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 Vermont, both bigamy and polygamy are prohibited under state law. According to Vermont Statutes, Title 13, Section 206, bigamy is defined as the offense of a person who, having a husband or wife living, marries another person. Bigamy is considered a crime in Vermont and is classified as a felony. This means that it is illegal in Vermont to marry someone if you are already legally married to another person, regardless of whether the subsequent marriage occurs in Vermont or another jurisdiction. The law does not recognize any form of marriage that involves more than two people, and thus, polygamous marriages are not legally valid. Individuals found guilty of bigamy in Vermont may face legal consequences, including potential imprisonment, fines, or both.