Bigamy is the practice of entering into or continuing in a marriage while one’s former spouse is still living. It is a crime in most countries, and is considered a felony offense in some countries, while in others it is legally recognized as a civil offense and can lead to the annulment of the second marriage.
What Is It, Exactly?
Bigamy is defined as a married person entering a marriage with a second partner while the current one is still legally married. The second marriage is, legally, considered void, not valid. This sort of situation is more common when partners are not aware that either of them is already legally wed to someone else. In some cases, the person in the second marriage is aware that the first marriage is still legally in effect, but is simply attempting to go against the law by marrying a second person.
What Does the Law Say?
Bigamy is a crime in many countries. In the United States, many states consider bigamy to be a felony offense, punishable by prison time and/or hefty fines. Some states also consider bigamy a crime against public policy and can result in the annulment of the second marriage. In the UK, bigamy is a crime punishable by imprisonment. In India, the punishment for bigamy is imprisonment for a term of up to seven years.
Real-World Examples of Bigamy
One of the most well known cases of bigamy in recent years is that of reality star Jesse James. James was married to third wife, actress Sandra Bullock, when he confessed to having had multiple marriages throughout his life without first divorcing them. James ultimately pled “guilty” to bigamy and ended up with a hefty fine and jail time.
Bigamy is still relatively rare in most places in the world, but is not unheard of. It is important for people entering into a new marital relationship to make sure that all parties involved are legally separated from any previous partners before proceeding, in order to avoid possible repercussions.