Consanguinity Crisis
Question
In the last year, my boyfriend and I have each lost a parent. Now my mum has got together with my boyfriend's dad. What's more, they're already talking about marriage. The thing is my boyfriend and I are also thinking about getting hitched, but I'm worried that if our parents wed we won't be able to. What are the laws regarding this?
Answer
Marriage laws have existed for hundreds of years, largely to avoid the problems associated with inbreeding. The list below shows which relatives cannot wed, under any circumstances, because of their blood relationship (also known as consanguinity).
Men cannot marry: | Women cannot marry: |
grandmother | grandfather |
mother | father |
mother's sister | father's brother |
mother's half-sister | father's half-brother |
father's sister | mother's brother |
father's half-sister | mother's half-brother |
adoptive mother | adoptive father |
sister | brother |
half-sister | half-brother |
daughter | son |
adopted daughter | adopted son |
sister's daughter | sister's son |
half-sister's daughter | half-sister's son |
brother's daughter | brother's son |
half-brother's daughter | half-brother's son |
granddaughter | grandson |
As you can see, all of these have a close blood relationship (apart from the adoptees). Your circumstances are very different in that there is no consanguinity between you and your boyfriend, or your mum and your boyfriend's dad. This means that both they and you can get married with no legal problems whatsoever.
Updated: 22/01/2009
Question answered by CAB
