Civil marriages performed at the courthouse by a magistrate are permitted when the bride and groom are of different religious faith or when neither of them belong to any recognized religious sect. ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN.--Subsequent marriage of the parents legitimatizes a child born out of wedlock. ANNULMENT OF MARRIAGE.--A marriage may be annulled at the instance of one of the parties for the following causes: 1. Want of free consent by one or both parties. 2. If one of the parties at the time of the marriage was impotent and this fact was unknown to the other. This impotence must, however, be incurable and continue for three years. 3. If one of the parties was at the time of the marriage afflicted with leprosy, syphilis, epilepsy or a contagious and loathsome disease, and this fact was concealed and unknown to the other party. The disease must be incurable. DIVORCE.--An absolute divorce upon proper grounds may be obtained by means of a judicial decree, royal authorization given to the higher civil authorities, authorization from the Minister of Justice, or a special royal decree. The causes for an absolute divorce are: 1. The last two causes mentioned above as sufficient for an annulment. 2. Adultery. 3. Bigamy. 4. Wilful abandonment. 5. Absence for five years or more under circumstances leading a reasonable person to conclude that the absentee is dead. Exile or deportation from the country for at least seven years. 6. Imprisonment for life, if pardon or liberty is not given within seven years. EXTRA-JUDICIAL DIVORCE.--The Mayor of Copenhagen and the superior magistrate outside of Copenhagen--called the higher civil authorities--may give a royal authorization for a divorce in cases where the parties have lived apart for three years in consequence of a separation decree, and both parties ask for divorcement. The Minister of Justice has also authority in some instances to grant decrees of absolute divorce. The conditions under which a divorce can be granted by special royal decree are not specifically defined, but the decree is seldom granted except for substantial reasons and according to precedent. SEPARATION.--Decrees of separation from bed and board may be obtained upon mutual consent of the parties or if good reason exists upon the petition of one of the parties. EFFECTS OF DIVORCE.--Usually in the absence of an agreement between the parties each party receives one-half of the property which during the marriage relation was held in common. The duty of mutual support and assistance ends, but sometimes the man is directed to pay alimony to the woman. The innocent party is generally given custody and control of the children of the marriage, but the courts favour an agreement between the parties on this subject. Unless the decree of divorce has been brought about by her guilt a divorced wife is permitted to retain the name and rank of her divorced husband. CHAPTER XIV. THE NORWEGIAN LAW.