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Criminal charges

bigamy

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 California, both bigamy and polygamy are prohibited under the law. Bigamy is defined as the act of entering into a marriage with someone while still legally married to another person. Under California Penal Code Section 281, bigamy is a felony offense. This means that if a person is found guilty of bigamy, they could face felony charges, which carry more severe penalties than misdemeanors. The law is designed to uphold the principle that marriage is a legal contract between two individuals that is recognized and enforced by the state. Polygamy, which refers to the practice of having multiple spouses simultaneously, is not legally recognized in California and is also subject to legal penalties under the state's bigamy laws. It's important to note that while certain religious or cultural practices may include polygamy, these practices do not override state law regarding marriage.

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Criminal charges

bigamy

Individual & Family Legal Plan

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California State Code

Criminal charges

bigamy

California State Code

Articles