Article 600

A petition for divorce may be made to the family arbitrators either by the two spouses jointly or by one of them on the ground that the marriage has broken down irretrievably.

A marriage is presumed to have broken down irretrievably where the marital state of union of the spouses no longer exists and there can be no expectation that the spouses will, restore it. There is a conclusive presumption of irretrievable breakdown of the marriage when the spouses have been separated for one year.

A spouse may allow himself or herself to be represented by another person.

A petition by a spouse may be made in the absence of the other spouse.

The death of one of the spouses after divorce proceedings have been commenced but before the divorce has been ordered shall put an end to divorce proceedings.

A petition for divorce may also be made to the Court. In that case the provisions dealing with the divorce proceedings before the family arbitrators apply mutatis mutandis, unless provided otherwise.