Bigamy is the act of marrying one person while being legally married to another. Polygamy is the practice or custom (often religious) of having more than one wife or husband at a time. Most states prohibit a party from having more than one marriage license at a time, and in most states bigamy is a crime.
In Alaska, as in most states, bigamy is illegal. Under Alaska Statutes Section 25.05.361, a person is guilty of bigamy if they knowingly contract or purport to contract a marriage with another person when they have a living spouse, or the other person has a living spouse. Bigamy in Alaska is a class A misdemeanor, which can result in a penalty of up to one year in jail, a fine of up to $25,000, or both. Polygamy, which involves having more than one spouse simultaneously, is not legally recognized in Alaska and falls under the prohibition against bigamy. Therefore, regardless of whether the practice is tied to religious beliefs, polygamous marriages are not legally valid and participating in such arrangements could lead to criminal charges.