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 New Mexico, bigamy is prohibited under state law. According to New Mexico Statutes Annotated (NMSA) 30-10-1, bigamy occurs when a married person knowingly contracts another marriage without the previous marriage being dissolved or without a spouse being judicially declared dead. Bigamy is classified as a fourth-degree felony in New Mexico. As for polygamy, it is not recognized as a legal practice in the state, and individuals cannot legally obtain more than one marriage license simultaneously. While some may engage in polygamous relationships as a matter of personal or religious choice, such relationships do not have legal standing in the eyes of New Mexico law. The state only recognizes monogamous marriages, and any attempt to enter into a legally binding marriage with more than one person at the same time is subject to criminal penalties.