What is it called when you are married to more than one person?

What is it called when you are married to more than one person?

Polygamy (from Late Greek πολυγαμία, polygamía, “state of marriage to many spouses”) is the practice of marrying multiple spouses. When a man is married to more than one wife at the same time, sociologists call this polygyny. When a woman is married to more than one husband at a time, it is called polyandry.

What is meant by bigamy?

/ˈbɪɡ.ə.mi/ the crime of marrying a person while already legally married to someone else: In court, he admitted that he had committed bigamy.

When did bigamy become illegal?

Morrill Anti-bigamy Act of 1862 (1862) Morrill, R-Vt. The act was passed in response to the perceived threat posed by polygamy, which was practiced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) in Utah.

What is the sentence for bigamy?

Bigamy is triable either way. A person guilty of bigamy is liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years, or on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to a fine not exceeding the prescribed sum, or to both.

What is the meaning of annulment?

Annulment is a legal procedure within secular and religious legal systems for declaring a marriage null and void. In legal terminology, an annulment makes a void marriage or a voidable marriage null.

Is bigamy legal in Pakistan?

Polygamy is legally permissible according to the law of 1961, but restricted, in the Muslim majority nation of Pakistan. Only males adhering to the Islamic faith are legally allowed to enter into polygamous unions, with a maximum of four wives at one time.

Is polygamy legal in South Africa?

Polygamy is legal under certain circumstances in South Africa. All polygamous marriages entered into in accordance with the provisions of the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act are legal. Polygamous marriages are not allowed under the Marriage Act and the Civil Unions Act.

When did bigamy become illegal in UK?

1604

What man has many wives?

Mohammed Bello Abubakar is a controversial figure in the town of Bida, Niger state, where he has married more than 100 women in what he describes as a “divine” calling.

Why is polygamy practiced in Africa?

The truth is that polygamy was to do with status and wealth. The more wives a man had the more his wealth grew. Through polygamous marriages women in precolonial Africa often had greater personal autonomy. As new wives joined a compound, older ones could focus on their trading.

Is polygamy legal in Cameroon?

Polygyny is legal in Cameroon, contracted frequently for reasons of both status and wealth. It has been reported that polygamy is most often found in rural areas of the country.

What is the origin of polygamy?

Polygamy in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or plural marriage, is generally believed to have originated with the founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith. In 1852, leaders of the Utah-based LDS Church publicly announced the doctrine of polygamy.