Art. 173. Persons who are in the full enjoyment of their civil rights and have attained 45 years of age can adopt. The adopter must be at least fifteen years older than the adopted.

Art. 174. Adoption is forbidden -

1. To the clergy.

2. To those having legitimate or legitimized descendants.

3. To the guardian with regard to his ward, until his accounts have been fully approved.

4. To a spouse without the consent of his consort. Spouses may adopt jointly, and, with the exception of this case, nobody can be adopted by more than one person.

Art. 175. The adopted may use together with the surname of his or her family that of the adopter, this being stated in the deed of adoption.

Art. 176. The adopter and the adopted owe each other mutual support. This obligation is understood without prejudice to the preferred right of acknowledged natural children and of the ascendants of the adopter to be supported by the latter.

Art. 177. The adopter does not acquire any right whatsoever to inherit from the adopted. Neither does the adopted acquire any right to inherit from the adopter, except by will, unless the adopter in the deed of adoption has bound himself or herself to make said child his or her heir. This obligation shall produce no effect when the adopted dies before the adopter. The adopted retains all the rights belonging to him or her in his or her natural family excepting those relating to the parental authority.