A civil marriage in which the solemn declaration of consent is given before the chief administrative official of the district, in the presence of two witnesses and a sworn secretary, is obligatory if neither party belongs to a legally recognized religious sect. FOREIGN MARRIAGES.--The marriage of an Austrian subject in a foreign country is treated as valid in Austria if the marriage was concluded according to the laws of such foreign country, and provided that such marriage was not in contravention of the Austrian law which accepts the Roman Catholic dogma of the indissolubility of marriage except by death of one of the parties. ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN.--Such children are fully legitimatized by the subsequent marriage of their parents. ROMAN CATHOLICS.--As we have noted before between Roman Catholics the bond of marriage cannot be dissolved by divorce. This rule applies even if one of the parties is converted after marriage to a non-Catholic sect. The Austrian law provides a way by which some Roman Catholic marriages may be provisionally dissolved after what is termed a "legal declaration of death." If eighty years have elapsed since the birth of an absent spouse, and his or her place of residence has been unknown for ten years; if an absent spouse has not been heard from in thirty years; or if a spouse has been missing for three years, and was last heard of under circumstances leaving little doubt as to his or her death, then an action can be instituted to have the absentee legally declared to be dead. Such a declaration of death will legally dissolve the marriage, leaving the spouse of the missing party free to marry again. However, should the absentee spouse ever reappear, the declaration of death and the new marriage lose all legal effect. DIVORCE.--Non-Catholic Christians may obtain absolute divorce for the following causes: 1. Conviction of adultery, or of a crime the penalty for which could be a prison sentence of five years. 2. Malicious abandonment. 3. Severe cruelty. 4. Conduct endangering the life or health. 5. Invincible aversion on account of which both parties desire a divorce. This need not be a mutual aversion, but it must be shown to be actual and lasting. For this cause an absolute divorce is granted only after a temporary separation from bed and board has been decreed, and the parties appear to be irreconciliable. EFFECTS OF DIVORCE.--The woman retains the name of her husband, and both parties may remarry, with the exception that a guilty party may not marry his or her accomplice. The guilty party loses all rights and privileges in the property of the innocent party. As to the custody of children the court has authority to make such order as the facts and justice may require. JEWISH DIVORCES.--Jews in Austria may obtain absolute divorce under special regulations adapted from the Mosaic law and rabbinical jurisprudence.