Utah statute
Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-101 — Bigamy.
Current through 2026 General Session
Part of Part 1: Marital Violations, Utah Code.
Amendment pending: a new version of this section takes effect Fri Jan 01 2027 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time).
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-101
Statutory text current through the 2026 General Session. This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of Utah.
(1) An individual is guilty of bigamy if: (1)(a) the individual purports to marry another individual; and (1)(b) knows or reasonably should know that one or both of the individuals described in Subsection (1)(a) are legally married to another individual. (2) An individual who violates Subsection (1) is guilty of an infraction. (3) An individual is guilty of a third degree felony if the individual induces bigamy: (3)(a) under fraudulent or false pretenses; or (3)(b) by threat or coercion. (4) An individual is guilty of a second degree felony if the individual: (4)(a) cohabitates with another individual with whom the individual is engaged in bigamy as described in Subsection (1); and (4)(b) in furtherance of the conduct described in Subsection (4)(a), commits a felony offense, or for Section 76-5-418, a misdemeanor offense, in violation of one or more of the following: (4)(b)(i) Section 76-5-109, child abuse; (4)(b)(ii) Section 76-5-109.2, aggravated child abuse; (4)(b)(iii) Section 76-5-109.3, child abandonment; (4)(b)(iv) Section 76-5-109.4, child torture; (4)(b)(v) Section 76-5-111, abuse of a vulnerable adult; (4)(b)(vi) Section 76-5-111.2, aggravated abuse of a vulnerable adult; (4)(b)(vii) Section 76-5-111.3, personal dignity exploitation of a vulnerable adult; (4)(b)(viii) Section 76-5-111.4, financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult; (4)(b)(ix) Chapter 5, Part 2, Criminal Homicide; (4)(b)(x) Section 76-5-208, child abuse homicide; (4)(b)(xi) Chapter 5, Part 3, Kidnapping, Trafficking, and Smuggling; (4)(b)(xii) Chapter 5, Part 4, Sexual Offenses, other than: (4)(b)(xii)(A) Section 76-5-417, enticing a minor; (4)(b)(xii)(B) Section 76-5-419, lewdness; or (4)(b)(xii)(C) Section 76-5-420, lewdness involving a child; (4)(b)(xiii) Section 76-7-201, criminal nonsupport; (4)(b)(xiv) Title 77, Chapter 36, Cohabitant Abuse Procedures Act; or (4)(b)(xv) Title 78B, Chapter 7, Part 8, Criminal Protective Orders. (5) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (2) that: (5)(a) the individual ceased the practice of bigamy as described in Subsection (1) under reasonable fear of coercion or bodily harm; (5)(b) the individual entered the practice of bigamy, as described in Subsection (1), as a minor and ceased the practice of bigamy at any time after the individual entered the practice of bigamy; or (5)(c) law enforcement discovers that the individual practices bigamy, as described in Subsection (1), as a result of the individual's efforts to protect the safety and welfare of another individual.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is bigamy a felony or a misdemeanor in Utah?
It depends on the circumstances: bigamy ranges from a Infraction to a Second Degree Felony in Utah under Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-101.
Basic bigamy: Infraction (Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-101(2)) · Induced bigamy by fraud, false pretenses, threat, or coercion: Third Degree Felony (Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-101(3)) · Bigamous cohabitation with furtherance felony offense: Second Degree Felony (Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-101(4))
Which Utah statute covers bigamy?
Bigamy is governed by Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-101 (Bigamy).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.