Nathan Collier Polygamy: A Montana Man's Legal Bid And Personal Journey

When you consider the landscape of personal freedoms and marriage, it's almost like, some stories really stand out. One such story, you know, involves Nathan Collier and his efforts to, in a way, bring legitimacy to his family structure. This journey, apparently, has sparked quite a bit of discussion, especially around the idea of Nathan Collier polygamy and its place in current legal frameworks.

For many people, the concept of marrying more than one person, that is, polygamy, might seem a bit outside the usual. Yet, it's a practice with a long history, as a matter of fact, involving multiple spouses. Nathan Collier's particular situation, as we'll see, brought this ancient practice into a very modern legal setting, specifically in Montana.

His story, which unfolded across courtrooms and, interestingly enough, even television screens, really shows how personal beliefs can bump up against existing laws. We're going to explore what happened, what it meant, and what the outcomes were for Nathan and his family, so you can get a clearer picture of this rather unique case.

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Table of Contents

• Nathan Collier: A Quick Look
• The Core of the Matter: Nathan Collier's Legal Bid
• Applying for Recognition in Billings
• The Denial and its Implications
• Inspiration from Legal Precedent
• A Look at Polygamy: What It Means
• The Reality Show Connection and Personal Changes
• Appearing on "Sister Wives"
• Life After the Legal Challenge: Splits and New Paths
• Legal Aspects and Challenges
• The Montana Law and Bigamy
• Court Cases and Arguments
• Frequently Asked Questions

Nathan Collier: A Quick Look

To give you a better idea of the person at the heart of this story, here's a little bit about Nathan Collier, based on available information.

The Core of the Matter: Nathan Collier's Legal Bid

Nathan Collier, a man from Montana, made a very public move, you know, to try and change how his family was seen legally. He went to a courthouse, basically, seeking to have his polygamous marriage recognized. This was a rather significant step for him and his family, as a matter of fact.

Applying for Recognition in Billings

On a Tuesday, Nathan Collier and his wives, Victoria and Christine, applied at the Yellowstone County Courthouse in Billings. This was in Montana, his home state, you know. Their goal was pretty clear: they wanted to legitimize their polygamous marriage, which is a rather unusual request in many places today. They were, in a way, hoping for a new kind of legal acceptance for their family arrangement.

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Collier, who had been married to Victoria since the year 2000, was seeking to formally add Christine to his marital status. This action, you see, put him directly at odds with Montana's existing marriage laws. It was a bold move, and it certainly drew a lot of attention, both locally and, in some respects, nationally.

The Denial and its Implications

When Nathan Collier applied for an application to legally marry Christine Collier in 2015, he was denied. This denial, apparently, was a direct consequence of Montana law, which typically allows for marriage to only one spouse at a time. This outcome, of course, meant that his attempt to make his polygamous family arrangement legally recognized hit a significant roadblock right away.

The denial, in a way, highlighted the legal hurdles that families like Nathan's face. It showed that while personal arrangements might exist, the formal legal system has its own set of rules. This particular refusal, you know, set the stage for further legal action and discussion about the nature of marriage itself within the state.

Inspiration from Legal Precedent

Nathan Collier said he was inspired by "last week's" events, which, in fact, likely referred to the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision. This decision, as you might know, legalized same-sex marriage across the United States. Collier, you see, was arguing that the logic behind Obergefell, which focused on individual rights and the definition of marriage, should also apply to polygamous unions.

He told reporters, apparently, that he wanted to add legitimacy to his polygamous family. His challenge, in a way, was centered on this core idea. If marriage rights could expand for one group, he reasoned, then why not for another? This argument, as a matter of fact, became a central point in his legal battles, challenging the traditional view of marriage in a very direct manner.

A Look at Polygamy: What It Means

Polygamy, from its Greek roots, basically means the state of marriage to many spouses. It's a practice, you know, where a person marries more than one partner. When a man is married to more than one woman, this specific form is sometimes called polygyny, which is a common way it appears in many cultures, historically speaking.

This practice, in some respects, has been present in various societies throughout history, often tied to religious or cultural traditions. However, in many Western legal systems, including those in the United States, polygamy is not legally recognized and is often considered bigamy, which is a criminal offense. Nathan Collier's case, you see, brought this historical practice into a modern legal spotlight, challenging its current legal standing.

The Reality Show Connection and Personal Changes

Nathan Collier's story didn't just play out in courtrooms; it also got a wider audience through television. This exposure, apparently, gave many people a glimpse into his family's life and their unique situation.

Appearing on "Sister Wives"

A polygamous man, who was recently featured with his two wives on the reality TV show "Sister Wives," applied for a marriage license with his second wife in Montana on a Tuesday. This man was Nathan Collier. His appearance on the show, you know, likely brought his family's situation into the homes of many viewers, making his legal challenge more widely known. It's almost like, the show gave a face to the abstract legal arguments.

The show, in a way, explores the lives of families living in polygamous relationships, often highlighting their daily challenges and personal experiences. For Nathan, being on "Sister Wives" meant his bid for legal recognition was seen by a much larger audience, adding another layer to his public efforts, as a matter of fact.

Life After the Legal Challenge: Splits and New Paths

The story of Nathan Collier and his family, it turns out, saw some significant changes after his legal efforts. Nathan and Christine, for instance, announced their split. This news, you know, meant that the infamous Collier family was going to leave polygamy after his divorce. It was a rather big development for them personally.

Nathan Collier, who also appeared on the show, split from one of his two wives, as well. This change wasn't unique to him, apparently, as both of Nathanael’s wives have moved on and are no longer living polygamy following their divorces. It seems that, in some respects, the personal journeys of those involved took new directions, moving away from the polygamous lifestyle they had previously embraced. This shows, you know, that life is full of turns and new beginnings.

Legal Aspects and Challenges

The legal fight Nathan Collier took on was a significant one, directly challenging long-standing laws in Montana. It was, in a way, a test of how far personal freedoms might extend within the existing legal framework.

The Montana Law and Bigamy

Collier has been married to wife Victoria since 2000, and under Montana law, marrying another person while still legally married to someone else is generally not permitted. This is what's known as bigamy, and it's typically against the law in most states. Nathan's bid, you see, was a direct attempt to challenge this legal standard, arguing for a different interpretation of marriage rights.

A Montana man, it's almost like, was asking a federal judge to strike down the state's bigamy laws so he could marry a second wife. This effort, in a way, aimed to carve out a new legal space for polygamous relationships, which would have been a rather significant shift in legal precedent for the state. It really put the spotlight on what the law defines as marriage.

Court Cases and Arguments

Nathan Collier's legal efforts led to a specific court case: Fox, 2018 WL 1247411 (2018). This case, you know, was heard in the United States District Court for the District of Montana. Legal experts, as a matter of fact, could look at the case facts, key issues, and holdings and reasonings online today. This shows, in some respects, the formal legal process that his challenge went through.

The core argument Nathan Collier was challenging, citing Obergefell in support, was that the state's bigamy laws were, in a way, infringing on his rights. His case was written and curated by real attorneys at Quimbee, indicating the serious legal nature of his pursuit. He told reporters at the Washington Times that he wanted to add legitimacy to his polygamous family, which was the driving force behind his legal actions. Learn more about marriage laws on our site, and link to this page legal challenges to marriage definitions.

This particular legal battle, you see, was about more than just one family; it was about the broader definition of marriage and who gets to decide it. It raised questions about whether the legal recognition of marriage could expand to include multiple partners, much like it expanded for same-sex couples. The case, therefore, was watched by many who were interested in the evolving legal definitions of family structures.

Nathan Collier and his wives, Victoria and Christine, applied for the license at the Yellowstone County Courthouse in Billings on a Tuesday in an attempt to legitimize their polygamous marriage. This act, you know, truly began the formal legal journey that would bring their story into courtrooms and public discussions. It was a clear statement of their desire for legal recognition, apparently, which is a rather fundamental right for many families.

Collier, at 46 years old, said his bid to make his family arrangement recognized was about adding a layer of formal acceptance. It was, in a way, about validating their lives together under the law, something he felt was due to them. This desire for legitimacy, you see, was a powerful motivator behind all his efforts, driving him to challenge existing legal boundaries in Montana.

For additional details on legal proceedings in the state, you might want to look into the United States District Court for the District of Montana, where such cases are heard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions people have about Nathan Collier's situation and polygamy:

1. Did Nathan Collier succeed in legally marrying a second wife in Montana?
No, he was denied when he applied for an application to legally marry Christine Collier in 2015. Montana law, you know, generally does not permit bigamy, which is the practice of marrying someone while already legally married to another person.

2. What was Nathan Collier's main argument for legalizing his polygamous marriage?
Nathan Collier cited the Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision, which legalized same-sex marriage, in support of his case. He argued, apparently, that the principles of individual rights and marriage definition applied in Obergefell should also extend to polygamous unions, aiming to add legitimacy to his family.

3. What happened to Nathan Collier's polygamous family after the legal challenge?
Nathan and Christine, you see, later announced their split, and the Collier family decided to leave polygamy after his divorce. Both of Nathan’s wives have moved on and are no longer living polygamy following their divorces, which is a rather significant change for them personally.