Without regard to their age children require the consent of their parents. In most parts of Russia there is no appeal in case a parent withholds consent. Marriage without parental consent is not invalid, but the guilty person is liable to a penalty of from four to eight months' imprisonment, on petition of the parent, and to the loss of his right of inheritance in the property of the parent. Persons who are under guardianship or curatorship require the consent of their guardian or curator. CONSANGUINITY AND AFFINITY.--The prohibited degrees of consanguinity are determined according to the principles of the religious body to which the parties belong. Marriage is, however, universally prohibited between persons who are related in the first or second degree. DIFFERENCE OF RELIGION.--Marriage between Christians and non-Christians is prohibited, except between Lutherans, adherents of the Reformed Church, and other Protestants on the one hand, and Jews and Mohammedans on the other. INSANITY.--Marriage is absolutely prohibited to insane persons. OFFICIAL PERMISSION.--Civil officials require the consent of their superiors in order to marry. HOLY ORDERS.--Marriage is prohibited to the clergy of the State Church, but if a secular priest is already married before ordination he may continue in that relation. The practice is for the majority of men who intend to enter the secular priesthood to marry before ordination. ADVANCED AGE.--Persons who have attained the age of eighty years may not marry. FOURTH MARRIAGE.--The contracting of a fourth marriage is unconditionally forbidden. PRELIMINARY FORMALITIES.--A male member of the Russian Church, or an "Old Believer," who intends marriage, must, from one to three weeks before the date of celebration, announce the fact to the clergyman in whose parish he resides, and bring to him the certificates of baptism of himself and his intended bride, certificates of their social status, proofs of identity and a certificate that both parties have been to confession and received holy communion. With these documents and proofs at hand the clergyman announces the names of the betrothed parties on three successive Sundays or feast days. The marriage cannot be concluded without a certificate showing that all the formalities have been complied with. CELEBRATION.--A marriage may be solemnized in accordance with the rules of the religious sect of the parties, before one of its clergymen, with the personal participation of the contracting parties and in the presence of competent witnesses. For members of the Russian Church the solemn betrothal, which formerly took place some time previous to the marriage, now introduces the wedding ceremony. The latter must follow the prescribed ritual exactly. The wedding must take place in church, during the daytime, before adult witnesses, and the contracting parties must be actually present.