Legitimation

The act of legitimizing a child born outside marriage.

A child is legitimized when its parents marry or, if marriage is impossible, by a court decision.

In France, a child born outside marriage and not recognized by its biological father may also be legitimized when its mother marries a man who is not the biological father, provided he has recognized the child prior to marriage.
Likewise, a child can be legitimized if its father marries a woman who is not the biological mother, if she has adopted the child before marriage or if the child is under 15.