Adultery may be a dealbreaker when it comes to a relationship, but did you know that it is actually against the law here in Minnesota? It’s true!
According Minnesota Statue 609.36, which dates back to the territorial laws of 1861, adultery is considered a crime that could be punished with jail time. The way the law reads is also quite dated, as it is pretty sexist in nature. The law reads:
“When a married woman has sexual intercourse with a man other than her husband, whether married or not, both are guilty of adultery and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year or to payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both.”
The way the law it written, it also suggests that it would not be illegal for a married man to commit adultery with a single woman. Moreover, the other man in the adulterous situation could get out of the above penalties if they could reasonably prove that they did not know the marital status of the woman at the time that adultery was committed.
Needless to say, this law needs to undergo some changes for the 21st century. Rep. Kelly Moller, a DFL lawmaker from Shoreview, introduced a bill yesterday that would repeal this outdated law. Assuming the legislation is signed, adultery would be decriminalized the next day.
So while it may soon be legal for women to commit adultery in Minnesota, we wouldn’t recommend it, otherwise we may soon be referring you to a family law practice to move forward with divorce proceedings!
