Bigamy facts for kids
Bigamy is when someone marries a person while they are still legally married to another person. Most countries only allow a person to be married to one person at a time. This is called monogamy.
Even if a couple is separated, they are still legally married. A person is considered married until their divorce is completely finished. Bigamy laws usually don't apply to people who are just living together without being married.
In many countries, bigamy is against the law. This is especially true in places that only allow one marriage at a time. Sometimes, neither the first nor the second spouse knows about the other marriage. In most places, even if the first spouse agrees, the second marriage is still not legal.
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A Look Back: History of Bigamy Laws
Long ago, in ancient Greece and Rome, people usually only had one spouse. The Roman Empire made strict laws against having more than one spouse around 285 AD.
Later, in 393 AD, the Roman Emperor Theodosius I made these rules apply even to Jewish communities. Much later, around 1000 AD, a Jewish leader named Rabbi Gershom ben Judah also said that Jewish people living in Christian areas should not have more than one spouse.
Understanding Bigamy Laws Around the World
Many countries in the Western world do not allow polygamy, which is having more than one spouse. They consider bigamy a crime. Some countries also have rules against living a lifestyle where you have multiple partners, even if not legally married. For example, in the United States, there were laws against this, especially aimed at certain groups, but they are not often used today.
Sometimes, for people working as diplomats from countries where polygamy is allowed, host countries might make exceptions. However, usually only one spouse of a diplomat can be officially recognized.
Bigamy Rules in Different Countries
Here's a quick look at how bigamy is treated in various places:
- Australia: It's against the law.
- Belgium: It's against the law.
- Brazil: It's against the law.
- Canada: It's against the law.
- China: It's against the law, but some minority groups in rural areas might be an exception.
- Colombia: It's against the law, but there can be exceptions, like for religious reasons.
- Egypt: Men can have more than one wife if the first wife agrees.
- Eritrea: It's against the law.
- Germany: It's against the law.
- Ghana: It's against the law.
- Hong Kong: It's against the law.
- Iceland: It's against the law.
- India: Only Muslim men can legally have more than one wife, but it's rare. For others, it's against the law, except in the state of Goa for Hindus.
- Indonesia: Depending on the local customs, it can be allowed or not.
- Republic of Ireland: It's a crime, but it's rarely prosecuted.
- Iran: Men can have more than one wife if the first wife agrees, but it's rare.
- Israel: It's against the law for all religious groups.
- Italy: It's against the law.
- Libya: Men can have more than one wife under certain rules.
- Malaysia: It's against the law for non-Muslims. Muslim men can have more than one wife with rules, but it's rare.
- Maldives: Anyone can have more than one spouse.
- Malta: It's against the law.
- Morocco: Muslim men can have more than one wife with rules.
- Netherlands: It's against the law.
- New Zealand: It's against the law.
- Pakistan: Men can have more than one wife with some rules.
- Philippines: Muslim men can have more than one wife. For others, it's against the law.
- Poland: It's against the law.
- Portugal: It's against the law.
- Romania: It's against the law.
- Saudi Arabia: Men can have more than one wife.
- Somalia: Men can have more than one wife; it's a long tradition.
- South Africa: Men can have more than one wife under traditional marriage laws. Under civil marriage laws, it's not allowed.
- Sudan: Men can have more than one wife.
- Taiwan: It's against the law.
- Thailand: Before 1935, having more than one spouse was allowed. Now, it's not legally recognized, but it's still sometimes practiced.
- Tunisia: It's against the law.
- Turkey: It's against the law.
- United Kingdom: It's against the law, but marriages from other countries might be recognized for some legal reasons.
- United States: It's against the law in every state.
- Uzbekistan: It's against the law.
See also
In Spanish: Bigamia para niños
