A
female
age
36-40,
*mgomg
writes:can you please tell me if there is any law on first cousins being together and having a sexual relationship and if we could get married please help
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reader, anonymous, writes (9 May 2008): i have looked in to this subject myself. I live in the UK and it isn't illegal here.
i hadnt seen my cousin for 8 years and we met again almost 2 years ago. only a week ago we admitted to having feelings for eachother. i know some people think its wrong, but emotions aren't something which can be controlled and its not like were siblings.
i dont know what we are going to do about it tho, if anything. Its awful because i know if he wasnt my cousin i would be with him. He lives far away and he's going into the forces soon.
Im glad im not the only one who has fallen for my cousin. i hope it works out for you. x
A
reader, anonymous, writes (19 April 2007):
Yes, there is a law. In 2004 the Sexual Offences Act 2003 was passed. This makes it unlawful for cousins to have a sexual relationship - but this only applies if they have, or do live, in the same house.
I suspect this law is more for the protection of children from their adult family members more than anything else.
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A
male
reader, Dr. Mark  +, writes (19 April 2007):
The anonymous person who said this would be "disastrous" based on genetics is presenting the ungrounded misconception held by many people. This thinking is derived from the higher rate of genetic diseases that are prevalent in historically isolated areas. In these areas, there are multiple generations of cousins getting married to each other, and as this happens, with no new introductions to the gene pool, it becomes more likely for birth defects to be introduced. If you are a carrier of a specific genetic disorder, and you procreate with someone who is also a carrier, you can greatly increase the risk. However, in reality, genetic problems among cousins is not as common as many people believe them to be. Note that according to Robin L. Bennett, a genetic counselor at the University of Washington and the president of the National Society of Genetic Counselors there is only an increased risk of 1.7% to 2.8% of cousins producing birth defects over non-cousins. This slight increase is about the same as 40 year old women having children, but no one is ready to make it illegal for 40 year old women to marry or have sex!
Now, if you go ahead with this, you are going to face the bias of many people around you who also have this misinformation. It's up to the two of you if you want to put yourselves through that hassle. As far as genetic disorders go, you can put your mind at ease by going to a genetic counsellor. I am assuming you do not come from a line of people of cousins marrying cousins, or you probably wouldn't be asking the question.
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (19 April 2007): genetically... a relationship between you guys would be disastrous. there's a large chance that your offspring would have birth defects.
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A
male
reader, kenny +, writes (18 April 2007):
 It all depends on which country you are talking about. As far a i know its legal here in the united kingdom.
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A
female
reader, chachacha +, writes (18 April 2007):
No, in the UK, there is no law against it.
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A
male
reader, Dr. Mark +, writes (18 April 2007):
It depends on the country where you live. Here in Canada, it is not against the law.
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