Bill > HB8

This bill amends Delaware's marriage laws to recognize marriages between first cousins that were legally obtained or recognized in another state or country, even though such marriages are still prohibited from being performed within Delaware itself. Specifically, the bill modifies Section 101 of Title 13 of the Delaware Code, which outlines void and voidable marriages. Under the current law, marriages between first cousins are generally considered void. The new provision creates an exception that allows first-cousin marriages legally performed elsewhere to be considered valid in Delaware. This means that if two first cousins get married in a jurisdiction where such marriages are legal (such as another state or a foreign country), Delaware will now recognize that marriage as legally valid, even though the state would not permit such a marriage to be performed within its own borders. The bill does not change the existing prohibition on performing first-cousin marriages within Delaware, but rather focuses on recognizing such marriages that were legally established elsewhere.

Health and Social Services

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=141794