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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 Washington State, bigamy is illegal under RCW 9A.64.010, which defines bigamy as the act of knowingly contracting or purporting to contract a marriage with another person while legally married to someone else. Bigamy is classified as a felony offense in Washington. Polygamy, which involves having more than one spouse simultaneously, is not legally recognized and is encompassed under the prohibition against bigamy. The state does not issue more than one valid marriage license to an individual at a time, and any attempt to obtain another while already married would be subject to legal penalties. It's important to note that while certain religious or cultural practices may include polygamous relationships, these are not recognized by Washington State law and engaging in such practices could lead to criminal charges.

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Criminal charges

bigamy

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Washington State Code

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Criminal charges

bigamy

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