The bigamy laws

[Pufflette]

If I were to get married and then have 100-200 adulterous affairs that is perfectly acceptable under British law. If I were to cohabit with two hundred beautiful young women in some bizarre harem that is not a a prosecutable offense. If I were to move from women to women, breaking all their hearts and drinking them dry of money that it is not illegal. However, if I were to marry one woman and then marry another that is illegal. That seems odd that the law protects against bigamy yet not against adultery or anything else to that effect.

[sn�gs]

This is a question for Sqad ;-)

[Gromit]

Just a relic from when the church wrote all the laws.

If someone marries more than one person they deserve our sympathy.

[Booldawg]

Sowing the seed is perfectly natural but to get married once shows lack of judgement. To get married twice is bordering on insanity.

The system is protecting you from yourself ;-)

[Mikkanjazza]

The law against bigamy - which I agree is now somewhat of an anachronism - has nothing to do with men and women and what may go on between them, but is designed to protect the institution of marriage itself, which in the eyes of the Church is a sacrament, and therefore merits legal protection.

[padanarm]

You can go to a country where polygamy is legal, get married and bring your wives back to this country. But remember that four wives will have four mothers in law.

[caththecrazy]

padanarm are you sure about that?

I understood it that you had to a national of that country in order to do that. I don't think it would be acceptable for a british national to go and bring back 4 wives.

[padanarm]

caththecrazy, according to the info I found during my time as an advisor at CAB:

"Polygamous or potentially polygamous marriages are only valid in the UK if neither partner was domiciled in the UK at the time of contracting the marriage.

If a marriage is contracted abroad, in a country which allows polygamy and where both partners are domiciled, such marriages may be recognised in UK law."

[Barmaid]

I have to say, I agree with the posters above (Gromit and Booldawg), but the difference with marriage is that it is essentially a legal contract. The contractual entitlement of one spouse will have an effect on the future illegal contracts of other bigamous spouses.

[padanarm]

I think barmaid has hit the wotsit on the head - it is a legal declaration. Whatever the wording, 'is there any lawful reason why you can't marry this person'?

Whatever you might think about the law, if you make a false declaration you have commited a criminal offence.

[jackthehat]

Bigamy is having one husband too many..........

Monogamy is essentially the same..........:o)

[blackietwo]

To have only one adulterous affair is illegal in a civil law. The spouse is entitled to a divorce on the grounds of adultery. Years ago it was a great shame to be divorced especilly if adultery was the cause. They use to print it in newspapers along with the bankrupty stuff. You can move from partner to partner that is not illegal, just morally wrong depending on your culture. Marriage is a legal contract