Incest is marriage or sexual relations between close relatives. The criminal offense of incest may also be known as prohibited sexual conduct. Laws vary from state to state, but incest laws generally prohibit marriage or sexual relations between (1) a person’s ancestor or descendant by blood or adoption; (2) a person’s current or former stepchild or stepparent; (3) a person’s parent’s brother or sister of the whole or half blood; (4) a person’s brother or sister of the whole or half blood or by adoption; (5) the children of a person’s brother or sister of the whole or half blood, or by adoption; or (6) the son or daughter of a person’s aunt or uncle of the whole or half blood or by adoption.

Lack of consent to sexual relations between such relatives is not an element of the crime, and persons may be guilty of the crime even if both parties consented.

Laws regarding incest or prohibited sexual contact vary from state to state and are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code. The crime is a felony offense in many states, with potential punishment of significant jail or prison time.

In Missouri, incest is defined as marriage or sexual intercourse between relatives who are too closely related to marry legally. The state's laws prohibit marriage or sexual relations between an ancestor and descendant, a brother and sister of the whole or half-blood, an uncle and niece or aunt and nephew, and certain other close relatives, whether by blood or adoption. Incest is considered a Class E felony under Missouri law, which can result in penalties including imprisonment. Consent is not a defense to a charge of incest, meaning that the crime can be charged even if both parties consent to the sexual relationship. The relevant statutes can be found in the Missouri Revised Statutes, specifically within the criminal or penal code sections.