209. In making an appointment of a guardian, preference shall he given first to the person selected by the ward (provided the latter shall not be mentally defective and has attained the age of 14), secondly by the mother or father of the said ward, and, in default of any such persons, by the nearest relatives or the spouse of the said ward.
210. The Department of Social Welfare, in appointing a guardian according to the procedure mentioned in Section 209, shall take into consideration the personal attitude of the said guardian to the ward and tbe proximity of their places of residence.
211. The person appointed guardian shall be informed immediately in writing of his appointment. An announcement of the appointment shall be made in the local newspapers designated for the publication of the same.
212. All the interested parties shall be entitled to appeal against the decree appointing a certain person as a guardian within two weeks after the appearance of the announcement relating to the said .appointment. The appeal shall be made to the local court exercising jurisdiction over the territory where the Department of Social Welfare making zhe appointment is located.
213. Every citizen of the Russian Republic appointed as a guardian by the Department of Social Welfare shall be bound to accept the office.
214. The following shall be entitled to decline the appointment to guardianship:
| (a) | Persons who have attained the age of sixty years. |
| (b) | Persons who could execute the duties of a |
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