bigamy

In one sentence

Being married to more than one person at the same time.

Plain English

Bigamy is the crime of being legally married to two or more people simultaneously. It requires that at least one of the marriages be valid and that the person knowingly entered into the second marriage while still legally bound to the first. Bigamy is illegal in all U.S. states and most countries because marriage law recognizes only one spouse per person at any given time.

Ad slot

Example

A person gets married in State A, then moves to State B and marries someone else without obtaining a divorce from their first spouse. If discovered, they can be prosecuted for bigamy because they were legally married to two people at the same time.

Used in a sentence

“The defendant was charged with bigamy after authorities discovered she had married twice without divorcing her first husband.”

Related terms

defendant

The person accused of a crime in a criminal case or sued in a civil case.

criminal intent

The mental state or purpose required to commit a crime.

Felony

A serious crime punishable by more than one year in prison or death.

Statute of Limitations

A law setting the maximum time period within which a lawsuit can be filed after an injury or breach occurs.

Notice

A formal written communication required by a contract to inform the other party of something important.

Stand Your Ground

A law allowing a person to use force, including deadly force, to defend themselves without a duty to retreat.

Castle Doctrine

A law stating that a person's home is their castle and they can use force to defend it without duty to retreat.

Expungement

A legal process that erases or seals a criminal conviction from your record.

This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney.