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 Illinois, both bigamy and polygamy are prohibited by law. Under the Illinois Criminal Code, bigamy is considered a criminal offense. Specifically, a person commits bigamy when they intentionally contract or purport to contract a marriage with another person when they have a living spouse. Bigamy is classified as a Class 4 felony in Illinois, which can result in serious legal consequences, including potential imprisonment and fines. Polygamy, which involves having more than one spouse simultaneously, is not legally recognized in Illinois, and engaging in polygamous relationships can lead to charges of bigamy under state law. It is important to note that Illinois law does not make exceptions for religious practices when it comes to bigamy or polygamy, and these practices are unequivocally illegal in the state.