal, alongside states like Alabama, California, Florida, and Georgia.
This places South Carolina in the minority of states regarding cousin marriage laws, as 32 states have made the practice illegal or largely illegal.While legal, it’s worth noting that cousin marriages are not widespread, even in states where they are permitted.
The practice can carry social stigma and concerns about genetic risks for offspring, although these concerns are often debated and vary by individual perspective.
Sources:
- https://owossoindependent.com/is-it-illegal-to-marry-your-cousin-in-south-carolina-heres-what-the-law-says/
- https://twitter.com/thestate/status/1783803231602151474
- https://ground.news/article/is-it-illegal-to-marry-your-cousin-in-south-carolina-heres-what-the-law-says_bdf768
- https://twitter.com/islandpacket/status/1783820877353598976
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin_marriage_law_in_the_United_States
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