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 Virginia, both bigamy and polygamy are prohibited by law. Under Virginia Code Section 18.2-362, bigamy is defined as the act of marrying someone while already being lawfully married to another person. This offense is classified as a Class 4 felony, which can result in severe penalties including imprisonment. The law does not recognize any additional marriages as valid if they are entered into while a person has a living spouse from a previous undissolved marriage. Virginia does not make exceptions for religious practices; therefore, polygamy is also not permitted under state law. Individuals who are found to be practicing polygamy or bigamy can face legal consequences, including criminal charges.