As of May 2025, it is currently legal to marry your first cousin in Connecticut, but this may soon change due to pending legislation.
Current Law
- First cousin marriage is legal in Connecticut. There are no state statutes prohibiting marriage between first cousins, and such unions are recognized as valid under current law.
- Connecticut law does prohibit marriage between closer relatives, such as parents and children, siblings, aunts/uncles and nieces/nephews, grandparents and grandchildren, and step-relations in some cases. However, first cousins are not included in these prohibitions.
Pending Legislation
- The Connecticut legislature is considering a bill (HB06918) that would prohibit marriage between first cousins, making them ineligible to marry each other. If enacted, this law would take effect on October 1, 2025.
- The proposed law specifically states that first cousins would not be allowed to marry, and couples would need to know they are related as first cousins for the prohibition to apply.
Table
| Relationship | Marriage Allowed (as of May 2025)? | Pending Ban (from Oct 1, 2025)? |
|---|---|---|
| First cousins | Yes | No (if bill passes) |
| Siblings | No | No |
| Parent/child | No | No |
| Aunt/uncle-niece/nephew | No | No |
Key Takeaways
- You can legally marry your first cousin in Connecticut as of now.
- If the pending legislation passes, first cousin marriage will be banned starting October 1, 2025.
- Marriages between closer relatives (siblings, parent/child, aunt/uncle-niece/nephew) are and will remain illegal.
Marrying your first cousin is currently legal in Connecticut, but this right may end later in 2025 if new legislation is enacted.
Sources
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin_marriage_law_in_the_United_States
[2] https://www.ctpost.com/connecticut/article/ct-cousin-marriage-legal-where-connecticut-20158492.php
[3] https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/ba/pdf/2025HB-06918-R000728-BA.pdf
[4] https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1825710
[5] https://www.ctpost.com/politics/article/connecticut-lawmakers-marriage-cousins-psilocybin-20258526.php