marriage within a family

[blobby02uk]

Is a man allowed to marry his brother's widow? This question occurred to me as I was watching Emmerdale.

[blobby02uk]

Just to add, I am neither a man nor a widow!!

[Katie~77]

I don't see why it wouldn't be allowed.x

[blobby02uk]

I thought there was something in the bible about it being forbidden??? Maybe I'm dreaming!! LOL . Obviously, I haven't read anything from the bible for quite a while!!

[blobby02uk]

Wow, In A Pickle!! Some really interesting information there. So I guess I wasn't dreaming after all.
He was a bit of a devil, that HenryVIII, wasn't he?!?!!??!
Thanks xx

[Ms.Hijinx]

my best mates mum married her late husbands brother so id say yes they can marry

[WendyS]

I seem to remember that in the front of the Book of Common Prayer there used to be a table stating who a man may not marry and who a woman may not marry, but as no longer have one of these in my possession I can't check. Maybe Googling "Who a man may not marry" might provide an authoritative answer.

[Pippa68]

http://www.weddingguide.co.uk/articles/legal/p rohibited.asp

[blobby02uk]

thanks Pippa!!! I guess the rules are different again in the USA, or how else did Woody Allen get away with marrying his adoptive daughter??!

[Pippa68]

I think I can answer that, blobby!

Woody Allen didn't adopt Soon Yi...she was the adopted daughter of Mia Farrow & Andre Previn. As far as I know, Mia & Woody had a rather unconventional relationship in that they never lived together anyway ~ however I still feel the union of Soon Yi and Woody is a little 'icky' as despite Woody's protestations he was in her life as a father figure for a good few years...

I have no idea on the laws of marriage in the US (it probably varies from state to state anyway), although I do know that in certain states cousins are forbidden to marry ~ whilst in the UK it is permitted!