PRELIMINARY FORMALITIES.--Before the celebration, publication must be made in the district of birth and residence of both parties. Fourteen days after the formal publication of banns the registrar of the domicile of the intended husband delivers to the parties, provided no valid objection to the marriage has been served at the registrar's office, a certificate of publication, which permits the parties to be married in any place in Switzerland within six months from date of publication. CELEBRATION.--The marriage ceremony must be performed by a registrar. The civil ceremony must precede any religious celebration. The civil marriage before the registrar must be publicly performed in the presence of not less than two witnesses. ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN.--Illegitimate children are legitimatized by the subsequent marriage of their parents. FOREIGN MARRIAGES.--A marriage contracted in a foreign country that is valid according to the laws of that country is valid in Switzerland. DIVORCE AND JUDICIAL SEPARATION.--Absolute divorce is granted for the following causes: 1. When both husband and wife consent to a divorcement and it appears to the court from facts presented that to keep the parties bound together by the marriage bond is incompatible with the true intention of marriage. 2. Adultery. However, six months must not have passed since the injured spouse obtained knowledge of the offence. 3. Attempt upon the life of either spouse. 4. Cruelty or dishonourable treatment. 5. Wilful desertion continued for two years, and the absentee has failed within six months to obey a judicial summons to return. 6. Incurable insanity or mental disease of three years' existence. 7. In the absence of the causes above set forth the courts have still power to grant either an absolute divorce or a judicial separation for not more than two years if it appears that the parties are grossly antagonistic to each other. If, upon petition, a judicial separation is granted and at its stated expiration no reconciliation has taken place, the court will entertain an application for an absolute divorce. EFFECTS OF DIVORCE.--The questions of property, alimony, custody of children and change of name are determined according to the laws of the individual cantons. Generally the guilty party must pay damages to the innocent spouse, either in one payment or by instalments, the amount depending upon the means of the parties and the nature and degree of the offence for which the divorce was granted. CHAPTER IX. GERMAN LAW. The German Empire consists of twenty-six political States. These include four kingdoms, six grandduchies, five duchies, seven principalities, three free towns, and Alsace-Lorraine. With the exception of Alsace-Lorraine, whose affairs are administered by the central imperial government, all are sovereign States.