Every Sister Wives viewer must have wondered at some point that how can a polygamous arrangement be legal. To be clear, it is not. Polygamy is illegal in all 50 states of the United States of America. Then the question arises, why is the Brown family allowed to do it? And the answer lies in Kody’s spiritual beliefs.
Aside from the internal conflicts and drama that the family faces from time to time, they might have gotten into a severe issue this time. This plural family may receive legal charges for the polygamous setup that they live in. The legality of their familial arrangement has come under the radar in the past as well. But this time, they all can end up in courtrooms. Let’s look at what has struck the Brown family this time.
Sister Wives: Kody’s Spiritual Union With His Wives
The answer to how Kody has managed to marry three different women despite one legal marriage is spiritual beliefs. This means that only Robyn is Kody’s legal wife. And Meri, Janelle, and Christine are his spiritual wives. The man believes in Fundamentalist Mormon principles which preaches a man to follow polygamy. The family also believes that God wants men to be polygamous and marry more than one woman, but not otherwise. As in, the wives have to be compulsorily monogamous.
They also tend to believe that their founder Joseph Smith had a plural family too. In this arrangement, a man is allowed to marry multiple women. But, a woman cannot have another man in her life. This is also why Meri Brown does not leave Kody after all the misery that she faces.
Brown Family’s History Of Legal Challenges
In 2014, Meri Brown divorced Kody so that he can marry Robyn and let her join the family. This was the time when the two finally legalized their plural marriage. But the show was airing since 2010. At that time, Kody and Meri lived in Utah along with their Sister Wife. The Utah police had been keeping a keen eye on the family as bigamy was illegal in the state.
Because of constant interrogations and investigations, the family finally decided to leave Utah and move to Las Vegas. Later, CNN reported that Kody sued Utah County’s attorney’s office for threats and the bigamy law. And so, the attorney unbanned cohabitation, living in without marriage, but still kept the ban on bigamy.
The Browns then moved to Supreme Court in 2016 to ask for their right to polygamy. But the court rejected their plea. The family thought of this as a great injustice for people like them.
Sister Wives: Kody And His Wives Can Face Legal Issues In Arizona
The Sister Wives family then again moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, in 2018. They are living in Arizona for three years now. But now, as reported by RadarOnline, the Browns might get into trouble as polygamy is illegal in Arizona too.
Monica Lindstrom, a legal expert, talked to RadarOnline and confirmed that Kody Brown would face many challenges in the state. She said that according to Article 20, Section 2, plural marriages, or polygamous cohabitation, are forever prohibited within this state. Under Arizona’s constitution, living with one wife and a spiritual wife or two or three can be equal to ‘polygamous cohabitation.’
Meanwhile, Attorney Dwane Cates talked to the website and said that bigamy is a Class 5 felony in Arizona. The man added that Kody Brown could get probation of up to three years and $150,000 worth of fines.
Well, it looks like the family might get into serious trouble this time. Will the Browns move to another state, or will they fight yet another legal battle? We are yet to find out. What are your thoughts about this entire situation? Share your opinions in the comment section.