In the Roman legal system, the circumstances of birth were crucial for the legal status of a child. A child born within a valid Roman marriage automatically followed the legal status of the father, came under his patria potestas, and became his legal heir. In contrast, the legal status of illegitimate children was significantly different. Children born out of wedlock followed the legal status of the mother, were considered to have no father, and did not have rights to the father’s name, protection, or other privileges afforded to children born within a legal marriage. Additionally, due to the social importance of marriage, they were often stigmatized. Children born within a valid marriage were subject to the father's patria potestas by virtue of their birth. On the other hand, illegitimate children could come under the father’s authority only through legal actions taken after birth—such as adoption or legitimatio. Legitimation of illegitimate children could be achieved through three fundamental methods: legitimatio per subsequens matrimonium, legitimatio per oblationem curiae, and legitimatio per rescriptum principis, which are described in more detail. The status of illegitimate children regarding inheritance rights also differed from that of children born within marriage. Illegitimate children did not have a statutory right to inherit from the father because they were not under his authority. They could only inherit if the father explicitly bequeathed property to them in a will. The situation was not much different concerning their mother as the legal right of inheritance of mother’s estate, taking precedence over her agnatic relatives, was established only during the imperial era. In the contemporary Croatian legal system, the distinction between children born within marriage and those born out of wedlock has been completely eliminated. The only difference now lies in the method of establishing paternity. Marital paternity is presumed, whereas paternity of a child born out of wedlock is established through acknowledgment or court ruling. However, once the paternity of an illegitimate child is legally confirmed, the child gains all rights with respect to the father, and a legally recognized parent-child relationship is established.