Connecticut Bans First Cousin Marriages Starting Oct. 1

Beginning Oct. 1, first cousins will no longer be allowed to marry in Connecticut under a new law signed by Gov. Ned Lamont.

Previously, state law prohibited marriages between close relatives such as parents, siblings, grandparents, children, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, stepparents, and stepchildren. The updated legislation adds first cousins to that list, aligning Connecticut with roughly two dozen other states that already ban the practice.

State Rep. Steve Stafstrom, D-Bridgeport, who co-chairs the Judiciary Committee, said the law will not carry penalties and will only apply to marriages occurring after Oct. 1.

“We were something of an outlier in not banning it,” Stafstrom said. “Scientific evidence shows that children born from first cousin unions have a higher risk of birth defects. But we didn’t want to interfere with existing legal marriages.”

Under the new law, first cousins who are aware of their relationship will be barred from receiving a marriage license. Lawmakers reported little opposition to the change during public hearings.

As of earlier this year, 16 states still allowed first cousin marriage, including Alabama, California, Florida, New York, and Connecticut. Some, like Maine, allow it only with a physician’s genetic counseling certificate.

Commenting on the bill, Gov. Lamont noted, “It just lends some clarity to what our rules are here.” He referenced Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt’s marriage, mistakenly calling them second cousins—though they were actually fifth cousins once removed.

With this legislation, Connecticut becomes the latest state to formally prohibit first cousin marriages, joining a national trend of tightening marriage laws to reflect genetic and social concerns.

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