Why Can't You Date Your Cousin

First cousins are two-times more likely to bear offspring with a birth defect than children born of couples who don’t share a common grandparent. … If cousin couples happen to be carrying known genetic diseases, the risks faced by their offspring can jump.

Is it illegal to date my cousin?

Current position. Several states of the United States prohibit cousin marriage. As of February 2014, 24 U.S. states prohibit marriages between first cousins, 19 U.S. states allow marriages between first cousins, and seven U.S. states allow only some marriages between first cousins.

Is it OK to date at 12?

There’s no one age when people “should” start dating — plenty of people don’t start until their late teens or after, and some people start earlier. But dating when you’re 12 means something different than dating when you’re in high school or older.