Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4301 (2026)

  Bigamy.

✓ current as of May 2026
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ARTICLE D

OFFENSES AGAINST THE FAMILY

 

Chapter

43.  Offenses Against the Family

 

 

CHAPTER 43

OFFENSES AGAINST THE FAMILY

 

Subchapter

A.  Definition of Offenses Generally

B.  Nonsupport (Repealed)

 

Enactment.  Chapter 43 was added December 6, 1972, P.L.1482, No.334, effective in six months.

 

 

SUBCHAPTER A

DEFINITION OF OFFENSES GENERALLY

 

Sec.

4301.  Bigamy.

4302.  Incest.

4303.  Concealing death of child.

4304.  Endangering welfare of children.

4305.  Dealing in infant children.

4306.  Newborn protection.

 

Cross References.  Subchapter A is referred to in section 2101 of Title 5 (Athletics and Sports).

§ 4301.  Bigamy.

(a)  Bigamy.--A married person is guilty of bigamy, a misdemeanor of the second degree, if he contracts or purports to contract another marriage, unless at the time of the subsequent marriage:

(1)  the actor believes that the prior spouse is dead;

(2)  the actor and the prior spouse have been living apart for two consecutive years throughout which the prior spouse was not known by the actor to be alive; or

(3)  a court has entered a judgment purporting to terminate or annul any prior disqualifying marriage, and the actor does not know that judgment to be invalid.

(b)  Other party to bigamous marriage.--A person is guilty of bigamy if he contracts or purports to contract marriage with another knowing that the other is thereby committing bigamy.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1980–2024 · leading case: Shepp v. Shepp, 906 A.2d 1165 (Pa. 2006).
Shepp v. Shepp, 906 A.2d 1165 (Pa. 2006). · cites it 4× “Section 4301 of the Crimes Code, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4301 provides: (a) Bigamy.—A married person is guilty of bigamy, a misdemeanor of the second degree, if he contracts or purports to contract another marriage, unless at the time of the subsequent marriage: (1) the actor believes that…”
Commonwealth v. Barone, 419 A.2d 457 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1980). “18 Pa.C.S. § 4301. . Section 4703 of the 1939 Penal Code provided: Whoever is convicted of involuntary manslaughter, happening in consequence of an unlawful act, or the doing of a lawful act in an unlawful way, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be sentenced to pay a fine not…”
Com. v. James, E. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016). · cites it 2× “18 Pa.C.S. § 4301(a)(1) provides: “A parent, guardian or other person supervising the welfare of a child under 18 years of age, or a person that employs or supervises such a person, commits an offense if he knowingly endangers the welfare of the child by violating a duty of…”
In Re: Adpt. of V.S.T., Appeal of: J.S.T. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2024). · cites it 2× “at 1268 ; see also 18 Pa.C.S. § 4301 (criminalizing bigamy); 23 Pa.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4301(a)(1) — 1 case
Com. v. James, E. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016). “18 Pa.C.S. § 4301(a)(1) provides: “A parent, guardian or other person supervising the welfare of a child under 18 years of age, or a person that employs or supervises such a person, commits an offense if he knowingly endangers the welfare of the child by violating a duty of…”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4301(b) — 1 case
Com. v. James, E. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2016). “18 Pa.C.S. § 4301(a)(1) provides: “A parent, guardian or other person supervising the welfare of a child under 18 years of age, or a person that employs or supervises such a person, commits an offense if he knowingly endangers the welfare of the child by violating a duty of…”
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