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 Arkansas, both bigamy and polygamy are prohibited by law. According to Arkansas Code § 5-26-201, bigamy is defined as the act of marrying another person while already being lawfully married to someone else. This offense is considered a Class A misdemeanor in Arkansas. The state does not recognize polygamous marriages, and individuals are not allowed to hold more than one valid marriage license simultaneously. Any marriage entered into in Arkansas while another marriage is still legally recognized is considered void. The law is clear in its stance against both practices, reflecting the general prohibition of these practices under U.S. federal and state laws.