Legitimacy (family law)

Legitimacy in family law refers to whether a child is considered legal or proper. When a child is born within a marriage or civil partnership, they are considered legitimate because their parents are recognized as legally bound. However, when a child is born outside of marriage or civil partnership, they are considered illegitimate until proven otherwise. Legitimacy also affects inheritance rights and entitlement to certain legal benefits. In short, legitimacy is the legal term used to describe whether a child's birth is within the laws of a particular country.