North Carolina's 1805 Law Against Unmarried Cohabitation
In short
On paper, yes. North Carolina General Statute 14-184, dating to 1805, makes it a Class 2 misdemeanor for an unmarried man and woman to "lewdly and lasciviously associate, bed and cohabit together." Prosecutions are rare, a county superior court judge has ruled it unconstitutional, and lawmakers tabled a repeal bill in 2007.
What the full article will cover
- What does G.S. 14-184 prohibit?
- Where does the 1805 law come from?
- Is the cohabitation law enforced?
- What did the Pender County case decide?
- Does North Carolina have related laws on hotels?
Frequently asked questions
- What is a Class 2 misdemeanor in North Carolina?
- Are roommates covered by the law?
- Has North Carolina tried to repeal it?
Sources
- ncleg.gov — https://www.ncleg.gov/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/byarticle/chapter_14/article_26.html
- ncleg.gov — https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_14/GS_14-186.html
- wcnc.com — https://wcnc.com/article/news/local/no-shacking-up-yes-living-in-sin-is-still-a-crime/83-4c2eea16-7bb6-411d-8c5b-82668b11e8ac
General information, not legal or religious advice.