First-cousin marriage is void.
The ban targets first cousins. Confirm with your county clerk.
Allowed in West Virginia and every other US state.
Neighboring states.
Cousin marriage laws change at the state line. Here's how West Virginia's neighbors handle first cousins.
| State | First cousins | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | Banned | |
| Pennsylvania | Banned | |
| Maryland | Legal | |
| Virginia | Legal | |
| Kentucky | Banned | Bans marriage "nearer of kin than second cousins," and doesn't recognize ones from other states. |
See all 50 states on the cousin marriage map. Laws change, so confirm with your county clerk before you plan anything.
Legal is one question. Genetics is another.
Children of first cousins have roughly a 5 to 6% chance of a serious birth defect, compared with about 3% for unrelated parents. For second cousins, the extra risk is under one percentage point.
The risk comes from recessive conditions. Cousins are more likely to carry the same hidden variant from a shared grandparent. A carrier screen tells you whether you two actually do. If you don't, most of the extra risk goes away.
Not sure exactly how you're related? The cousin calculator names any relationship, and a DNA comparison settles it for good.
Cousins? Check your carriers.
The single most useful test a related couple can take before kids. One couple result, with a genetic counselor included.
West Virginia cousin questions.
Can you marry your first cousin in West Virginia?
No. West Virginia does not allow first cousins to marry.
Can you marry your second cousin in West Virginia?
Yes. Second cousins can legally marry in West Virginia, as in every US state.
Can you marry your first cousin once removed in West Virginia?
Usually yes. West Virginia's ban targets first cousins, but check the exact statute or ask your county clerk.
Is it legal to date your cousin in West Virginia?
Dating isn't regulated, but marriage and incest laws can apply to close relatives. In West Virginia, first cousins can't legally marry, so a serious relationship can become legally complicated. Second cousins and beyond are fine.
Can first cousins from West Virginia marry in another state?
Some couples marry in a state where it's legal, such as neighboring Maryland or Virginia. Whether West Virginia then recognizes the marriage depends on its own law, so talk to a family lawyer first.