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 Massachusetts, bigamy is prohibited under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 207, Section 2, which states that no person shall marry another while a former husband or wife is living if the marriage with the former spouse remains undissolved. This makes it illegal to be married to more than one person at the same time. Bigamy is considered a felony offense in Massachusetts, and those found guilty may face imprisonment. Polygamy, which involves having more than one spouse simultaneously, is also not recognized or permitted under Massachusetts law. The state's adherence to monogamous marriage means that all marriage licenses and legal recognitions of marriage are limited to unions between two individuals only, and any attempt to contract another marriage while already married is subject to legal penalties.