The Roumanian Civil Code from which we summarize in this chapter the law of marriage and divorce of Roumania is practically a copy of the French Civil Code.
Marriage.—A man must be eighteen years of age and a woman fifteen in order to contract lawful marriage, except a dispensation is granted by the King.
The free consent by both contracting parties is essential.
Men under twenty-five years of age and women under twenty-one cannot marry without the parental consent. Men under the age of thirty and women under the age of twenty-five are obliged to ask the consent of their parents.
A man or woman is allowed but one spouse at a time.
Consanguinity and Affinity.—Marriage is forbidden between relatives, whether by blood or by marriage, in the direct line, and in the collateral line to the fourth degree, inclusive, by the Roman method of counting. The prohibition obtains whether the relationship arises from legitimate or illegitimate birth. A dispensation from such impediments may, in special cases, be granted, by the King.
Marriage is forbidden between relatives by adoption and between godparents and their godchildren.
Marriage is forbidden between guardians and wards, or between trustees and wards, and the father, son or brother of a guardian or trust cannot marry the ward until the accounts of the guardianship or trust have been properly audited and settled.
Soldiers cannot marry without the consent of the military authorities.
Marriage is expressly forbidden to priests, monks and nuns.