Bigamy is the act of marrying one person while being legally married to another. Polygamy is the practice or custom (often religious) of having more than one wife or husband at a time. Most states prohibit a party from having more than one marriage license at a time, and in most states bigamy is a crime.
In Iowa, bigamy is prohibited under Iowa Code Section 726.1, which states that a person commits bigamy if, while having a husband or wife living, the person marries another. This law makes it clear that it is illegal to marry someone while already being legally married to another person. Bigamy is considered a Class D felony in Iowa, which can result in a prison sentence and fines. Polygamy, which involves having more than one spouse simultaneously, is also not legally recognized in Iowa and falls under the prohibition against bigamy. Therefore, both bigamy and polygamy are against the law in Iowa, and individuals engaging in such practices can face serious legal consequences.