This work addresses adoption, a phenomenon of legal life that has always been important in social life and is among the oldest documented legal institutions. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the development of adoption law from its beginnings in ancient Rome to the present day in Germany, focusing on three distinct areas: Roman law from the Twelve Tables to Justinian, the Prussian General Land Law, and the German legal situation of the 19th century, starting from the preliminary work on the Civil Code, including later reforms up to the present. The European legal development is also considered in its essential features.