The Legality of Polyamory, by State

Someone posted some very useful information on Tumblr:

So I found the break down of how “legal” Poly relationships are per state. These are ordered from best states to worst.

Also this pertains to just poly in all forms, NOT to bigamy which is a felony in most states. Bigamy is the act of legally being married to more then one person either through common law marriage or forged paperwork. Poly is considered illegal in most states due to common law marriage.

First for those who haven’t heard thanks to the “Sister Wives” family. Polygamy is decriminalized in Utah. This doesn’t mean it is legal it just means they are not considering it a crime but you can still be charge with it.

Next these are the states where Poly is any form between consenting adults is more likely to be legalized. These states have no “common law marriages” so it gets rid of bigamy since there is no way to be married to more then one person unless you forge paperwork to. There are no laws in these states against adultery, co-habitation or fornication

• California
• Hawaii
• Nevada
• Oregon
• Washington

These states have laws against adultery but not against fornication, co-habitation and they also do not have common law marriage. But in these states adultery is only considered a crime if the spouse files charges.

• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Missouri
• New Jersey
• Ohio
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas (Texas does recognize common-law marriages, but apparently only if they are registered with the county clerk)
• Vermont

In the following states adultery and fornication is a misdemeanor requiring a fine to be paid if you are found guilty  

• Arizona
• Georgia
• Illinois
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• New Hampshire (New Hampshire recognizes common-law marriages, but only for inheritance purposes after death)
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Dakota

These states have laws against co-habitation between persons.

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arkansas
• Florida
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• Nebraska
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Wyoming

And finally these states have common law marriages and consider adultery a felony, meaning at any time if you are to be be found to be co-habiting or sleeping with someone who is not your spouse you could be jailed or fined.

• Colorado
• Idaho
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Montana
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Utah
• Washington D.C.
• Wisconsin

All this information was found at http://usmarriagelaws.com/search/united_states/polygamy/

Maybe this can help a few people. Of course if you face any legal action never hesitate to contact a lawyer.