Bigamy

Bigamy is entering a marriage while still legally married to someone else. Many legal systems prohibit it, though definitions, exceptions, and penalties vary.

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Marriage: A legally or socially recognized union between people, with rights and obligations that vary across societies. Bigamy depends on a marriage that remains legally in force.
Criminal law: The body of law defining offenses, prosecutions, and punishments imposed by the state. Bigamy is commonly treated as a criminal offense rather than only a marriage defect.
Polygyny: A form of polygamy in which one man has multiple wives at the same time. It is a specific marital arrangement that may be prohibited through bigamy laws.
Bouvier v. State: A United States court case addressing the prosecution of a person for bigamy. The case illustrates how courts apply statutory requirements to a second marriage.
Monogamy: A relationship or marriage structure in which a person has one spouse or partner at a time. Bigamy violates legal monogamy where the law bars concurrent marriages.
Polygamy: A relationship or marriage arrangement involving more than one spouse at the same time. Bigamy laws often prohibit forms of polygamy, though the terms describe different things.
Polyandry: A form of polygamy in which one woman has multiple husbands at the same time. It is another distinct arrangement that can involve simultaneous marriages.
Mormonism and polygamy: The historical relationship between some Latter-day Saint groups and plural marriage. The controversy helped shape United States federal enforcement against plural marriage.
Void marriage: A purported marriage that is legally invalid from its formation. An invalid first marriage may mean a later marriage is not bigamous.
Marriage fraud: Deception involving marriage to obtain an improper legal, financial, or immigration benefit. Fraud may accompany bigamy, but it is a distinct wrong with different elements.