In Delaware, it is currently illegal to marry your first cousin. State law explicitly prohibits and voids marriages between first cousins, as well as other close relatives such as siblings and uncles/aunts with nieces/nephews.
However, recent legislative developments could slightly alter this stance. House Bill 8, introduced in March 2025, proposes recognizing lawful first cousin marriages performed outside Delaware.
This means that while first cousin marriages cannot be performed within Delaware, such marriages conducted elsewhere (e.g., another state or country where they are legal) would be recognized as valid in Delaware.
As of now, the bill is pending review in the Health & Human Development Committee and has not been enacted into law.
Sources:
- https://www.delawarepublic.org/politics-government/2025-02-02/delaware-legislature-introduces-bill-to-recognize-lawful-first-cousin-marriages
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Delaware/comments/1i6uj28/proposed_bill_hb_8_to_recognize_first_cousin/
- https://www.insideedition.com/gallery/kissing-cousins-states-where-marrying-your-relative-legal-48234
- https://legiscan.com/DE/bill/HB8/2025
- https://legis.delaware.gov/SessionLaws?volume=32&chapter=182
