A person can be prosecuted for bigamy if the person has concurrently married two people. When the person is married to two people, it is considered a continuing crime, and there would usually be no statute of limitations.
Source/Credit: Just Answers / Family Law
By Just Answers | Posted October 25, 2013
The difference between polygamy and bigamy, according to Ask is that polygamy is a marriage which includes two or more partners while bigamy is the act of having a marriage with one partner while still lawfully married to another.
When dealing with 'bigamy', the prosecutable aspect, many people are at a loss. They find themselves in a situation that requires legal assistance and are unsure who to turn to. Asking friends could be embarrassing and the ignorance of their legal standing can make people hesitate or avoid going to a lawyer. Family lawyers on JustAnswer frequently answer questions about bigamy and its legal implications.
Take a look at the top five bigamy questions answered on JustAnswer.
What is bigamy and how is it punishable?
Bigamy is the act of a person marrying someone while they are still legally married to another person. Bigamy is a felony in most states but can be hard to prosecute. The exception would be if the bigamist is wasting or spending monies of the new spouse. This is where the bigamist could be taken to court for economic crimes. If convicted, the bigamist could be sentenced to prison. The extent of the prosecution would vary depending on individual circumstances.
Is the act of bigamy a felony?
The act of bigamy is considered a felony charge in most circumstances. Whether or not a case is prosecuted usually depends on the seriousness of the crime and whether local prosecutors want to pursue the case. For instance, if there were more involvement than just bigamy, such as welfare fraud or immigration fraud, the state would be more apt to pursue the case.
How would someone report bigamy?
You should report bigamy to your local police and/or the district attorney’s office. Make sure that your claim of bigamy is accurate before you report someone. Having documentation or some other form of proof would add credibility to your claim and would help the authorities prosecute the case. If you are unsure about bigamy laws or what would qualify as sufficient proof, you can take your questions to Family Lawyers on JustAnswer.
What information is needed when reporting bigamy?
In order to report a bigamy case, you should try and collect as much information as possible, detailing the crime. You may need to answer questions such as: How do you know that the person is still married to two people? How do you know that the person married again and when did the person admit to you that they were still legally married to another person? Is there any proof of the coexistence of both marriages? With this information, the police and/or district attorney would be able to obtain marriage records to confirm your information before taking legal action.
Is there a statute of limitations on bigamy?
Bigamy has to be prosecuted while the person is still married to two people. If the person is married to two people, it would be considered a continuing crime, and there would usually be no statute of limitations.
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Read original post here: USA: Questions about Bigamy Laws
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