Roman law left a big mark on history and its influence can be recognized in many contemporary legal systems. In Croatian family law, Roman legal rules are an even an indirect source of law. Certain family law institutes from Roman law have been accepted into contemporary legislation with changes that are the result of different social circumstances. Adoption as a central institution in family law has existed since ancient civilizations and had a prominent role in Roman law. Adoption as we know it today went through an evolution that did not completely change the characteristics of adoption from Roman law. This paper compares adoption in Roman law and contemporary Croatian law. By comparing the institution of adoption in two legal systems from different time periods, permanent relevance of adoption and its continuity can be observed. By interpreting and analyzing the features of adoption in both legal systems, both similarities and differences can be observed. In Roman law, mainly the interests of the adoptive parents were emphasized while the interests of the adopted were not so important. The purpose of adoption was mostly to extend the family line. In contemporary Croatian law, the aim of adoption is to protect the child by providing him/her with adequate parental care. The focus is therefore shifted to the child's well-being, which is the most important component of adoption. With adoption, adoptive parents realize the right to find a family, although this is not a guaranteed right. The child has the right to a family, which fulfills the main purpose of adoption. Despite certain differences, principal similarity of Roman law of adoption and its influence on contemporary Croatian law is confirmed.