Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 207, § 1 (2026)

Marriage of man to certain relatives prohibited

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 1. No man shall marry his mother, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, stepmother, grandfather's wife, grandson's wife, wife's mother, wife's grandmother, wife's daughter, wife's granddaughter, brother's daughter, sister's daughter, father's sister or mother's sister.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 8 cases, 1924–2012 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Rahim, 805 N.E.2d 13 (Mass. 2004).

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Commonwealth v. Rahim, 805 N.E.2d 13 (Mass. 2004). · cites it 6× “272, § 17, and G. L. c. 207, § 1 [the marriage prohibition statute], to be read together for all purposes, and especially with regard to determining the ‘degree of consanguinity’ for determination of culpability with regard to the crime of incest? See Commonwealth v.”

Goodridge v. Dep't of Pub. Health, 440 Mass. 309 (Mass. 2003). “See G. L. c. 207, §§ 1, 2, and 4. Rather, the statutory provisions concerning consanguinity or polygamous marriages shall be construed in a gender neutral manner.”

Cote-Whitacre v. Dep't of Pub. Health, 446 Mass. 350 (Mass. 2006). “See G. L. c. 207, §§ 1, 2, 4, 6, 7. In Vermont, the legal impediments to marriage include (1) consanguinity or affinity; (2) bigamy; (3) sex; (4) age (except as specifically provided); (5) lack of sound mind; and (6) need for a guardian (except as specifically provided).”

Commonwealth v. Smith, 728 N.E.2d 272 (Mass. 2000). “272, § 17, with G. L. c. 207, §§ 1, 2. The Legislature’s purpose in criminalizing incestuous conduct must thus extend beyond the prevention of genetic defects, as this goal would clearly not be advanced by criminalizing marriage itself, without more, between blood relations, and…”

Elia-Warnken v. Elia, 972 N.E.2d 17 (Mass. 2012). “G. L. c. 207, §§ 1, 2, 4. Commonwealth v.”

Commonwealth v. Ashey, 248 Mass. 259 (Mass. 1924). “The question of law raised by the report depends primarily on the proper construction of G. L. c. 207, §§ 1, 2, providing that “No man shall marry his .”

Goodridge v. Dep't of Pub. Health, 14 Mass. L. Rptr. 591 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2002). “208, §4 (“lived together as husband and wife”); §23 (“woman,” “maiden name,” “husband”); §25 (“wife”); §40 (“cohabitating as husband and wife”); c.”

Commonwealth v. Smith, 7 Mass. L. Rptr. 185 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1996). “See G.L.c. 207, §1 (1994) (stating that no man shall marry his daughter); G.”

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