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 Louisiana (LA), both bigamy and polygamy are prohibited under state law. Bigamy is defined as the act of entering into a marriage with someone while still legally married to another person. Louisiana law considers bigamy a crime, and individuals who knowingly enter into a marriage while already married can face criminal charges. The relevant statute is Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 14:76, which classifies bigamy as a felony. The penalties for committing bigamy can include fines and imprisonment. Polygamy, which involves having multiple spouses simultaneously, is not legally recognized in Louisiana, and such arrangements would fall under the prohibition against bigamy. It's important to note that no state in the United States legally recognizes polygamous marriages, and federal law also prohibits the practice.