Can felons be married?

Asked by: Prof. Bonita Swaniawski  |  Last update: August 11, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (14 votes)

Criminal charges, whether for fraud and grand theft or any other offense, generally do not affect your legal ability to get married. The right to marry is a fundamental personal right largely unaffected by criminal charges, especially if they are pending or have been dropped.

What happens if I marry a felon?

As the saying goes, love is blind. Marrying someone with a long criminal history won't impact you, unless the person is on parole or probation, or is subject the Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA). Under those circumstances, you may have a parole or probation officer checking in on your spouse.

How long does a felony stay on your record in the US?

If you've been convicted of a felony, it will generally stay on your criminal record for life. However, it is possible to have your record removed from public view through a process known as expungement.

Can I lose custody for marrying a felon?

Dating someone with a felony conviction doesn't automatically mean you will lose custody, but it can complicate the case. The judge will need to carefully weigh the potential consequences of this relationship on the child's well-being.

Can married felons live together?

Whether married or not, the law is that a felon who is still serving a sentence, be it incarcerated, or on probation or parole may not associate with any other person who is also a felon.

Concealed Carry With a Partner Who Has a Felony

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Can cops marry felons?

Being married like you, or even dating a felon does not preclude one from becoming a police officer. However, certain agencies may not allow an applicant to work for them if they are married to a convicted felon. It will vary from state to state and even agency to agency.

Can a spouse of a felon own a gun?

People whose partners are convicted felons can legally purchase and own a firearm. You cannot and should not be punished for your spouse's mistakes. Even if you were married to your spouse at the time they committed the crime that led to their conviction, you are still legally allowed to own a gun.

What rights do ex felons lose?

From the loss of voting rights and firearm ownership to employment challenges and parental custody issues, the ramifications of a felony conviction in California can be both profound and long-lasting.

Can a felon sponsor his wife?

Criminal Records and Sponsorship

Although their criminal record must be assessed on a case-by-case basis, convicts are occasionally allowed to sponsor family members for visas. If the felony includes drug offenses, immigration fraud, or violent crimes, the likelihood of denial is higher.

Can a felon be around kids?

Visitation is possible if you have a criminal record. However, a court may impose supervised visitation if a parent's past makes it clear they shouldn't be alone with a minor.

Do felonies go away after 7 years?

Dismissed felony charges can usually be sealed or expunged right away. In California, a felony conviction stays on your record forever if you do not get it expunged. You may be eligible for an expungement if you did not serve time in state prison.

Can you get a passport with a felony?

Most convicted felons in the US can obtain a passport after completing their sentence. That said, certain felony convictions can still disqualify you from getting a passport. Other reasons for being denied a US passport include failing to pay child support or having significant outstanding federal tax debts.

Can you get a job with a felony?

A company may hire ex-offenders, but they may have a policy of terminating anyone for lying on their job application. It is up to you whether you tell an employer about your convictions. But, we believe that honesty is the best policy. Our experience shows that HOW you communicate this information makes the difference.

What are the cons of being a felon?

Let's take a look at some of the hard-to-believe ways that felons continue to be punished even after they've done their time.
  • You can't travel, but you also can't find a home. ...
  • You can't vote. ...
  • You can't serve on a jury. ...
  • You can't get public benefits. ...
  • You can't get a job.

Can I marry my boyfriend while he in jail?

The couple needs to find a qualifying officiant to perform the marriage, get approval from the jail, and pay the costs of a wedding. Inmates in federal prison do not get conjugal visits to spend intimate time with their spouses.

Can I own a gun if my spouse is a felon Indiana?

Gun laws in Indiana do not expressly prohibit the spouse of a felon from owning a firearm.

Can felons get married?

You have a Constitutional right to be married, so neither probation nor Parole can prevent that, however, after that, both agencies can put restrictions on whether or not you can live together or even see each other until you are done with all of your sentence obligations.

Can a felon get a fiance visa?

If you want to bring your fiancé(e) into the U.S. on a K-1 visa to get married and possibly apply for a green card, and your fiancé has a criminal record, that fact is likely to trigger inadmissibility.

Can felons go away?

Felonies stay on your criminal record for the rest of your life. However, if you seek expungement, it is possible to clear your record of the offense.

Can a felon buy a house?

If you have a felony on your record and are wondering if you can still buy a house, you've come to the right place. The answer is a resounding yes. Thankfully, federal and state governments don't have laws restricting homeownership for the formerly incarcerated — even if you have a felony conviction.

Can ex felons collect Social Security?

An individual released from incarceration may be eligible for Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability benefits if they have worked or paid into Social Security enough years.

What states allow felons to own guns?

All states except Vermont generally restrict firearm access after a person has been convicted of a felony, mirroring federal law in this area, which generally prohibits firearm access after an individual has been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison.

Can a felon be around someone with a concealed carry?

So long as that person is the sole possessor of the firearm and that the convicted felon is not in a position to exercise control over it, that's fine. For instance, the individual must be carrying a firearm on their person, they cannot keep it in the glove box and have a convicted felon in the car.

Do you have to be sentenced to be a convicted felon?

The classification is based upon a crime's potential sentence, so a crime remains classified as a felony even if a defendant convicted of a felony receives a sentence of one year or less. Some individual states classify crimes by other factors, such as seriousness or context.