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It probably has always been legal, but morally, it is not appropriate in my own opinion. It would be rather awkward at family gatherings that is for sure. I would think that a person could find a future spouse outside their former wife's family. It is a rather disgusting idea. Legally and morally right choices can oftentimes be two very separate ideas. The major three religions all have something to say about this, and it is not pretty at all. Widowers often take longer to get past the grief than widows do in the same situation. If there were children of the first marriage, their opinion ought to be considered but certainly not adhered to as if Holy Writ, especially if they are minors. Marrying someone just because a wife is dead too soon after bereavement will just cause the children to feel as if their mother is not important enough to wait at least a year before committing to another relationship. In Victorian times up to near the present, the rules of etiquette were six months of deep mourning wearing all black for their loss and another six months spent in half mourning by adding subdued colours to their wardrobe. It is almost unheard of to hear that widows and widowers adhering to the old conventions, but it is never a good idea to rush into another marriage when a spouse dies. Best advice to those grieving for loved ones, do not rush into anything, give yourself time to heal before taking the "plunge" again.

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