diff --git a/docs/api/enum/WdHeaderFooterIndex.rst b/docs/api/enum/WdHeaderFooterIndex.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..41ddd3490
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/api/enum/WdHeaderFooterIndex.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+.. _WdHeaderFooterIndex:
+
+``WD_HEADER_FOOTER_INDEX``
+==========================
+
+alias: **WD_HEADER_FOOTER**
+
+Specifies the type of a header or footer.
+
+----
+
+PRIMARY
+    The header or footer appearing on all pages except when an even and/or
+    first-page header/footer is defined.
+
+FIRST_PAGE
+    The header or footer appearing only on the first page of the specified
+    section.
+
+EVEN_PAGES
+    The header or footer appearing on even numbered (verso) pages in the
+    specified section.
diff --git a/docs/api/enum/index.rst b/docs/api/enum/index.rst
index 9c7371dcf..6dee7631e 100644
--- a/docs/api/enum/index.rst
+++ b/docs/api/enum/index.rst
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ can be found here:
    WdAlignParagraph
    WdBuiltinStyle
    WdColorIndex
+   WdHeaderFooterIndex
    WdLineSpacing
    WdOrientation
    WdSectionStart
diff --git a/docx/document.py b/docx/document.py
index ba94a7990..c52b43a33 100644
--- a/docx/document.py
+++ b/docx/document.py
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ def add_section(self, start_type=WD_SECTION.NEW_PAGE):
         """
         new_sectPr = self._element.body.add_section_break()
         new_sectPr.start_type = start_type
-        return Section(new_sectPr)
+        return Section(new_sectPr, self)
 
     def add_table(self, rows, cols, style=None):
         """
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ def sections(self):
         A |Sections| object providing access to each section in this
         document.
         """
-        return Sections(self._element)
+        return Sections(self._element, self)
 
     @property
     def settings(self):
diff --git a/docx/enum/header.py b/docx/enum/header.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..79a8695b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docx/enum/header.py
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+# encoding: utf-8
+
+"""
+Enumerations related to headers and footers
+"""
+
+from __future__ import (
+    absolute_import, print_function, unicode_literals, division
+)
+
+from .base import alias, XmlEnumeration, XmlMappedEnumMember
+
+
+@alias('WD_HEADER_FOOTER')
+class WD_HEADER_FOOTER_INDEX(XmlEnumeration):
+    """
+    alias: **WD_HEADER_FOOTER**
+
+    Specifies the type of a header or footer.
+    """
+
+    __ms_name__ = 'WdHeaderFooterIndex'
+
+    __url__ = 'https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/ff839314.aspx'
+
+    __members__ = (
+        XmlMappedEnumMember(
+            'PRIMARY', 1, 'default', 'The header or footer appearing on all '
+            'pages except when an even and/or first-page header/footer is de'
+            'fined.'
+        ),
+        XmlMappedEnumMember(
+            'FIRST_PAGE', 2, 'first', 'The header or footer appearing only o'
+            'n the first page of the specified section.'
+        ),
+        XmlMappedEnumMember(
+            'EVEN_PAGES', 3, 'even', 'The header or footer appearing on even'
+            ' numbered (verso) pages in the specified section.'
+        ),
+    )
diff --git a/docx/header.py b/docx/header.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ed5e69cee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docx/header.py
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+# encoding: utf-8
+
+"""
+Page headers and footers.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import (
+    absolute_import, division, print_function, unicode_literals
+)
+
+from .shared import ElementProxy, lazyproperty
+
+
+class _BaseHeaderFooter(ElementProxy):
+    """
+    Base class for header and footer objects.
+    """
+
+    __slots__ = ('_sectPr', '_type')
+
+    def __init__(self, element, parent, type):
+        super(_BaseHeaderFooter, self).__init__(element, parent)
+        self._sectPr = element
+        self._type = type
+
+    @lazyproperty
+    def body(self):
+        """
+        BlockItemContainer instance with contents of Header
+        """
+        headerReference = self._sectPr.get_headerReference_of_type(self._type)
+        if headerReference is None:
+            return None
+        return self.part.related_hdrftr_body(headerReference.rId)
+
+    @property
+    def is_linked_to_previous(self):
+        """
+        Boolean representing whether this Header is inherited from
+        a previous section.
+        """
+        ref = self._sectPr.get_headerReference_of_type(self._type)
+        if ref is None:
+            return True
+        return False
+
+
+class Header(_BaseHeaderFooter):
+    """
+    One of the page headers for a section.
+    """
+
+
+class HeaderFooterBody(object):
+    """
+    The rich-text body of a header or footer. Supports the same rich text
+    operations as a document, such as paragraphs and tables.
+    """
diff --git a/docx/oxml/__init__.py b/docx/oxml/__init__.py
index a96cfc1b4..9ba4ddafd 100644
--- a/docx/oxml/__init__.py
+++ b/docx/oxml/__init__.py
@@ -86,11 +86,14 @@ def OxmlElement(nsptag_str, attrs=None, nsdecls=None):
 register_element_cls('w:numbering',     CT_Numbering)
 register_element_cls('w:startOverride', CT_DecimalNumber)
 
-from .section import CT_PageMar, CT_PageSz, CT_SectPr, CT_SectType
-register_element_cls('w:pgMar',  CT_PageMar)
-register_element_cls('w:pgSz',   CT_PageSz)
-register_element_cls('w:sectPr', CT_SectPr)
-register_element_cls('w:type',   CT_SectType)
+from .section import (
+    CT_HdrFtrRef, CT_PageMar, CT_PageSz, CT_SectPr, CT_SectType
+)
+register_element_cls('w:headerReference', CT_HdrFtrRef)
+register_element_cls('w:pgMar',           CT_PageMar)
+register_element_cls('w:pgSz',            CT_PageSz)
+register_element_cls('w:sectPr',          CT_SectPr)
+register_element_cls('w:type',            CT_SectType)
 
 from .shape import (
     CT_Blip, CT_BlipFillProperties, CT_GraphicalObject,
diff --git a/docx/oxml/section.py b/docx/oxml/section.py
index cf76b67ed..5d172d7b2 100644
--- a/docx/oxml/section.py
+++ b/docx/oxml/section.py
@@ -8,9 +8,23 @@
 
 from copy import deepcopy
 
+from ..enum.header import WD_HEADER_FOOTER
 from ..enum.section import WD_ORIENTATION, WD_SECTION_START
-from .simpletypes import ST_SignedTwipsMeasure, ST_TwipsMeasure
-from .xmlchemy import BaseOxmlElement, OptionalAttribute, ZeroOrOne
+from .simpletypes import (
+    ST_RelationshipId, ST_SignedTwipsMeasure, ST_TwipsMeasure
+)
+from .xmlchemy import (
+    BaseOxmlElement, OptionalAttribute, RequiredAttribute, ZeroOrMore,
+    ZeroOrOne
+)
+
+
+class CT_HdrFtrRef(BaseOxmlElement):
+    """
+    `w:headerReference` and `w:footerReference` elements, specifying the
+    various headers and footers for a section.
+    """
+    rId = RequiredAttribute('r:id', ST_RelationshipId)
 
 
 class CT_PageMar(BaseOxmlElement):
@@ -41,22 +55,18 @@ class CT_SectPr(BaseOxmlElement):
     """
     ``<w:sectPr>`` element, the container element for section properties.
     """
-    __child_sequence__ = (
-        'w:footnotePr', 'w:endnotePr', 'w:type', 'w:pgSz', 'w:pgMar',
-        'w:paperSrc', 'w:pgBorders', 'w:lnNumType', 'w:pgNumType', 'w:cols',
-        'w:formProt', 'w:vAlign', 'w:noEndnote', 'w:titlePg',
-        'w:textDirection', 'w:bidi', 'w:rtlGutter', 'w:docGrid',
-        'w:printerSettings', 'w:sectPrChange',
+    _tag_seq = (
+        'w:headerReference', 'w:footerReference', 'w:footnotePr',
+        'w:endnotePr', 'w:type', 'w:pgSz', 'w:pgMar', 'w:paperSrc',
+        'w:pgBorders', 'w:lnNumType', 'w:pgNumType', 'w:cols', 'w:formProt',
+        'w:vAlign', 'w:noEndnote', 'w:titlePg', 'w:textDirection', 'w:bidi',
+        'w:rtlGutter', 'w:docGrid', 'w:printerSettings', 'w:sectPrChange',
     )
-    type = ZeroOrOne('w:type', successors=(
-        __child_sequence__[__child_sequence__.index('w:type')+1:]
-    ))
-    pgSz = ZeroOrOne('w:pgSz', successors=(
-        __child_sequence__[__child_sequence__.index('w:pgSz')+1:]
-    ))
-    pgMar = ZeroOrOne('w:pgMar', successors=(
-        __child_sequence__[__child_sequence__.index('w:pgMar')+1:]
-    ))
+    headerReference = ZeroOrMore('w:headerReference', successors=_tag_seq[1:])
+    type = ZeroOrOne('w:type', successors=_tag_seq[5:])
+    pgSz = ZeroOrOne('w:pgSz', successors=_tag_seq[6:])
+    pgMar = ZeroOrOne('w:pgMar', successors=_tag_seq[7:])
+    del _tag_seq
 
     @property
     def bottom_margin(self):
@@ -102,6 +112,17 @@ def footer(self, value):
         pgMar = self.get_or_add_pgMar()
         pgMar.footer = value
 
+    def get_headerReference_of_type(self, type_member):
+        """
+        Return the `w:headerReference` child having type attribute value
+        associated with *type_member*, or |None| if not present.
+        """
+        type_str = WD_HEADER_FOOTER.to_xml(type_member)
+        matches = self.xpath('w:headerReference[@w:type="%s"]' % type_str)
+        if matches:
+            return matches[0]
+        return None
+
     @property
     def gutter(self):
         """
diff --git a/docx/parts/document.py b/docx/parts/document.py
index 7a23e9a5e..87e9ee2ef 100644
--- a/docx/parts/document.py
+++ b/docx/parts/document.py
@@ -121,6 +121,13 @@ def numbering_part(self):
             self.relate_to(numbering_part, RT.NUMBERING)
             return numbering_part
 
+    def related_hdrftr_body(self, rId):
+        """
+        Return the |HeaderFooterBody| object corresponding to the related
+        part identified by *rId*.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
     def save(self, path_or_stream):
         """
         Save this document to *path_or_stream*, which can be either a path to
diff --git a/docx/section.py b/docx/section.py
index 16221243b..340ce03b5 100644
--- a/docx/section.py
+++ b/docx/section.py
@@ -8,37 +8,42 @@
 
 from collections import Sequence
 
+from .enum.header import WD_HEADER_FOOTER
+from .header import Header
+from .shared import ElementProxy, lazyproperty
+
 
 class Sections(Sequence):
     """
     Sequence of |Section| objects corresponding to the sections in the
     document. Supports ``len()``, iteration, and indexed access.
     """
-    def __init__(self, document_elm):
+    def __init__(self, document_elm, parent):
         super(Sections, self).__init__()
+        self._parent = parent
         self._document_elm = document_elm
 
     def __getitem__(self, key):
         if isinstance(key, slice):
             sectPr_lst = self._document_elm.sectPr_lst[key]
-            return [Section(sectPr) for sectPr in sectPr_lst]
+            return [Section(sectPr, self._parent) for sectPr in sectPr_lst]
         sectPr = self._document_elm.sectPr_lst[key]
-        return Section(sectPr)
+        return Section(sectPr, self._parent)
 
     def __iter__(self):
         for sectPr in self._document_elm.sectPr_lst:
-            yield Section(sectPr)
+            yield Section(sectPr, self._parent)
 
     def __len__(self):
         return len(self._document_elm.sectPr_lst)
 
 
-class Section(object):
+class Section(ElementProxy):
     """
     Document section, providing access to section and page setup settings.
     """
-    def __init__(self, sectPr):
-        super(Section, self).__init__()
+    def __init__(self, sectPr, parent):
+        super(Section, self).__init__(sectPr, parent)
         self._sectPr = sectPr
 
     @property
@@ -80,6 +85,16 @@ def gutter(self):
     def gutter(self, value):
         self._sectPr.gutter = value
 
+    @lazyproperty
+    def header(self):
+        """
+        Return the |Header| object representing the default header for this
+        section. A |Header| object is always returned, whether such a header
+        is present or not. The header itself is added, updated, or removed
+        using the returned object.
+        """
+        return Header(self._sectPr, self, WD_HEADER_FOOTER.PRIMARY)
+
     @property
     def header_distance(self):
         """
diff --git a/features/hdr-header-props.feature b/features/hdr-header-props.feature
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8b1f4836b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/features/hdr-header-props.feature
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+Feature: Header properties
+  In order to interact with document headers
+  As a developer using python-docx
+  I need read/write properties on the Header object
+
+
+  Scenario Outline: Get Header.is_linked_to_previous
+    Given a header <having-or-no> definition
+     Then header.is_linked_to_previous is <value>
+
+    Examples: Header.is_linked_to_previous states
+      | having-or-no | value |
+      | having a     | False |
+      | having no    | True  |
+
+  @wip
+  Scenario: Get Header.body
+    Given a header having a definition
+     Then header.body is a BlockItemContainer object
+      And header.body contains the text of the header
diff --git a/features/sct-access-header.feature b/features/sct-access-header.feature
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3b5a33893
--- /dev/null
+++ b/features/sct-access-header.feature
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+Feature: Access section headers and footers
+  In order to operate on the headers or footers of a section
+  As a developer using python-docx
+  I need access to the section headers and footers
+
+
+  Scenario: Access default header of section
+    Given a section
+     Then section.header is a Header object
diff --git a/features/steps/header.py b/features/steps/header.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..21e6ba756
--- /dev/null
+++ b/features/steps/header.py
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+# encoding: utf-8
+
+"""
+Step implementations for header-related features
+"""
+
+from __future__ import (
+    absolute_import, division, print_function, unicode_literals
+)
+
+from behave import given, then
+
+from docx import Document
+
+from helpers import test_docx
+
+
+# given ===================================================
+
+@given('a header {having_or_no} definition')
+def given_a_header_having_or_no_definition(context, having_or_no):
+    filename = {
+        'having a':  'hdr-header-props',
+        'having no': 'doc-default',
+    }[having_or_no]
+    document = Document(test_docx(filename))
+    context.header = document.sections[0].header
+
+
+# then =====================================================
+
+@then('header.body contains the text of the header')
+def then_header_body_contains_the_text_of_the_header(context):
+    header = context.header
+    text = header.body.paragraphs[0].text
+    assert text == 'S1HP1'
+
+
+@then('header.body is a BlockItemContainer object')
+def then_header_body_is_a_BlockItemContainer_object(context):
+    header = context.header
+    assert type(header.body).__name__ == 'BlockItemContainer'
+
+
+@then('header.is_linked_to_previous is {value}')
+def then_header_is_linked_to_previous_is_value(context, value):
+    expected_value = {'True': True, 'False': False}[value]
+    header = context.header
+    assert header.is_linked_to_previous is expected_value
diff --git a/features/steps/section.py b/features/steps/section.py
index 496e0f17f..91acaff12 100644
--- a/features/steps/section.py
+++ b/features/steps/section.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 
 from docx import Document
 from docx.enum.section import WD_ORIENT, WD_SECTION
+from docx.header import Header
 from docx.section import Section
 from docx.shared import Inches
 
@@ -18,6 +19,12 @@
 
 # given ====================================================
 
+@given('a section')
+def given_a_section(context):
+    document = Document(test_docx('sct-section-props'))
+    context.section = document.sections[0]
+
+
 @given('a section collection containing 3 sections')
 def given_a_section_collection_containing_3_sections(context):
     document = Document(test_docx('doc-access-sections'))
@@ -137,6 +144,12 @@ def then_len_sections_is_3(context):
     )
 
 
+@then('section.header is a Header object')
+def then_section_header_is_a_Header_object(context):
+    section = context.section
+    assert isinstance(section.header, Header)
+
+
 @then('the reported {margin_side} margin is {inches} inches')
 def then_the_reported_margin_is_inches(context, margin_side, inches):
     prop_name = {
diff --git a/features/steps/test_files/hdr-header-props.docx b/features/steps/test_files/hdr-header-props.docx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..81ba27123
Binary files /dev/null and b/features/steps/test_files/hdr-header-props.docx differ
diff --git a/tests/test_document.py b/tests/test_document.py
index c1cb060ec..1475b1387 100644
--- a/tests/test_document.py
+++ b/tests/test_document.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ def it_can_add_a_section(self, add_section_fixture):
 
         assert document.element.xml == expected_xml
         sectPr = document.element.xpath('w:body/w:sectPr')[0]
-        Section_.assert_called_once_with(sectPr)
+        Section_.assert_called_once_with(sectPr, document)
         assert section is section_
 
     def it_can_add_a_table(self, add_table_fixture):
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ def it_provides_access_to_its_paragraphs(self, paragraphs_fixture):
     def it_provides_access_to_its_sections(self, sections_fixture):
         document, Sections_, sections_ = sections_fixture
         sections = document.sections
-        Sections_.assert_called_once_with(document._element)
+        Sections_.assert_called_once_with(document._element, document)
         assert sections is sections_
 
     def it_provides_access_to_its_settings(self, settings_fixture):
diff --git a/tests/test_header.py b/tests/test_header.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0ee5429ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_header.py
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+# encoding: utf-8
+
+"""
+Test suite for the docx.header module
+"""
+
+from __future__ import (
+    absolute_import, print_function, unicode_literals, division
+)
+
+import pytest
+
+from docx.enum.header import WD_HEADER_FOOTER
+from docx.header import _BaseHeaderFooter, Header, HeaderFooterBody
+from docx.parts.document import DocumentPart
+
+from .unitutil.cxml import element
+from .unitutil.mock import call, instance_mock, property_mock
+
+
+class Describe_BaseHeaderFooter(object):
+
+    def it_knows_whether_it_is_linked_to_previous(self, is_linked_fixture):
+        header, expected_value = is_linked_fixture
+        assert header.is_linked_to_previous is expected_value
+
+    def it_provides_access_to_its_body(self, body_fixture):
+        header, calls, expected_value = body_fixture
+        body = header.body
+        assert header.part.related_hdrftr_body.call_args_list == calls
+        assert body == expected_value
+
+    # fixtures -------------------------------------------------------
+
+    @pytest.fixture(params=[
+        ('w:sectPr',                                             None),
+        ('w:sectPr/w:headerReference{w:type=even,r:id=rId6}',    None),
+        ('w:sectPr/w:headerReference{w:type=default,r:id=rId8}', 'rId8'),
+    ])
+    def body_fixture(self, request, body_, part_prop_, document_part_):
+        sectPr_cxml, rId = request.param
+        header = Header(element(sectPr_cxml), None, WD_HEADER_FOOTER.PRIMARY)
+        calls, expected_value = ([call(rId)], body_) if rId else ([], None)
+        document_part_.related_hdrftr_body.return_value = body_
+        return header, calls, expected_value
+
+    @pytest.fixture(params=[
+        ('w:sectPr',                                   True),
+        ('w:sectPr/w:headerReference{w:type=default}', False),
+        ('w:sectPr/w:headerReference{w:type=even}',    True),
+    ])
+    def is_linked_fixture(self, request):
+        sectPr_cxml, expected_value = request.param
+        header = Header(element(sectPr_cxml), None, WD_HEADER_FOOTER.PRIMARY)
+        return header, expected_value
+
+    # fixture components ---------------------------------------------
+
+    @pytest.fixture
+    def body_(self, request):
+        return instance_mock(request, HeaderFooterBody)
+
+    @pytest.fixture
+    def document_part_(self, request):
+        return instance_mock(request, DocumentPart)
+
+    @pytest.fixture
+    def part_prop_(self, request, document_part_):
+        return property_mock(
+            request, _BaseHeaderFooter, 'part', return_value=document_part_
+        )
diff --git a/tests/test_section.py b/tests/test_section.py
index a497aa727..db9812eba 100644
--- a/tests/test_section.py
+++ b/tests/test_section.py
@@ -8,11 +8,14 @@
 
 import pytest
 
+from docx.enum.header import WD_HEADER_FOOTER
 from docx.enum.section import WD_ORIENT, WD_SECTION
+from docx.header import Header
 from docx.section import Section, Sections
 from docx.shared import Inches
 
 from .unitutil.cxml import element, xml
+from .unitutil.mock import class_mock, instance_mock
 
 
 class DescribeSections(object):
@@ -39,17 +42,17 @@ def it_can_access_its_Section_instances_by_index(self, index_fixture):
 
     @pytest.fixture
     def index_fixture(self, document_elm):
-        sections = Sections(document_elm)
+        sections = Sections(document_elm, None)
         return sections, [0, 1]
 
     @pytest.fixture
     def iter_fixture(self, document_elm):
-        sections = Sections(document_elm)
+        sections = Sections(document_elm, None)
         return sections, 2
 
     @pytest.fixture
     def len_fixture(self, document_elm):
-        sections = Sections(document_elm)
+        sections = Sections(document_elm, None)
         return sections, 2
 
     # fixture components ---------------------------------------------
@@ -109,8 +112,22 @@ def it_can_change_its_page_margins(self, margins_set_fixture):
         setattr(section, margin_prop_name, new_value)
         assert section._sectPr.xml == expected_xml
 
+    def it_provides_access_to_its_header(self, header_fixture):
+        section, Header_, sectPr, header_ = header_fixture
+        header = section.header
+        Header_.assert_called_once_with(
+            sectPr, section, WD_HEADER_FOOTER.PRIMARY
+        )
+        assert header is header_
+
     # fixtures -------------------------------------------------------
 
+    @pytest.fixture
+    def header_fixture(self, Header_, header_):
+        sectPr = element('w:sectPr')
+        section = Section(sectPr, None)
+        return section, Header_, sectPr, header_
+
     @pytest.fixture(params=[
         ('w:sectPr/w:pgMar{w:left=120}',   'left_margin',      76200),
         ('w:sectPr/w:pgMar{w:right=240}',  'right_margin',    152400),
@@ -124,7 +141,7 @@ def it_can_change_its_page_margins(self, margins_set_fixture):
     ])
     def margins_get_fixture(self, request):
         sectPr_cxml, margin_prop_name, expected_value = request.param
-        section = Section(element(sectPr_cxml))
+        section = Section(element(sectPr_cxml), None)
         return section, margin_prop_name, expected_value
 
     @pytest.fixture(params=[
@@ -148,7 +165,7 @@ def margins_get_fixture(self, request):
     ])
     def margins_set_fixture(self, request):
         sectPr_cxml, property_name, new_value, expected_cxml = request.param
-        section = Section(element(sectPr_cxml))
+        section = Section(element(sectPr_cxml), None)
         expected_xml = xml(expected_cxml)
         return section, property_name, new_value, expected_xml
 
@@ -160,7 +177,7 @@ def margins_set_fixture(self, request):
     ])
     def orientation_get_fixture(self, request):
         sectPr_cxml, expected_orientation = request.param
-        section = Section(element(sectPr_cxml))
+        section = Section(element(sectPr_cxml), None)
         return section, expected_orientation
 
     @pytest.fixture(params=[
@@ -170,7 +187,7 @@ def orientation_get_fixture(self, request):
     ])
     def orientation_set_fixture(self, request):
         new_orientation, expected_cxml = request.param
-        section = Section(element('w:sectPr'))
+        section = Section(element('w:sectPr'), None)
         expected_xml = xml(expected_cxml)
         return section, new_orientation, expected_xml
 
@@ -181,7 +198,7 @@ def orientation_set_fixture(self, request):
     ])
     def page_height_get_fixture(self, request):
         sectPr_cxml, expected_page_height = request.param
-        section = Section(element(sectPr_cxml))
+        section = Section(element(sectPr_cxml), None)
         return section, expected_page_height
 
     @pytest.fixture(params=[
@@ -190,7 +207,7 @@ def page_height_get_fixture(self, request):
     ])
     def page_height_set_fixture(self, request):
         new_page_height, expected_cxml = request.param
-        section = Section(element('w:sectPr'))
+        section = Section(element('w:sectPr'), None)
         expected_xml = xml(expected_cxml)
         return section, new_page_height, expected_xml
 
@@ -201,7 +218,7 @@ def page_height_set_fixture(self, request):
     ])
     def page_width_get_fixture(self, request):
         sectPr_cxml, expected_page_width = request.param
-        section = Section(element(sectPr_cxml))
+        section = Section(element(sectPr_cxml), None)
         return section, expected_page_width
 
     @pytest.fixture(params=[
@@ -210,7 +227,7 @@ def page_width_get_fixture(self, request):
     ])
     def page_width_set_fixture(self, request):
         new_page_width, expected_cxml = request.param
-        section = Section(element('w:sectPr'))
+        section = Section(element('w:sectPr'), None)
         expected_xml = xml(expected_cxml)
         return section, new_page_width, expected_xml
 
@@ -225,7 +242,7 @@ def page_width_set_fixture(self, request):
     ])
     def start_type_get_fixture(self, request):
         sectPr_cxml, expected_start_type = request.param
-        section = Section(element(sectPr_cxml))
+        section = Section(element(sectPr_cxml), None)
         return section, expected_start_type
 
     @pytest.fixture(params=[
@@ -244,6 +261,18 @@ def start_type_get_fixture(self, request):
     ])
     def start_type_set_fixture(self, request):
         initial_cxml, new_start_type, expected_cxml = request.param
-        section = Section(element(initial_cxml))
+        section = Section(element(initial_cxml), None)
         expected_xml = xml(expected_cxml)
         return section, new_start_type, expected_xml
+
+    # fixture components ---------------------------------------------
+
+    @pytest.fixture
+    def Header_(self, request, header_):
+        return class_mock(
+            request, 'docx.section.Header', return_value=header_
+        )
+
+    @pytest.fixture
+    def header_(self, request):
+        return instance_mock(request, Header)
diff --git a/tests/unitutil/cxml.py b/tests/unitutil/cxml.py
index 6bf0ce3f3..c4be20a48 100644
--- a/tests/unitutil/cxml.py
+++ b/tests/unitutil/cxml.py
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ def nsdecls(*nspfxs):
     """
     nsdecls = ''
     for nspfx in nspfxs:
+        if nspfx == 'xml':
+            continue
         nsdecls += ' xmlns:%s="%s"' % (nspfx, nsmap[nspfx])
     return nsdecls
 
@@ -105,16 +107,25 @@ def is_root(self, value):
         self._is_root = bool(value)
 
     @property
-    def nspfx(self):
+    def local_nspfxs(self):
         """
-        The namespace prefix of this element, the empty string (``''``) if
-        the tag is in the default namespace.
+        The namespace prefixes local to this element, both on the tagname and
+        all of its attributes. An empty string (``''``) is used to represent
+        the default namespace for an element tag having no prefix.
         """
-        tagname = self._tagname
-        idx = tagname.find(':')
-        if idx == -1:
-            return ''
-        return tagname[:idx]
+        def nspfx(name, is_element=False):
+            idx = name.find(':')
+            if idx == -1:
+                return '' if is_element else None
+            return name[:idx]
+
+        nspfxs = [nspfx(self._tagname, True)]
+        for name, val in self._attrs:
+            pfx = nspfx(name)
+            if pfx is None or pfx in nspfxs:
+                continue
+            nspfxs.append(pfx)
+        return nspfxs
 
     @property
     def nspfxs(self):
@@ -129,7 +140,7 @@ def merge(seq, seq_2):
                     continue
                 seq.append(item)
 
-        nspfxs = [self.nspfx]
+        nspfxs = self.local_nspfxs
         for child in self._children:
             merge(nspfxs, child.nspfxs)
         return nspfxs