CHAPTER II.

MARRIAGE.


[Sidenote: Contract.]

Marriage is a civil contract requiring the consent of parties capable of
entering into other contracts, except as herein otherwise declared.
[§3376.] While marriage is defined to be a contract, it is rather a
status or relation assumed by the act of marriage. Society is recognized
as a third party to the agreement and as having a well defined interest
in the duties and obligations of such relation. It is because of this
interest, that the law defines the qualifications of the parties, the
terms, rights and obligations of the contract, and also for what causes
and in what manner it may be terminated. "It stands alone and can be
assimilated to no other contract."

[Sidenote: Between what ages valid.]

A marriage between a male person of sixteen and a female of fourteen
years of age is valid, but if either party has not attained the age thus
fixed, the marriage is a nullity or not at the option of such party made
known at any time before he or she is six months older than the age thus
fixed. [§3377.] The common law rule fixing the age of consent to
marriage at fourteen for males and twelve for females is not repealed in
Iowa. The time in which the parties may disaffirm the marriage is
merely extended by the statute.