Section 2 Guardianship

第二章 公民（自然人） 第二节 监 护

Article 16 The parents of a minor shall be his guardians.

第十六条 未成年人的父母是未成年人的监护人。

If the parents of a minor are dead or lack the competence to be his guardian, a person from the following categories who has the competence to be a guardian shall act as his guardian:

未成年人的父母已经死亡或者没有监护能力的，由下列人员中有监护能力的人担任监护人：

(1) paternal or maternal grandparent;

（一）祖父母、外祖父母；

(2) elder brother or sister; or

（二）兄、姐；

(3) any other closely connected relative or friend willing to bear the responsibility of guardianship and having approval from the units of the minor's parents or from the neighbourhood or village committee in the place of the minor's residence.

（三）关系密切的其他亲属、朋友愿意承担监护责任，经未成年人的父、母的所在单位或者未成年人住所地的居民委员会、村民委员会同意的。

In case of a dispute over guardianship, the units of the minor's parents or the neighbourhood or village committee in the place of his residence shall appoint a guardian from among the minor's near relatives. If disagreement over the appointment leads to a lawsuit, the people's court shall make a ruling.

对担任监护人有争议的，由未成年人的父、母的所在单位或者未成年人住所地的居民委员会、村民委员会在近亲属中指定。对指定不服提起诉讼的，由人民法院裁决。

If none of the persons listed in the first two paragraphs of this article is available to be the guardian, the units of the minor's parents, the neighbourhood or village committee in the place of the minor's residence or the civil affairs department shall act as his guardian.

没有第一款、第二款规定的监护人的，由未成年人的父、母的所在单位或者未成年人住所地的居民委员会、村民委员会或者民政部门担任监护人。