Résumé

Dans le présent article, la faisabilité juridique de l’adoption dite intuite personae ou dirigée est examinée, en tenant compte du cadre législatif actuel brésilien ainsi que des arguments favorables et défavorables. La position adoptée en fin d’article vise à encourager les échanges à ce sujet. La discussion s’appuie sur l’analyse d’éléments fondamentaux, tels que la définition de l’adoption elle-même, ses fondements normatifs et la solidarité ainsi que sur d’autres principes intrinsèques au thème, notamment celui dont la primauté est absolue : l’intégrité familiale et l’intérêt supérieur de l’enfant ou de l’adolescent. La recherche est éminemment bibliographique et se termine par une proposition de changement législatif.

INTRODUCTION

One of the purposes of the law is to protect people in society, and the family – the paramount human social organisation – has long been acknowledged as an essential element for any legal system, deserving special protection from public authorities, as is manifested by the rule of law.

In recognition of this, the 1988 Constitution of Brazil gave special protection to the family under its Article 226. It also expanded the ‘special protection’ situations, by recognising as a family entity the community formed by any of the parents and their descendants, and that resulting from a stable union, under the terms of Article 226, §§3 and 4. The denomination of ‘family’ when resulting from marriage, and ‘family entity’ for other forms, along with the constitutional provision that the law should facilitate the conversion of the stable union into marriage, has generated much debate about the possible recognition of one type of family organisation as more appropriate for society and individuals.

However, other types of relationship exist too. Convivial relationships different from those mentioned in the Constitution demand some kind of state recognition and, consequently, legal protection, even though there is no consensus about how such relationships should be treated, in terms of what is best for society as a whole.

In response to this, an attempt was made to expand the legal categories of family and family entity, aiming to accommodate, under different established institutions, the different situations that demanded legal recognition.