Kara Sears
Marrying one's sister-in-law, defined as the sister of one's husband or wife or the wife of one's sibling, was prohibited for centuries. In England, the list of forbidden marriages was drawn up by the Church of England in 1560 and remained unchanged until the 20th century. Several acts in the first half of the 20th century brought the situation more up-to-date. The 1921 Marriage Act removed the prohibition on marrying one's brother's wife or sister's husband, provided the brother or sister had died. While marrying one's sister-in-law is no longer prohibited in England, Wales, Canada, and Australia, it is still illegal in some countries, including Ireland.
Can you marry your sister-in-law?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Marrying a sister-in-law in England and Wales | Allowed |
| Marrying a sister-in-law in Ireland | Prohibited, but under review |
| Marrying a sister-in-law in Canada and Australia | Allowed |
| Marrying a sister-in-law in the US | Prohibited |
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What You'll Learn
- In the UK, it is legal to marry your sister-in-law
- In Ireland, it is illegal to marry your sister-in-law
- In Canada and Australia, there are no restrictions on marrying in-laws
- In the US, it is illegal to marry your sister-in-law
- Marrying your sister-in-law was permitted in the UK in 1907 if your spouse had died
In the UK, it is legal to marry your sister-in-law
The prohibition on a man marrying his deceased wife's sister derived from a doctrine of canon law, which held that those connected by marriage were considered related, making marriage between them improper. This was reflected in the affinity rules of Catholic canon law, which regarded a deceased wife's sister as within the prohibited degrees of kinship for marriage. The 1835 Marriage Act hardened English and Irish law on the matter, making such marriages absolutely prohibited in the United Kingdom.
However, after 1835, marriages between a widower and his late wife's sister were still recognised in the United Kingdom if they took place in a jurisdiction where they were lawful. This led to campaigns for a change in the law, which ultimately succeeded in 1907 with the passing of the Deceased Wife's Sister's Marriage Act. This Act allowed a man to marry his deceased wife's sister, provided that the first spouse had died.
It is important to note that there are still restrictions on marriages between in-laws in the UK. For example, step-relations or in-laws may only marry under certain circumstances, and such marriages typically require legal advice and can only take place during a civil ceremony under licence. Additionally, relatives-in-law may marry provided they are 21 years or older.
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In Ireland, it is illegal to marry your sister-in-law
Marrying one's sister-in-law has been prohibited for centuries. In England, the list of forbidden marriages was drawn up by the Church of England in 1560 and remained unchanged until the 20th century. In 1907, a law was passed that allowed a man to marry his dead wife's sister. The 1921 Marriage Act removed the prohibition on marrying one's brother's or sister's widow or widower, provided the brother or sister had died.
While the above restrictions are in place, same-sex marriage has been recognised in Ireland since the Marriage Act 2015, and over 1,500 such marriages had been registered as of 2019. Reform is being considered to remove prohibitions that are considered archaic and unjustifiable. In 2015, the then Minister for Justice, Frances Fitzgerald, acknowledged that prohibitions based on affinity may be outmoded.
To marry in Ireland, one must be over 18 years old, freely consent to the marriage, and observe the necessary marriage formalities.
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In Canada and Australia, there are no restrictions on marrying in-laws
In Australia, there are no restrictions on marrying your in-laws. While some people may judge those who marry their relatives, the law does not prohibit it. In fact, the law in Australia allows for the marriage of many relatives. The only prohibited relationships are those between a person and their ancestor or descendant, a brother and a sister (whether of whole blood or half-blood), and a person who is or was an adopted child, including the relationship between an adopted child and their adoptive parent.
In addition, there are no requirements for couples to have lived in Australia for a certain period before getting married. People from outside Australia can marry while visiting the country on a tourist visa. Members of the LGBTIQ+ community also have the same legal rights as other members of the general population when it comes to marriage. As long as the legal processes and requirements are followed, marriages in Australia will be recognised as legal in countries where marriage equality is observed.
In Canada, there are also no restrictions on marrying in-laws. However, there is a lack of clarity on whether a sister-in-law is considered a sibling in the context of immigration and spousal sponsorship. Some sources suggest that a sibling must share a parent with the applicant or their spouse, which would exclude a sister-in-law from being considered a sibling. However, other sources indicate that a sibling relationship can be through marriage, which could include a sister-in-law.
Overall, while there may be cultural or social taboos surrounding the marriage of in-laws, it is essential to understand the legal implications within your specific country or region. It is always recommended to seek legal advice or consult official government sources for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding marriage laws and restrictions.
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In the US, it is illegal to marry your sister-in-law
Marrying one's sister-in-law is illegal in the United States. A sister-in-law is the sister of one's husband or wife, or the woman who is married to one's sibling. In the US, a man is prohibited from marrying his sister-in-law, i.e., his wife's sister or his brother's wife. Equivalent prohibitions apply to women.
Historically, marriage between in-laws was not allowed in England, even if there was no blood relationship. For example, until 1907, a man was forbidden to marry his deceased wife's sister. Robust campaigning in the 19th century led to legislative reform in the early 1900s, permitting such marriages if the spouse had died. The 1921 Marriage Act removed the prohibition on marrying a brother's wife or sister's husband, provided the brother or sister had died.
In the US, the laws regarding prohibited marriages have evolved over time. The 1907 Marriage Act removed the wife's sister and husband's brother from the list of prohibited marriages, provided the first spouse in each case had died. The 1921 Marriage Act, the 1931 Marriage Act, and the 1949 Marriage Act further updated the regulations, with the latter specifically including half-blood relatives. The 1986 Act was the most recent update, bringing the rules up-to-date at the time.
While the laws vary across different countries, it is essential to note that marrying a sister-in-law remains illegal in the US. The prohibition falls under the category of "affinity," which refers to relationships with step-relatives or in-laws. While some countries, like Canada and Australia, have abolished all restrictions based on affinity, other countries, like Ireland, still maintain a wider range of prohibited relationships, even if they are considering reviewing these laws.
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Marrying your sister-in-law was permitted in the UK in 1907 if your spouse had died
Marrying one's sister-in-law was generally prohibited in the United Kingdom. However, an exception to this rule existed in the past, as outlined in the Deceased Wife's Sister's Marriage Act of 1907. This Act allowed a man to marry his late wife's sister, provided that the marriage took place abroad in a jurisdiction where such unions were lawful.
The Deceased Wife's Sister's Marriage Act of 1907 removed the affinity between a man and his deceased wife's sister as grounds for annulment of a past or future marriage. It's important to note that this Act only applied if the previous spouse had died. If a man were to divorce his wife, he would still be forbidden from marrying his divorced wife's sister.
The Act specifically pertained to marriages within the Church of England and the Church of Ireland. While these marriages were recognised, they were considered voidable, meaning that they could be annulled if challenged in an ecclesiastical court by an interested party. The Act also preserved the provisions of the Matrimonial Causes Act of 1857, which stated that adultery with one's wife's sister was grounds for divorce.
Before the Deceased Wife's Sister's Marriage Act of 1907, marriages between a man and his deceased wife's sister were recognised in the United Kingdom if they occurred in a country where they were legal. However, this presented financial and logistical challenges for those who could not afford to travel abroad. Additionally, in 1861, the House of Lords ruled that one spouse had to be domiciled in the jurisdiction of the wedding, further complicating these arrangements.
It's worth noting that while the Deceased Wife's Sister's Marriage Act of 1907 legalised certain marriages between a man and his deceased wife's sister, it did not change inheritance rights and obligations. Additionally, it allowed a Church of England clergyman to refuse to officiate at such weddings and nominate a substitute clergyman from the same diocese.
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Frequently asked questions
No, it is prohibited to marry your sister-in-law in Ireland. However, there have been calls to review this law.
Yes, in England, relationships between in-laws are allowed.
Yes, in Canada, there are no limits placed on the ability of a couple related by affinity to marry.
Yes, in Australia, there are no limits placed on the ability of a couple related by affinity to marry.
