Many people find it difficult to find the perfect person to have a long-term relationship with, let alone marry.
Sometimes, a person can find someone special who they feel is perfect, but for one reason or another, they can’t be together.
If you meet and fall for your third cousin, you might wonder if you can marry him.
While it is illegal to marry a first cousin in many states, it is legal for both second and third cousins to marry.
Even though it might be legal to marry your third cousin, what about the moral and ethical implications? What will your extended family think?
Most families are likely to frown upon third cousins marrying, but if two people are in love and they’re adults, then it’s perfectly legal for third cousins to marry.
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Is marrying your third cousin similar to marrying a sibling?
Marrying your third cousin is not at all similar to marrying a sibling.
Siblings have a great deal of similar genetic material and any child have together may suffer from genetic abnormalities.
According to statistics, third cousins have less than one percent of shared DNA – unlike siblings who share more than twelve percent.
Will I have disabled children if I marry my third cousin?
It isn’t very likely that you will have disabled children if you were to marry your third cousin.
There are genetic tests available for you and your spouse to take prior to conceiving that will let you know if you’re genetically compatible.
Plenty of third cousins, and even second cousins, have married and given birth to perfectly healthy and happy children.
Is it considered incest to marry your third cousin?
It really depends on your religious beliefs, but because third cousins have so little genetic material in common that it isn’t legally considered incest to marry.
While it may seem strange to other family members for you and your cousin to be getting married, especially if you and your cousin grew up together, third cousins opting to marry happens more often than you might believe.
If you and your third cousin are very much in love and want to marry, then you should go for it!
Is it true that fertility is increased between cousins?
There have been studies conducted on the fertility rates between third and fourth cousins, and some studies found that fertility could be increased between cousin marriages.
However, these studies did not include a large enough number of couples to be considered valid.
You should not worry about fertility just because you’re marrying your third cousin, because again, you don’t share much DNA, so your fertility should be what it would be if you married someone who isn’t a third cousin.
Will people think I’m weird if I marry my third cousin?
You need to prepare yourself for the likelihood that not only your family but also others will have strong opinions about you marrying your third cousin – and those opinions will likely be negative.
However, it isn’t your friends or your family members that will be involved in the marriage, so you and your soon-to-be spouse need to focus on yourselves if you’re truly committed to being together.
A large number of third and fourth cousin marriages work out successfully.
Should a woman hide the fact that she’s marrying her third cousin?
This is totally up to the woman, but secrets have a way of getting out, especially if you’re going to have any interaction with your family members.
Besides, why would a woman want to hide the fact that she’s marrying a wonderful guy just because he happens to be slightly related?
It’s not as if she’s marrying her brother, which would be something totally different altogether.
Is a woman desperate because she wants to marry her third cousin?
Just because a woman’s soulmate happens to be her third cousin doesn’t mean she’s desperate.
There are many people who are likely to believe she’s desperate, but everyone is going to have an opinion and something to say about what others do, regardless of what that is.
Therefore, you and your man need to do what you think is best and ignore everyone else and their negative comments.
Sites advocating cousin marriages
If you feel like you need support, there are many groups on social media that promote and encourage cousin marriages.
These group members are married to their second, third, or fourth cousins and they are proud that they’ve found their soulmates, regardless of being related.
You can join some of these groups, ask questions, respond to others, and more.
Will a woman’s marriage to her third cousin be a legal marriage?
Yes, if a woman decides to marry her third cousin, the marriage will be legal as long as the ceremony is performed by an official minister and the marriage license is filed with the clerk of court within the allotted period of time.
Since marrying a third cousin is legal, then opting to marry him is treated just like any other marriage.
There is no need to offer unnecessary information when applying for your marriage license because you’re not doing anything illegal as long as you answer the questions on the marriage license application honestly.
Is it better for a woman to elope if she’s marrying her third cousin?
If a woman has fallen in love with her third cousin and they plan to marry but family and friends are against the marriage, then eloping might be a good idea.
A woman’s wedding day should be one of the happiest days in her life and if others could spoil that happiness, then eloping can make the day more special.
However, opting to elope is a personal decision that the woman and her husband-to-be need to decide together.
Should a woman marry her third cousin in a church?
Marrying your third cousin is not illegal, nor is it considered incest, but if you would feel more comfortable getting married outside a church, then that’s your own personal preference.
It’s perfectly acceptable to get married in a church, but if your family and friends will refuse to attend the wedding if it happens in a church, then you might want to choose another location.
You have just as much right to get married in a church as anyone else, and if it’s always been your dream to get married in a church, then you should do what makes you and your fiancé happy, no matter what.
Is everyone related because of how things started with Adam and Eve?
Not everyone believes in the Bible, nor does everyone see things in this manner.
There is no need to try to justify marrying your third cousin by attempting to convince others that everyone is related because of Adam and Eve. If you feel your cousin is your soul mate, then he probably is.
Marrying a third cousin is completely legal just about anywhere, so if you happen to fall in love with yours, then you shouldn’t hesitate to marry if that’s what the two of you desire to do.
You should prepare yourself for the negative opinions of others who might not approve of your choice as most people believe that it’s “weird” for cousins to marry, even if they’re third or fourth cousins.
It used to be a lot more common for cousins to marry, and in most cases, they had pretty happy and long marriages. So, you should follow your heart.