Bastardy Laws

Massachusetts is one of the states with definite ideas about legitimate offspring. To wit, if the parents' marriage is legally void:

• Because of incest (consanguinity or affinity between the parties), any offspring are illegitimate. (General Laws, Chapter 207, Section 15.)
  
• Because either parent is to young to have legally married, the kids are legitimate. (General Laws, Chapter 207, Section 16.)
  
• Because either parent is insane or an idiot, any issue is legitimate. (General Laws, Chapter 207, Section 16.)
  
• Because of the divorce oops, when one parent discovers after the fact that a former marriage was still legal (but it was an honest mistake), the children are legitimate. (General Laws, Chapter 207, Section 17.)