Is it illegal to have a baby with your first cousin?
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Is it illegal to have a baby with your first cousin?
Asked on March 29, 2012 under Criminal Law, West Virginia
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Different states have different laws regarding whether first cousins can marry or not. Some states may allow such when each are at a certain age such as 65 years or age and some may disallow such. As to having children by first cousins with each other assuming the child results from consensual activity, having the child in an of itself is not illegal in the majority of the states if not all in this country.
However, many scientists believe that such a situation may result if health issues for the child born of such a union due to potential genetic weakeness that can come out due to the genetics of the parents being too similar.
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