Adocao
In short
Adocao is the legal process of permanently taking a child into one's own family. This process gives the child the same legal rights and responsibilities as a biological child.
In plain words
It is a way for people to become legal parents to a child who is not biologically theirs. Once finished, the child belongs to the new family completely. The old legal ties to the birth parents are ended.
A simple example
A couple who cannot have children legally adopts a toddler from an orphanage. The child now has the couple's surname and inherits their property.
Why it matters
It provides children with a stable, loving home and legal security. It also allows adults to build families through legal means.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse it with fostering, which is usually a temporary arrangement to care for a child.