Legal Definitions - serial polygamy

Serial polygamy refers to the practice of entering into multiple marriages over a lifetime, but only one at a time. In this context, an individual legally dissolves a previous marriage (through divorce or annulment) before contracting a new one. This is distinct from traditional polygamy, which involves being married to multiple people simultaneously, a practice that is illegal in many countries.

Here are some examples to illustrate serial polygamy:

• Imagine a person named Alex who marries their college sweetheart, Sarah. After several years, Alex and Sarah decide to divorce. A few years later, Alex marries David. This marriage also eventually ends in divorce. Later in life, Alex marries for a third time, to Emily. Each of Alex's marriages was legally recognized, and each previous marriage was formally ended before the next one began.

  This illustrates serial polygamy because Alex enters into a series of distinct marital relationships, one after another, with each prior marriage being legally dissolved before the subsequent marriage is contracted. Alex is never married to more than one person at any given time.

• Consider a famous actor, Maria, who has been widely reported in the media for her four marriages throughout her career. Each time, Maria's previous marriage was legally terminated through divorce proceedings before she walked down the aisle with her next spouse. Her marital history spans several decades, with each union being a separate, legally recognized event.

  This scenario demonstrates serial polygamy as Maria engages in multiple marital unions over time, but always sequentially. The legal system recognizes each marriage as valid only after the preceding one has been formally ended, ensuring she adheres to the legal requirement of having only one spouse at a time.

• Think of a person named John who marries his first wife, Lisa, in his twenties. After a decade, they divorce. Years later, John marries his second wife, Maria. Sadly, Maria passes away after several years of marriage, making John a widower. After a period of mourning, John eventually marries a third time, to Susan.

  This example also falls under serial polygamy because John experiences multiple marital unions, each occurring one after another. Each previous union is legally dissolved—either by divorce or by death—before a new marriage is entered into, meaning John is never simultaneously married to more than one person.