# K.S.A. § 21-5609: 21-5609 - Bigamy

> Kansas · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5609

## Section

- **Citation:** K.S.A. § 21-5609
- **Heading:** 21-5609 - Bigamy
- **Jurisdiction:** Kansas
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** KS Code / Chapter 21 / Article 56 / Section 21-5609

## Text

21-5609. Bigamy. (a) Bigamy is any of the following:

(1) Marriage within this state by any person who has another spouse living at the time of such marriage;

(2) marriage within this state by an unmarried person to a person known to such unmarried person to be the spouse of some other person; or

(3) cohabitation within this state after marriage in another state or country under circumstances described in subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2).

(b) Bigamy is a severity level 10, nonperson felony.

(c) It shall be a defense to a charge of bigamy that the accused reasonably believed the prior marriage had been dissolved by death, divorce or annulment.

## Nearby sections

- [K.S.A. § 21-5601 21-5601 - Endangering a child; aggravated endangering a child.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5601.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5602 21-5602 - Abuse of a child.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5602.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5603 21-5603 - Contributing to a child's misconduct or deprivation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5603.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5604 21-5604 - Incest; aggravated incest.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5604.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5605 21-5605 - Abandonment of a child; aggravated abandonment of a child.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5605.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5606 21-5606 - Criminal nonsupport.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5606.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5607 21-5607 - Furnishing alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverage to a minor; furnishing alcoholic beverage to a minor for illicit purposes.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5607.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5608 21-5608 - Unlawfully hosting minors consuming alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverage.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5608.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5609 21-5609 - Bigamy.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5609.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5610 21-5610 - Unlawful possession of a visual depiction of a child.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5610.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5611 21-5611 - Unlawful transmission of a visual depiction of a child.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5611.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5612 21-5612 - Promoting travel for child exploitation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5612.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5609. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.