In Alaska, it is currently legal for first cousins to marry. However, there are specific laws that regulate marriage between individuals who are closely related by blood.
This article explains the state’s marriage laws, the different types of cousin relationships allowed, and what you need to know if you’re considering marrying a cousin.
Types of Cousins That Can Get Married in Alaska
In Alaska, first cousins are allowed to marry. But when it comes to other types of cousins, things get a bit more complicated. Alaska permits the following cousin relationships to marry:
- First cousins
- First cousins once removed
- Half first cousins
- Second cousins
- Third cousins
- Fourth cousins and beyond
It’s important to make sure that the person you’re marrying is truly your cousin and not a half-sibling. In Alaska, marriages between half-siblings are not permitted.
If you’re unsure about the difference between cousins and half-siblings, be sure to check out more detailed explanations before proceeding.
What You Should Know About First Cousin Marriage in Alaska
To get married in Alaska, you must apply for a marriage license through the state’s official website, where you’ll fill out an application form. The form includes a section asking whether you and your partner are related by blood.
If you’re first cousins, you must acknowledge that, but this won’t prevent you from getting married as long as there are no legal reasons preventing it.
When filling out the form, you’ll be asked if there is any legal reason why your marriage should not be solemnized. As long as your first cousin relationship is not closer than the laws allow, checking “no” to this question should mean there are no legal issues with your marriage.
What Do The Laws Say?
The laws in Alaska concerning cousin marriage are primarily concerned with the degree of consanguinity (blood relation). The specific part of the law states that a marriage is void if the parties are more closely related than the fourth degree of consanguinity.
This is the legal limit for how closely related two people can be before their marriage is considered illegal.
What Is the Fourth Degree of Consanguinity?
Consanguinity refers to the blood relation between two people. To calculate the degree, you count the steps or “hops” between the people in question and their common ancestor.
For example, first cousins share common grandparents, meaning there are two steps from you to your grandparents (through your parent and then to your grandparents). The same applies to your first cousin. This makes first cousins the fourth degree of consanguinity.
Other relationships are calculated similarly:
- Parent and child are the first degree of consanguinity (one step between parent and child).
- Siblings are the second degree of consanguinity (two steps between siblings and their parents).
- Uncle and niece are the third degree of consanguinity (three steps, with common grandparents).
Do People Travel to Alaska to Get Married?
While some have raised concerns about people traveling to states like Alaska for cousin marriages where they are not permitted elsewhere, this doesn’t seem to be a significant issue.
Since Alaska doesn’t share borders with other states, the concern about out-of-state travelers isn’t as relevant. Additionally, there are many other states in the U.S. where cousin marriage is legal.
Native Culture and Cousin Marriages in Alaska
In some of Alaska’s indigenous communities, cousin marriage has been viewed differently. For example, in a community like Akiak, first cousin marriages were not openly welcomed by the elders, who imposed special rules on the practice.
While marriage wasn’t outright prohibited, couples were encouraged to marry away from the village, perhaps to avoid disrupting community traditions.
However, cultural attitudes about cousin marriages can vary, and some elders simply made it harder for young couples to marry within the community.
In the case of Mike Williams, a prominent figure from a Yup’ik Eskimo community, first cousins in his family faced such challenges but still traveled to marry in the Gulf of Alaska.
Roman Catholic Marriages in Alaska
If you plan to marry in a Roman Catholic church in Alaska, you may face additional challenges. The church has its own set of rules and procedures when it comes to marrying cousins.
Couples who are cousins may need to go through a process with church authorities to ensure the marriage is recognized within the church’s doctrine.
In Alaska, first cousins can legally marry, provided that they meet the requirements set by the state. The laws also allow for other types of cousins, such as second and third cousins, to marry.
However, relationships closer than the fourth degree of consanguinity, like half-siblings or siblings, are not allowed. Cultural practices, especially within Native communities, may vary, and couples looking to marry in the Catholic Church will need to navigate additional requirements.
