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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 the state of Georgia, both bigamy and polygamy are illegal. Under Georgia law, bigamy is defined as the offense of marrying a person while being legally married to another individual. This is codified in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) § 16-6-20, which states that a person commits the offense of bigamy when, being married, he or she marries another person. Bigamy in Georgia is considered a felony, and individuals convicted of this crime can face a prison sentence of one to ten years. Polygamy, which involves having more than one spouse simultaneously, is not recognized as legal in Georgia and is encompassed under the laws against bigamy. The state does not issue marriage licenses to individuals who are already married, and all parties must be legally free to marry before entering into a marriage contract. It's important to note that while certain religious or cultural practices may include polygamous unions, these are not legally recognized in Georgia and engaging in such practices could lead to criminal charges.

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Marriage

bigamy

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Georgia State Code

Georgia State Code

Marriage

bigamy

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