Thank you for buying our book, Creating A Line Family, or attending one of our presentations. At present these are the only people who receive a link to this page.

It is important to note that we are not providing legal counselling. We are not attorneys. Our intent is to provide you with information that you and your attorney can use in making decisions for your family. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided here. Our information is mostly about state laws. Even the most progressive states have local cities, counties and parishes with more conservative rules and regulations.

We think that this web page is doing many states a big favor, particularly the states of Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Dakota, Utah and Virginia. These states have laws that lead us to believe that they probably would not want poly line families settling within their borders. You’re welcome.

On the other hand, the contiguous west coast (California, Oregon and Washington) have the most favorable laws for line families. In fact a Washington State attorney we have talked to says that using the existing laws, a legal framework for a line family is quite possible. This is probably true in many other states too. However, we would caution against dropping your family into the middle of a small eastern Washington town. It is generally a pretty conservative area.

The links to the right will take you to documents that have some – not all – information about state laws that could be of interest to a line family. URLs for each state’s set of laws is included at the top of each page.

LAWS CHANGE QUICKLY AND SLOWLY. Sodomy laws, for example, have been removed from some state law sites, while they remain on other states online lists. Texas, in particular, has added a statement in their statutes that the US Supreme Court ruled their sodomy law unconstitutional. California’s legal site still has the law making marriage equality illegal posted. That is confusing. It is why we do not include specific legal information in the book, just links to find out what is currently on the books.

We hope that people will send us updated information as soon as something changes in their location. We also gladly accept corrections for our mistakes. We particularly appreciate feedback from legal professionals. Please include references and/or links for all information you send to us about this page.

We wish you and your family the best of luck finding your perfect, or at least near perfect home.

director@line-family.com

 
State Laws:
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Washington DC
US Military
 

The following table is a comparison chart of some relevant state laws in the United States. Laws about adultery and consensual adult sex are rarely prosecuted. However, we think these laws say something about the general attitude found in these states. Also, sex laws can be used for harassment by people who find your family at odds with their beliefs.

Please note that this chart is not complete and we do not guarantee its accuracy. Most of the Birth Control information was from an article found at http://www.contracept.org/minorsaccess.php . The title of the article is, Minors Access to Contraceptive Health Care. We used other articles to help fill in the chart. If you don’t see a reference to a law, then take the information with a grain of salt.

Marriage equality for couples has come to the United States.

In a 5 to 4 decision the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a ruling on Friday June 26, 2015 that made marriage between people of the same sex legal in all fifty states. This is wonderful news as the U.S. takes another step along the path to becoming the center-left progressive nation that all reliable polling data shows it to be.

It also means that this webpage doesn’t have to be updated every time another state decides to acknowledge that who you love and want to marry is none of the government’s business.

NOTE: We will leave the Marriage Equality column unchanged for now. We feel that it is informative to know which states resisted change until the court stepped in.

We do need to update the Domestic Partnership column as many states are now denying this status despite its continued usefulness in certain situations. We will do our best to keep up with this developing situation. Here are a few reasons why people refuse to get married:
  1. Marriage has a long history of oppressing women both as a civil institution and as a religious sacrament. Not marrying is seen as a break with that history.
  2. People who have been divorced because of domestic violence, physical or mental abuse are sometimes reluctant to remarry.
  3. Seniors who are widowed don’t marry because they might lose a pension survivor benefit.
  4. Folks on disability also don’t marry because it might adversely affect their benefits.
There are more reasons, but I think you get the idea that even with marriage equality for couples, there is still a need for domestic partnerships.


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State Adultery Laws Unmarried sex Sex toys Flirting Birth Control Domestic Partnership Marriage Equality Cohabitation Common Law Mariage Consent 3 parents Grade
-1 point -2 points 1 point 1 point 1 point
Alabama Illegal: Title 13A, Ch. 13, Sec. 2, parts (a & c) Probably not illegal: Title 13A, Ch. 13, Sec. 2, part (b) Illegal under anti-obscenity Act 1998 Minors over 14 years, who have completed HS, who are married, or who have a child may get any health care services. Illegal: Title 30, Ch. 1, Sec. 30-1-19 No laws found regarding single adults. Recognized 16 (wc) 18 (wo) No -2
Alaska Grounds for divorce: Title 25, Ch. 24, Sec. 50, (2) No laws about fornication found. All minors with no restrictions. No laws found. Illegal: Title 25, Ch. 5, Sec. 13 (a) & (b) No laws found regarding single adults. Eliminated 1917 16 Yes
Arizona Illegal: Title 13, Ch. 14, 1408, para. A; Class 3 misdemeanor No laws about fornication. Can be refused emergency contraception: Title 36, Ch. 20, Art. 1, 36-2154 No laws found. Illegal Title 25-101 Para. C. Constitutional ban under appeal No laws found regarding single adults. Eliminated 1913 18 -2
Arkansas Grounds for divorce: Title 9, Subtitle 2, Ch. 11, Subch. 8, 9-11-808, (a)(1) & (b)(1) No laws about fornication. Little Rock, AR? Did not find it. All minors with no restrictions. Employer recognition only: Title 9, Subtitle 2, Ch. 11, Subch. 2, 9-11-208, (3) Title 9 Subtitle 2 chapter 11 subchapter 2 9-11-208 No laws found regarding single adults. Never permitted 18 (F 16 wc) (M 17 wc) -1
California Only used in cases of incest: Penal Code, Part 1, Title 9, Ch. 5, Sec. 285 Only used in cases of incest: Penal Code, Part 1, Title 9, Ch. 5, Sec. 285 Comprehensive public school sex education: Education Code, Title 2, Div. 4, Part 28, Ch. 5.6, Art. 2, Sec. 51933 Legal: Family Code, DIVISION 2.5, PART 1, 297 Legal in spite of: California Family Code, Division 3, Part 1, Sec. 300 (a) Legal with marriage like state-level rights Eliminated 1895 18 Yes: More than 3 3+
Colorado Repealed 2013 No laws about fornication found. ? RU-486 illegal Title 25-3-110 yes Title 14-15-104 (1) Not Prohibited: TITLE 14, Art. 2, Part 1, 14-2-110 No laws found regarding single adults. Recognized 17 1
Connecticut None found. No laws about fornication. Minors who are married. expired on October 1, 2010 Legal: Vol. 12, Title 46, Ch. 815e, sec. 46b-25 No laws found regarding single adults. Never permitted 16 1
State Adultery Laws Unmarried sex Sex toys Flirting Birth Control Domestic Partnership Marriage Equality Cohabitation Common Law Mariage Consent 3 parents Grade
Delaware None found. Illegal in 1935, Chapter 98 - State Board of Health, Contraceptives Legal: Title 13, Ch. 2, Sec. 202 No laws found regarding single adults. Never permitted 18 Yes 1
Florida Illegal Title XLVI, Chapter 798.01 Illegal Title XLVI, Chapter 798.02 Legal No laws found. Illegal Title XLIII 741.212 Illegal Title XLVI 798.02 Eliminated 1968 16 -5
Georgia Illegal Title 16, Ch. 6 - 19 Illegal Title 16, Ch 6, Sec 18 Illegal in the city of Sandy Springs All minors with no restrictions. Illegal Constitution Amendment 1 of 2004 See unmarried sex law. Recognized if created before 1/1/97 16 -4
Hawaii For minors 14 and over, the physician may, but is not required to, inform the parents. Legal Legal with near marriage like state-level rights. Eliminated 1920 16 2 DNF
Idaho Illegal Title 18, Ch 66, 6601 Illegal Title 18, Ch. 66 - 6603 All minors with no restrictions. Constitutional ban under appeal See unmarried sex law. Recognized if created before 1/1/96 Title 32, Ch. 2, Sec 201 18 -4
Illinois Illegal 720 ILCS 5/11-35 Illegal 720 ILCS 5/11-40 Minors who require contraceptives for health reasons, who are married, have a child, are pregnant, who have ever been pregnant, or who have a referral. Legal: Public Act 096-1513, The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act. Unknown: No citation found See unmarried sex law. Eliminated 1905 17 -3
Indiana None found. No laws about fornication. Minors who are married. No laws found. Illegal: IC 31-11-1-1 Sec (a) & (b) Ban on recognizing out-of-state same-sex marriages stayed pending appeal No laws found regarding single adults. Eliminated 1958 16 -1
State Adultery Laws Unmarried sex Sex toys Flirting Birth Control Domestic Partnership Marriage Equality Cohabitation Common Law Mariage Consent 3 parents Grade
Iowa None found. No laws about fornication found. All minors with no restrictions. No laws found. Illegal: Ch. 595.2, 1. No laws found regarding single adults. Recognized 16 -1
Kansas Illegal Ch 21, Article 55, 5510 No applicable laws found. ? Ch. 67, Art. 67, 6702 "Available to minors who are mature." No laws found. Constitutional ban under appeal No laws found regarding single adults. Recognized 16 -2
Kentucky None found. No laws about fornication found. All minors with no restrictions. However, the physician may, but is not required to, inform the parents. Illegal Title 35, Ch. 402, sec. 020 Constitutional ban under appeal No laws found regarding single adults. Eliminated 1852 16 -1
Louisiana None found. No laws about fornication found. Supposedly illegal, nothing found Minors who are married. No laws found. Illegal Banned by state constitution No laws found regarding single adults. Never permitted 17 Yes 0
Maine None found. No laws about fornication found. Minors who require contraceptives for health reasons, who are married, or have a child. No laws found. Legal Legal with near marriage like state-level rights. Eliminated 1820 16 2
Maryland Illegal: Title 10, Subtitle 5, 10-501 $10 fine. Laws about fornication repealed All minors with no restrictions. However, the physician may, but is not required to, inform the parents. No laws found. Legal Family Law, Title 2, Subtitle 2, sec. 2-201, (a) & (b) No laws found regarding single adults. Never permitted 16 0
Massachusetts Illegal Part IV, Title I, Ch. 272, Sec 14 Illegal Part IV, Title I, Ch. 272, Sec. 18 Illegal Part IV, Title I, Ch. 272, Sec 21 Illegal Part IV, Title I, Ch. 272, Sec 20, 21, 21A & 21B Legal See unmarried sex law. Eliminated 1646 16 Yes -1
Michigan Felony: 4 years and/or $5.000 fine. No laws about fornication found. Minors who are married. No laws found. Illegal Chapter 83, Section 551.1 Constitutional ban under appeal Illegal Chapter 750, Act 328, Chapter XLVIII, Section 750.335 Eliminated 1957 16 -3
State Adultery Laws Unmarried sex Sex toys Flirting Birth Control Domestic Partnership Marriage Equality Cohabitation Common Law Mariage Consent 3 parents Grade
Minnesota Illegal Ch. 609.36 Illegal Ch. 609.34 All minors with no restrictions. However, the physician may, but is not required to, inform the parents. No laws found. Legal Ch. 517.01 See unmarried sex law. Eliminated 1941 16 -2
Mississippi Illegal Title 97, Ch. 29-1 Illegal Title 97, Ch. 29-1 Illegal Title 97 Ch. 29-105 Minors who are married, have a child, or who have a referral. No laws found. Illegal Title 93-1-1 (2) Illegal Title 97, Ch. 29-1 Eliminated 1956 16 -5
Missouri None found. No laws about fornication found. Minors who are married. Illegal Banned by state constitution Illegal Banned by state constitution and Illegal: Title XXX, 451.022. 1. No laws found regarding single adults. Eliminated 1921 17 -1
Montana None found. No laws about fornication found. All minors with no restrictions. However, the physician may, but is not required to, inform the parents. No laws found. Illegal Title 40-1-401 (d) & banned by state constitution No laws found regarding single adults. Recognized 16 -1
Nebraska None found. No laws about fornication found. Minors who are married. Illegal under Nebraska Constitution: Article I, Section 29. Illegal under Nebraska Constitution: Article I, Section 29. No laws found regarding single adults. Eliminated 1923 17 -1
Nevada None found. No laws about fornication found. Minors who are married. Minors who have a child or who are mature may get any health care services. Legal: Title 11, Ch. 122A, NRS 122A.100, 1. & 2. Illegal: Title 11, Ch. 122, Sec 122.020, 1. Legal with marriage like state-level rights Eliminated 1943 16 0
New Hampshire Repealed January 2015, HOUSE BILL 1125-FN AN ACT repealing the crime of adultery. No laws about fornication found. Minors who are mature. Legal: Title XLIII, Ch. 457, Sec 457:46 Legal Title XLIII, Ch. 457: 1-a 3 years and you're married. Title XLIII, Ch. 457:39 Title XLIII, Ch. 457:39 Recognized only for spouce estate inheritance through probate. Male 14, Female 13 1
New Jersey Grounds for divorce: Title 2A, Ch. 34, Sec. 2, a. No laws about fornication found. Haddon Township law Ch. 175, Sec 12 Minors who are are married, pregnant, or who have ever been pregnant may get any health care services. Legal Title 37, Ch. 1, Section 37:1-29 Not restricted: Title 37, Ch. 1, Sec. 1 No laws found regarding single adults. Eliminated 1939 16 1
State Adultery Laws Unmarried sex Sex toys Flirting Birth Control Domestic Partnership Marriage Equality Cohabitation Common Law Mariage Consent 3 parents Grade
New Mexico Grounds for divorce: Chapter 40, Art. 4, Sec. 40-4-1, C. No laws about fornication found. All minors with no restrictions. No laws found. Legal: Chapter 40, Art. 1 No laws found regarding single adults. Recognized 17 1
New York Grounds for divorce. DOM, Article 10, 170 (4) No laws about fornication found. New York City? All minors with no restrictions. Legal DOM, Article 3, Sec 10-a No laws found regarding single adults. Eliminated 1933 17 1
North Carolina Illegal G.S. § 14-184 Illegal Ch. 14 - 184 All minors with no restrictions. Illegal Banned by state constitution and General Statute G.S. 51-1.2 See unmarried sex law. Never permitted 16 -4
North Dakota Illegal 12.1-20-09 and cause for divorce. Chapter 14-05-03. 1. No laws about fornication found. No explicit policy. Illegal Banned by state constitution and statute CHAPTER 14-03 Repealed 2007. Eliminated 1890 18 -2
Ohio Cause for divorce Ch. 3105.01 (C) No laws about fornication found. No explicit policy. Illegal Ch. 3010.01 (4) Illegal: Ch. 3010.01 (C) (1), (2), (3), (a), (b) & (4) No laws found regarding single adults. Recognized if created before 10/10/91 Male 18, Female 16 -1
Oklahoma Illegal Title 21, 871 No laws about fornication found. Minors who are are married, pregnant, or who have ever been pregnant. Constitutional ban under appeal. Illegal by statute Title 43. 3, A No laws found regarding single adults. stay tuned 16 -2
Oregon None found. No laws about fornication found. All minors with no restrictions. However, the physician may, but is not required to, inform the parents. Legal Legal with marriage like state-level rights Never permitted 18 Yes 3
Pennsylvania Grounds for Divorce: Title 23, Ch. 33, Subch. A, Sec 3301, (A), (2) No laws about fornication found. Minors who are are married, pregnant, have ever been pregnant, or graduated HS may get any health care services. Not sure of status: Title 15, PART IV, Ch 91, Sec. 9112 Illegal: Title 23, Part II, Ch. 17, 1704 No laws found regarding single adults. Recognized if created before 1/1/05 16 Yes -1
Rhode Island Illegal: Title 11, Ch. 6, Sec. 2 No laws about fornication found. No explicit policy. Legal: Title 15, Ch. 3.1-1 Legal: Title 15, Ch. 1-1 No laws found regarding single adults. Recognized 16 0
State Adultery Laws Unmarried sex Sex toys Flirting Birth Control Domestic Partnership Marriage Equality Cohabitation Common Law Mariage Consent 3 parents Grade
South Carolina “Any man or woman who shall be guilty of the crime of adultery or fornication shall be liable to indictment and, on conviction, shall be severally punished by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 or imprisonment for not less than six months nor more than one year or by both fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. ...‘Adultery’ is the living together and carnal intercourse with each other or habitual carnal intercourse with each other without living together of a man and woman when either is lawfully married to some other person.” Illegal Title 16, Ch. 15, Article 1, Sections 60 & 80 Minors who are married, 16 or over, or who are mature. Illegal Banned by state constitution Recognized 16 -4
South Dakota Grounds for divorce: Title 25, Ch. 4, Sec. 2, (1) No laws about fornication found. Minors who are married. Illegal, see South Dakota Sex Laws Illegal Banned by state constitution. Illegal by statute: Title 25, Ch. 1, Sec, 1 No laws found regarding single adults. Eliminated 1959 16 -1
Tennessee Grounds for divorce: Title 36, Ch. 4, Sec. 101 (a), (3) No laws about fornication found. Title 68, Ch. 34, Sec. 103: All minors with no restrictions. Illegal Banned by state constitution. Illegal by statute: Title 36, Ch. 3, Part 1, Sec. 113 No laws found regarding single adults. Never permitted 18 -1
State Adultery Laws Unmarried sex Sex toys Flirting Birth Control Domestic Partnership Marriage Equality Cohabitation Common Law Mariage Consent 3 parents Grade
Texas Grounds for divorce: Family Code, Title 1, Subtitle C, Ch. 6, Subch. A, Sec 6.003 Limits the number of toys? San Antonio Minors who are married. State funds may not be used. Illegal for same-sex couples: Family Code, Title 1, Subtitle C, Ch. 6, Subch. A, Sec 6.204 Constitutional ban under appeal. Illegal under Family Code, Title 1, Subtitle A, Ch. 2, Sec 2.001 (b) ? Family Code, Title 1, Subtitle A, Ch. 1, Sec 1.108 Recognized (with statute of limitations on separation) 17 -1?
Utah Illegal Title 76, Ch. 7, Sec. 103 Illegal Title 76 Ch. 7 Sec. 104 Minors who are married. State funds may not be used. Constitutional ban under appeal. Illegal by statute Title 30, Ch. 1, Sec. 2 (5) See unmarried sex law. Recognized (with statute of limitations on separation) 18 -4
Vermont Repealed No laws about fornication found. Minors who are married. Legal Title 15, Ch. 23, 1202 Legal Title 15, Ch. 1, 8 No laws found regarding single adults. Never permitted 16 1
Virginia Illegal Title 18.2-365 Illegal Title 18.2-344 Illegal? Title 18.2-374 All minors with no restrictions. Illegal Title 20-45.3. Illegal Title 20-45.2 See unmarried sex law. Never permitted 18 -4
Washington None found. No laws about fornication found. All minors with no restrictions. Legal RCW 26.60.010 Legal RCW 26.04.010, (1) Legal with marriage like state-level rights Never permitted 16 Yes RCW 26.26.735 3
West Virginia None found. No laws about fornication found. Minors who are married. Illegal Ch. 48, Art. 2, Part 1, 104 (c) No laws found regarding single adults. Never permitted 18 -1
Wisconsin Illegal Ch. 944, Subch. III, 944.16 No laws about fornication found. No contraceptives vending machines in schools. Ch. 450.16 Legal only for same sex. Ch. 770 Illegal Ch. 765.001 & .01 Not condoned or encouraged Ch.01 944 but not illegal with near marriage like state-level rights. Eliminated 1917 18 -2
Wyoming None found. No laws about fornication found. All minors with no restrictions. Illegal Ban on recognizing out-of-state same-sex marriages stayed pending appeal. Statute: Title 20, Ch. 1, Article 101 No laws found regarding single adults. Never permitted 17 -1
Washington DC Repealed Repealed Legal Title 32, Ch. 7, 32 .702 Legal Title 46, Sub. I, Ch. 4, -401 Legal with near marriage like state-level rights. Recognized 16 Yes 3
US Military Dishonorable Discharge and 1 year in prison. Section 934. ART. 134 N/A 16
State Adultery Laws Unmarried sex Sex toys Flirting Birth Control Domestic Partnership Marriage Equality Cohabitation Common Law Mariage Consent 3 parents Grade