This paper presents the institute of adoption as a form of family-legal care of children without adequate parental care starting from an overview of historical development, legal prerequisites that are defined in the Family Law of the Republic of Croatia which must be fulfilled by adoptive parents and a child in order for adoption to be established. The role of the Social Welfare Centre is also shown in the establishment of the adoption, the manner in which the adoption procedure is initiated, who initiates it, then the role of parents and guardians in the procedure preceding the adoption, the manner of giving the child's consent to adoption and giving the child's opinion on adoption, who and how assesses the suitability and suitability of potential adoptive parents, how they are entered in the register of adoptive parents, and who makes the decision on adoption. According to the legal effects of the adoption, the content of the decision is also presented as well as who has the right to file an appeal.