Can you marry your brother's wife?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....ng-8-year-affair.html

Yes I know, just another sordid celebrity story, but it got me to thinking, am I right in assuming that a man cannot marry his brother's wife, while his brother is alive?

And what would be the implications if there happened to be children from such an union?

[Old_Geezer]

Is he a vicar ?

Why wouldn't he be able to marry a divorced sister-in-law ? Can't see any problem myself.

[emmie]

As far as i know you cannot marry your brothers wife.

[johnk]

The wife would be committing bigamy

[ummmm]

And what would be the implications if there happened to be children from such an union?

They are not blood related.

[Slapshot]

According to the Citizens Advice Bureau you can, they are not blood relatives... anyway...... my brother would need a new wife before I'd even contemplate it ...;-)

[chelle7272]

I thought that was a religious edict, not law.

I'm sure there are plenty of children from such relationships, if not marriages, just watch Jeremy Kyle!

[emmie]

i have just looked this up, and it doesn't give that a man cannot marry his brothers wife, as long as brother is dead, as that as they say would be bigamy

[emmie]

watching Jeremy kyle, should put most people off from getting married to anyone, nor having sprogs.

[mightywease]

em10 - not sure your last answer makes sense, can you claify it please.

I woulkd have thought that as long as the sister-in-law is divorced, or widowed, she can go ahead and marry her ex- brother-in-law.

There is no blood relation between them. As for kids, again, I don't see the problem as, asgain, the parents are not blood related

[pink-kittens]

2 bible passages here:

Genesis 38:8 Then Judah said to Onan, "Lie with your brother's wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to produce offspring for your brother."
---------------------------------------…
Deuteronomy 25:5 If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband's brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her.

So, was Digs doing anyting wrong then? Not in the eyes of God, apparently not LOL

[pink-kittens]

Wow, Answerbank really - after all he has been named and shamed many times now *sigh*

[ummmm]

How is it committing bigamy?

[johnk]

If a couple divorce the man is no longer a husband and the woman is no longer a wife, am I missing the pointohe qestion?

[jackthehat]

I think AOG may be meaning.....that there are already children with the one brother and the woman goes on to have children with the second brother....making the children both their own cousins and half-siblings with uncle/father swapping between 'the brothers' depending upon which child is being considered.....

.....or he might not.

[Ric.ror]

Dont start all this - look what happened to Henry v111

[chelle7272]

ummm I think bigamy has been mentioned because hte question doesn't say a brother's ex wife... but i may have missed something too

[ummmm]

Ok....but I thought it was obvious as AOG would know that you're not allowed to marry anyone when you're already married.

[emmie]

all too confusing, it doesn't say divorced. But why would you want to be with someone, that been married to your brother, keep it in the family perhaps....
Mr G---- seems to have been spreading it out a bit.

[LoftyLottie]

Yes you can marry your brpther's ex wife whether your brother is deceased or divorced from her.

It happens often.

Two of my elderly relatives married their brother's ex wives.

I don't know about the religious aspects, but legally you can.

[LoftyLottie]

I can't see what problem there could be with children except legally for inheritence purproses. There would be no issues with inbreeding. It might make for a confused family, but there are loads more confused families about!!