adoption

n

1. In family law, the legal process that establishes a parent/child relationship between individuals who are not related by blood. Once the adoption is completed, the adoptive child becomes entitled to all the privileges belonging to a natural child of the adoptive parents, and the adoptive parents acquire all the legal rights, duties, and obligations of the child’s natural parents. Furthermore, all legal rights, duties, and obligations between the child and his or her natural parents (except, in some states, the obligation to pay delinquent child support payments) terminates upon the completion of the adoption.
2. In contract law, the acceptance by a person or entity of the rights and responsibilities made for their benefit under a contract to which she is not a party.
3. To accept legal responsibility for the act of another. See also ratify.