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 Rhode Island, bigamy is prohibited under state law. According to Rhode Island General Laws Section 11-6-2, any person who, being married, marries another person while their spouse is still living, except in cases where the prior marriage has been annulled or where the spouse has been continually absent for a period of five years and is not known to be living, is guilty of bigamy. Bigamy is classified as a felony in Rhode Island, and those convicted may face penalties including imprisonment. Polygamy, which involves having more than one spouse simultaneously, is also not legally recognized in Rhode Island, and engaging in polygamous relationships can lead to charges of bigamy under state law. Federal law also does not recognize polygamous marriages, and such marriages are not valid for immigration or other federal purposes.