Polygamy

While the act of having multiple spouses at once is legal in much of the world, it is illegal in all 50 states in the US. Individuals found guilty of polygamy in the US may face misdemeanor or felony charges depending on the specific incident. Many times, the spouses of a polygamist individual are unaware that other spouses exist.

If your spouse is involved in polygamy, contact the Austin divorce lawyers of Slater, Kennon & Pugh Ltd.LLP at 512-472-2431 for information about what you should do.

Polygamy in the United States

Polygamy is defined as having multiple spouses at once. The United States banned the act of polygamy in the 1800s and does not recognize concurrent marriages. While some religious groups that practice in the United States may recognize polygamy, it is illegal to have more than one marriage license.

Many times, spouses of polygamists are forced into polygamy against their will, which may incur additional charges against the accused polygamist. Most polygamy cases result in criminal charges against the alleged polygamist.

Polygamy is not the same as an open relationship for several reasons. For one, polygamy specifically refers to being married to more than one individual. Additionally, only one spouse is allowed to have multiple partners in most polygamist marriages while both spouses can have multiple partners in an open relationship.

Sometimes polygamy can occur unintentionally, such as when an individual gets remarried after thinking that his or her spouse has died when, in reality, he or she is still alive. There are also some cases in which both spouses think they have been granted a divorce and remarry when the divorce actually did not go through. In such cases, the accidental polygamist is usually found innocent.

Contact Us

For more information on marriage law in the United States, or for information on obtaining a divorce, contact the Austin divorce lawyers of Slater, Kennon & Pugh Ltd.LLP at 512-472-2431 to learn about how you should proceed.