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 York, both bigamy and polygamy are prohibited by law. Under New York Penal Law Section 255.15 and 255.17, a person is guilty of bigamy when they intentionally marry or hold themselves out as married to another person while having a living spouse, or they marry someone that they know has another living spouse. Bigamy in New York is classified as a felony offense. Polygamy, the practice of having more than one wife or husband at the same time, is not legally recognized and is encompassed by the laws against bigamy. Therefore, it is not possible to legally obtain more than one marriage license at a time in New York, and engaging in such practices can lead to criminal charges.