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Can you legally marry yourself in the US?

Author

Emily Ross

Published Jan 09, 2026

Yes, sologamy is legal in the strictest sense of the word. There are no laws against the practice in any of the fifty states in the US. You cannot be arrested or fined for marrying yourself. Individuals are free to make commitments to themselves at any time they choose.

Is it legal to marry yourself in the US?

Self Solemnization, also known as a self-uniting marriage is one in which the couple are married without the presence of a third-party officiant. The couple can essentially perform the legal solemnization of their own marriage, which will be recognized as a legal marriage throughout all of The United States.

What states can you marry yourself?

Self-uniting marriage licenses can be legally obtained in eight U.S. states (California, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Nevada, Pennsylvania) and in the District of Columbia. That said, requirements and stipulations do vary by state, and sometimes even vary by counties within a state.

Can I just marry myself?

Legally, self-marriage isn't legitimate but there are no laws against it. Sologamy is more of a symbolic ritual than a legal contract, which means you're allowed to make your own rules. You can have all the fun of the tradition without worrying about pesky paperwork.

What happens when you marry yourself?

Ceremonies in a self-marriage may take almost exactly the same form as that of a traditional marriage, which includes guests, a cake, and a reception. Some self-marrying programs include giving guidance, practice, and support prior to the marriage.

15 related questions found

Why do people self marry?

Sologamy is a cathartic declaration of self-compassion and a promise to give to yourself what you often seek from other people. The idea is to hold your own heart and care for it as much as you would someone else's; a lifelong commitment to loving yourself fully.

What is it called to marry yourself?

In a nutshell, sologamy is the act of marrying yourself. It's not legally recognised but you can have a cultural ceremony during which you make vows of commitment to love and respect yourself 'til death do you part.

Can you legally marry an object?

There are no strict laws, however, prohibiting marriage between a person and an object, according to Metro. You could marry your car in a casual affair, but you're not likely to get a licensed official to perform the ceremony or to get legal papers to authenticate it.

Can you legally marry more than one person?

Polygamy is illegal and criminalized in every country in North and South America, including all 50 U.S. states. However, in February 2020, the Utah House and Senate reduced the punishment for consensual polygamy, which had previously been classified as a felony, to roughly equivalent to a traffic ticket.

Can I marry my dog?

Is it legal to marry an animal? Human-animal marriage is not specifically mentioned in national laws – meaning technically that there's nothing to stop you entering a state of holy matrimony with your dog, cat, hamster.

Can you marry your sister in Alabama?

Alabama Marriage Requirements

You cannot marry children, siblings, parents, uncles, aunts, grandchildren, grandparents or great grandparents of any relation. You can marry first cousins without restriction, however.

Can you legally marry your first cousin?

In California, first cousins are allowed to marry, and they are also allowed to have sexual relations and cohabitate. First cousins once-removed, half-cousins and cousins through adoption are also allowed to marry.

What is a quick wedding called?

Today the term "elopement" is colloquially used for any marriage performed in haste, with a limited public engagement period or without a public engagement period. Some couples elope because they wish to avoid parental or religious objections.

Can you marry by proxy?

United States. In the United States, proxy marriages are provided for in law or by customary practice in Texas, Colorado, Kansas, and Montana. Of these, Montana is the only state that allows double-proxy marriage. Proxy marriages cannot be solemnized in any other U.S. states.

Can I marry myself in Florida?

Remember, you cannot perform a marriage ceremony without a legal, signed marriage license and may face a hefty fine and even imprisonment if you proceed without one. It's always a good idea to have the marriage license in your hand before the ceremony starts. Next, you'll want to determine consent between both parties.

Can you marry your parent?

No person shall marry his or her sibling, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, stepparent, grandparents' spouse, spouse's child, spouse's grandchild, sibling's child or parent's sibling. Consensual incest between people 16 years old or more is not a criminal offense.

Can 3 people get married?

It is illegal in all 50 states to be married to more than one person — which is known as polygamy, not polyamory. Polyamorous people who try different kinds of arrangements — such as a married couple with steady outside partners — run into their own legal problems.

Which states allow polygamy?

United States: Polygamy is illegal in all 50 states. However in Utah, in February 2020, the law was significantly changed in the House and Senate to reduce polygamy to the status of a traffic ticket; nevertheless recognizing polygamous unions is illegal under the Constitution of Utah.

Is being polyamorous legal?

Having multiple non-marital partners, even if married to one, is legal in most U.S. jurisdictions; at most it constitutes grounds for divorce if the spouse is non-consenting, or feels that the interest in a further partner has destabilized the marriage.

Can you marry your pillow?

But according to the UK Metro, 28-year-old Korean man Lee Jin-gyu really for real married his dakimakura, a large, huggable pillow with an image of Fate Testarossa—an anime character—printed on one side. Fate was fitted with a wedding dress, and the service was performed by a local priest. I'm still not kidding.

Can I marry a tree?

Though the ceremonies conducted during the “Marry a Tree” event are not legally binding, as trees cannot consent to marriage, the union is still a serious commitment to some.

Is objectophilia real?

Objectophilia or object sexuality refers to individuals, who tend to develop strong romantic attachments or bonds with objects or structures. The term came to light earlier this year, when 45 year-old American Carol Santa Fe made headlines for marrying a train station.

Can you marry yourself in New York?

If you do not want a marriage ceremony, you can get married by signing a written contract of marriage witnessed by two or more people. The contract must be acknowledged in front of a New York judge by the parties and witnesses.

Can a man and woman marry themselves?

"Sologamy," or marrying oneself, has been on the rise among women. Many sologamists say the isolation of the pandemic pushed them to formalize their deeper self-love. While it's not a binding marriage contract, some women throw themselves lavish weddings.

Who was the first person to marry themselves?

Embracing the upsides of being single

The first publicised solo marriage (known as sologamy) was an American woman named Linda Baker in 1993. Three years later, NBA star Dennis Rodman donned a veil and dress and married himself.