The essence of marriage which is considered as a civil contract is the free consent of both parties.
Impediments.—The son must not marry his mother or stepmother, or the sister of his father or mother, or the widow of his uncle. The brother must not marry his sister or half-sister, or the daughter of his brother or half-brother, or of his sister or half-sister. The father must not marry his daughter or granddaughter, or the widow of his son. No man shall marry the daughter of his wife, or the daughter of the son or daughter of his wife; and all such marriages are declared incestuous.
Forbidden Marriages.—Bigamous marriages; incestuous marriages; miscegenation—between blacks and whites; and marriage of a female compelled by menace, force or duress. Such marriages involve a criminal prosecution.
Celebration.—A marriage may be concluded before any regular minister of religion, any judge of a court of record, or a justice of the peace.
Causes for Absolute Divorce:
1. Impotency.
2. Adultery.
3. Voluntary abandonment from bed and board for two years.
4. Imprisonment in the penitentiary for two years, the sentence being for seven years or longer.
5. The commission of the crime against nature.