1. If the child in custody is under two years old, and neither parent has requested custody, the mother shall take custody if she exists. Otherwise, the father shall take custody. 2. If the child in custody is more than two years old, and neither parent has requested custody, the father shall take custody if he exists. Otherwise, the mother shall take custody. 3. If the parents do not exist or refuse custody, and no relative accepts custody, the court shall choose whomever it deems suitable from among the relatives of the child in custody or others, or one of the institutions qualified for this purpose.
Interpretation and application must be checked against the official text and current version.