Can I get married (age, cousin, etc.)?
Yes, if the conditions are met. Marriage in France requires: two adults (18), of different or the same sex, giving free and informed consent, not already married (bigamy is banned). It's banned between close relatives: between ascendant and descendant (parent/child, grandparent/grandchild), between siblings, and between uncle/aunt and nephew/niece. By contrast, marriage between first cousins is allowed. A minor's marriage is only possible by prosecutor's waiver for a serious reason, with parental consent. A sham marriage (with no real intent) is void and punished.
📋 The rules
- Two adults (18), same or different sex
- Free consent and not already married (no bigamy)
- Banned between ascendant/descendant, siblings, uncle/niece
- Allowed between first cousins
- Minor: only by prosecutor's waiver (serious reason)
🔓 Exceptions
- Age waiver for a minor: prosecutor's decision
- Some in-law ties (former in-laws): presidential waiver possible
- Marriage of a protected adult: information or authorisation per the measure
⚠️ Penalties & fines
A marriage celebrated in breach of the conditions (bigamy, prohibited kinship, lack of consent) is void and can be annulled by a court. A sham or forced marriage is criminally punished, as are schemes to obtain a residence permit. Bigamy is an offence. Conversely, a properly celebrated marriage opens rights (matrimonial regime, succession, taxation) that the PACS or cohabitation don't all offer.
📎 Official sources
- Service-Public.fr · Conditions to marry →
- Légifrance · Civil Code (marriage conditions, art. 143 ff.) →
- Service-Public.fr · Marriage impediments →
❓ Frequently asked
At what age can you marry?
At 18 (majority). A minor's marriage is only possible exceptionally, by a waiver granted by the public prosecutor for a serious reason, and with the consent of the parents or legal guardians.
Can you marry your cousin?
Yes. Marriage between first cousins is allowed in France. By contrast, it's banned between close relatives in the direct line (parent/child, grandparent/grandchild), between siblings, and between uncle/aunt and nephew/niece.
Is same-sex marriage allowed?
Yes, since the 2013 law, marriage is open to same-sex couples, under the same conditions as for different-sex couples. The rights and obligations are identical.
What's a marriage impediment?
A situation that bars marriage: being already married (bigamy), being a close relative (direct line, sibling, uncle/niece), or not consenting freely. Some impediments (in-law) can be lifted by waiver.
Is a sham marriage punished?
Yes. A marriage entered into with no real intent of shared life, notably to obtain a benefit (residence permit), is void and an offence. The spouses and any organisers face criminal prosecution.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “conditions to marry france”
- “marriage between cousins allowed”
- “minimum marriage age 18”
- “marriage impediments kinship”
- “same-sex marriage law”
- “minor marriage prosecutor waiver”