Adoption is a process whereby the adopted person takes on the status of a child born in the wedlock of the adopters, whose surname he takes. Law No. 184 of May 4, 1983, Article 27, provides for the possibility of adopting a child in the national territory or in a foreign State. In case of domestic adoption, the application shall be filed with the Juvenile Court of the place of residence. In case of intercountry adoption, instead, the Italian Central Authority for implementing the Hague Convention of May 29, 1993 on the Protection of Children and Cooperation in respect of Intercountry Adoption is the Commission for Intercountry Adoption (C.A.I.).
Main reference legislation: Law 184/1983; Law 149/2001.