Missouri Laws 568.010 – Bigamy — penalty
1. A married person commits the offense of bigamy if he or she:
(1) Purports to marry another; or
Attorney's Note
Under the Missouri Laws, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class A misdemeanor | up to 1 year | up to $2,000 |
Terms Used In Missouri Laws 568.010
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020
(2) Cohabits with one whom he or she entered into a bigamous marriage in another jurisdiction.
2. A married person does not commit bigamy if, at the time of the subsequent marriage ceremony, he or she reasonably believes that he or she is legally eligible to remarry.
3. The defendant shall have the burden of injecting the issue of reasonable belief of eligibility to remarry.
4. An unmarried person commits the offense of bigamy if he or she:
(1) Purports to marry another knowing that the other person is married; or
(2) Cohabits with one whom he or she entered into a bigamous marriage in another jurisdiction.
5. The offense of bigamy is a class A misdemeanor.