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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 West Virginia, bigamy is prohibited under state law. According to West Virginia Code §61-8-8, any person who is married and who subsequently marries another person is guilty of bigamy, which is a felony. The law also states that it is not a defense that the subsequent marriage is entered into with a belief in good faith that the prior marriage is void or that the prior spouse is dead. Polygamy, which involves having more than one spouse simultaneously, is also not permitted under West Virginia law, as it would involve entering into multiple marriages, which is prohibited by the state's bigamy statute. Violations of these laws can lead to serious legal consequences, including imprisonment.

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Marriage

bigamy

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West-Virginia State Code

West-Virginia State Code

Marriage

bigamy

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