Yes, cousin marriage is legal in Louisiana under specific conditions. The state permits first-cousin unions if both parties are 65+ or if one is infertile, per La. Rev. Stat. § 9:202. No additional permits are required from the Louisiana Department of Health or local registrars beyond standard marriage license procedures.
Key Regulations for Cousin Marriage in Louisiana
- Age/Infertility Requirement: First cousins may marry only if both are 65+ or one is medically certified infertile (La. Rev. Stat. § 9:202). Documentary proof, such as a physician’s affidavit, must accompany the marriage license application.
- Prohibited Degrees: Marriages between siblings, half-siblings, or lineal descendants (e.g., parent-child, grandparent-grandchild) remain strictly illegal under La. Civ. Code art. 90. These unions are void ab initio and may trigger criminal penalties for fraudulent misrepresentation.
- Licensing Process: Applicants must declare their relationship status on the Louisiana Marriage License Application (Form M-18). The Orleans Parish Clerk of Court, per 2023 procedural updates, cross-references applications with vital records to verify compliance before issuance.
Enforcement Note: While Louisiana does not criminalize cousin marriage per se, fraudulent misrepresentation of relationship status constitutes perjury under La. Rev. Stat. § 14:123, punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment. The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, in collaboration with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, monitors compliance for infertility-based exceptions.