Persons convicted of having committed adultery with each other may not marry without having first obtained permission of the civil authorities.
Persons divorced by extra-judicial decree are not allowed to contract a new marriage, without permission to this effect is given in the decree.
The law prescribes a mourning period of one year for a widow and three months for a widower, during which time they are not allowed to contract a new marriage; but under special conditions the mourning period may be shortened.
Preliminary Formalities.—If the marriage is solemnized before a clergyman banns must be published from the pulpit for three consecutive Sundays, and the marriage must follow within three months. In case of a civil marriage one publication must be made by the authorities at least three weeks and not more than three months before the celebration.
Celebration.—The national church of Denmark is the Lutheran, and in the case of Protestant Christians a religious marriage must be solemnized before a clergyman of the Lutheran Church.
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.