United States Code

1 U.S.C. § 7

Marriage

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Bills that would change it 9

  • HR 8634 Consanguineous Marriage Prohibition Act of 2026 Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 4602 Amend the Code for Marriage Equality Act of 2023 Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
  • HR 8404 Respect for Marriage Act Amends · enacted · 117th Congress
  • HR 4170 Amend the Code for Marriage Equality Act of 2021 Amends · introduced · 117th Congress
  • S 4556 Respect for Marriage Act Amends · introduced · 117th Congress
  • HR 1440 Fairness for All Act Amends · introduced · 117th Congress
  • HR 5331 Fairness for All Act Amends · introduced · 116th Congress
  • HR 94 Amend the Code for Marriage Equality Act of 2019 Amends · introduced · 116th Congress
  • HR 98 Amend the Code for Marriage Equality Act of 2017 Amends · introduced · 115th Congress

The law today

From the official United States Code, current through Public Law 119-124.

(a) For the purposes of any Federal law, rule, or regulation in which marital status is a factor, an individual shall be considered married if that individual’s marriage is between 2 individuals and is valid in the State where the marriage was entered into or, in the case of a marriage entered into outside any State, if the marriage is between 2 individuals and is valid in the place where entered into and the marriage could have been entered into in a State. (b) In this section, the term “State” means a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any other territory or possession of the United States. (c) For purposes of subsection (a), in determining whether a marriage is valid in a State or the place where entered into, if outside of any State, only the law of the jurisdiction applicable at the time the marriage was entered into may be considered.
Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗