Utah criminal charge
Bigamy in Utah
Bigamy is a criminal offense under Utah law, defined by Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-101. Its classification is not fixed: Utah assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-101.
What is the penalty for bigamy in Utah?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine | up to $750 (Basic bigamy — An individual who purports to marry another while knowing or reasonably should knowing one or both individuals are already legally married to someone else is guilty of an infraction.; no imprisonment for an infraction (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-205); fined as for a class C misdemeanor when no punishment is specified; the fine may be satisfied by compensatory service) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-205 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Induced bigamy by fraud, false pretenses, threat, or coercion — An individual who induces another to commit bigamy under fraudulent or false pretenses, or by threat or coercion, is guilty of a third degree felony.; indeterminate prison term, unless the statute provides otherwise; actual release is determined by the Board of Pardons and Parole) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Induced bigamy by fraud, false pretenses, threat, or coercion — An individual who induces another to commit bigamy under fraudulent or false pretenses, or by threat or coercion, is guilty of a third degree felony.; greater amounts may be specifically authorized by statute (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203 |
| Jail / prison | 1 years to 15 years (Bigamous cohabitation with furtherance felony offense — An individual who cohabitates with another individual with whom they are engaged in bigamy and, in furtherance of that cohabitation, commits one of the enumerated felony (or, for child abuse, misdemeanor) offenses is guilty of a second degree felony.; indeterminate prison term, unless the statute provides otherwise; actual release is determined by the Board of Pardons and Parole) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Bigamous cohabitation with furtherance felony offense — An individual who cohabitates with another individual with whom they are engaged in bigamy and, in furtherance of that cohabitation, commits one of the enumerated felony (or, for child abuse, misdemeanor) offenses is guilty of a second degree felony.; greater amounts may be specifically authorized by statute (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203 |
Applies to current (2026 General Session).
How is bigamy classified in Utah?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic bigamy | Infraction | An individual who purports to marry another while knowing or reasonably should knowing one or both individuals are already legally married to someone else is guilty of an infraction. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-101(2) |
| Induced bigamy by fraud, false pretenses, threat, or coercion | Third Degree Felony | An individual who induces another to commit bigamy under fraudulent or false pretenses, or by threat or coercion, is guilty of a third degree felony. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-101(3) |
| Bigamous cohabitation with furtherance felony offense | Second Degree Felony | An individual who cohabitates with another individual with whom they are engaged in bigamy and, in furtherance of that cohabitation, commits one of the enumerated felony (or, for child abuse, misdemeanor) offenses is guilty of a second degree felony. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-101(4) |
Common questions about bigamy in Utah
Is bigamy a felony or a misdemeanor in Utah?
It depends on the circumstances: bigamy ranges from a Infraction to a Second Degree Felony in Utah under Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-101.
Basic bigamy: Infraction (Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-101(2)) · Induced bigamy by fraud, false pretenses, threat, or coercion: Third Degree Felony (Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-101(3)) · Bigamous cohabitation with furtherance felony offense: Second Degree Felony (Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-101(4))
What are the penalties for bigamy in Utah?
Which Utah statute covers bigamy?
Bigamy is governed by Utah Code Ann. § 76-7-101 (Bigamy).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.