Can You Legally Marry Your First Cousin in Indiana?

Before I go any further, I feel I must state for the record that I have NO desire to marry any of my cousins. I didn't even feel right Googling the topic, but now that I have, here's what I found out. I'm not here to judge, just to present the facts.

Is It Legal to Marry Your First Cousin in Indiana?

You might be surprised to learn that YES, it is legal to marry your first cousin here in the Hoosier State, but there is an asterisk next to that law. It is only legal if both cousins are at least 65 years old. For those of us under the age of 65, the law is clear - it is illegal for anyone to marry any member of their family that is more closely related than second cousins.

ALSO READ: Indiana Recognizes Only These Four Legal Grounds for Divorce

What Are the First-Cousin Marriage Laws for the Rest of the Country?

I'll be honest, I just assumed that every state had the same law, and that it is illegal to marry your first cousin. That is not the case though. It wasn't until I found this map (from the aptly named Quirky Maps Facebook page) that I learned that marrying you first cousin is still legal in several states.

I was surprised to see that it is legal in California, but it is a crime right next door in Nevada - home of "Sin City." Another surprising example is that you can marry your first cousin in Tennessee, but it's banned in Kentucky - a state that is the butt of many "familial relationship" jokes.

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When you add it up, the country is pretty much split in half. First-cousin marriages are allowed (in some form) in 24 states, and it is banned (with some exceptions) in 27 states, which includes the District of Columbia.