Filiation

Filiation is the legal term that refers to the recognized legal status of the relationship between family members, or more specifically the legal relationship between parent and child. As described by the Government of Quebec:

Filiation differs from, but impacts, both parental rights and inheritance.

The statute of limitations period for filiation is thirty years.

An example of law regarding filiation is found in the Civil Code of Quebec, Book 2, Title 2 "Filiation", which details how filiation may be established, claimed, and transferred.

Filiation and Adoption

When an adoption takes place under the laws of the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom, a complete transfer of filiation takes place. A standard example in U.S. adoption law is seen in the California State Code:

In other nations, a form of "incomplete adoption" may allow filiation with the natural family to remain. An example of this is in French law, where two types of adoption exist: adoption plénière, where filiation is completely transferred, and adoption simple in which filiation to the adopting parents is added to, but does not replace, filiation with the natural family.