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 New Mexico, bigamy is prohibited under state law. According to the New Mexico Statutes Annotated (NMSA) 30-10-1, bigamy occurs when a married person knowingly contracts another marriage without the previous marriage being dissolved or without having a belief that the former spouse is dead. Bigamy is classified as a fourth-degree felony in New Mexico. As for polygamy, it is not recognized as a legal practice in the state, and the laws that criminalize bigamy effectively prohibit polygamous marriages as well. Individuals cannot legally obtain more than one marriage license at a time, and any attempt to do so could result in criminal charges. It's important to note that while some may engage in polygamous relationships as part of their religious or personal beliefs, such relationships do not have legal recognition in New Mexico, and only the first legal marriage is considered valid under state law.