Fancy yourself as an agony aunt? Add your answer to this question! A
reader, anonymous, writes (26 January 2009): I know loads of cousins that are together and have children and one of there children is top of the class in school. You can marry your cousin and have perfect children to them Dont listen to the crap you hear of other people they would never understand unless they fell in love with there cousin.
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male
reader, NITRAM BLUE  +, writes (4 January 2009):
 I have to revise my previous reply because there were changes to in British Law about Forbidden Marraiges. Previously, I came across a 1956 law which was modified by the Parliament in 2003.
Please visit this website for a complete verion:
http://www.weddingguideuk.com/articles/legal/prohibited.asp
near the end of the page, one can read these:
"Marriage of Cousins
Despite the long list of degrees of forbidden relationship, you can marry a cousin (courtesy of Henry VIII who changed the law to marry his cousin!). However, it would be sensible for you both to consult your GP* to ensure that there are no factors in your family's health records that would make your decision to have children inadvisable on medical grounds."
*I believe GP stands for General Physician
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male
reader, Dr Vendetta  +, writes (4 January 2009):
 i think it was from www.helpmestopthegovernmentandletmemarrymycousin.com
its an artical somewhere if i find it i'll pm it.
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A
male
reader, NITRAM BLUE +, writes (4 January 2009):
UK laws on forbidden love could be found at this website:
http://www.genetic-genealogy.co.uk/Toc115570145.html
On first cousins, the website has this notation:
Double first cousins of both types (first degree and normal), with R values equal to Full and Half sibs respectively, are also excluded. Likewise any of the other unusual cousin relationships described earlier, with coefficients of relationship of 1/4 or above. In view of the severity of the punishment for statutory incest I think these close cousin relationships should at least be included among the list of forbidden marriages.
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reader, anonymous, writes (3 January 2009): I'd be interested to read about that, Dr V - where did you get that info from?
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male
reader, Dr Vendetta +, writes (3 January 2009):
they can... its not tosay they should but be aware the government is drawing up plans to make it illegal.
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reader, anonymous, writes (3 January 2009): There is no law against it. 1st cousins can marry.
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