In rare cases, a society and its institutions will accept an act of disownment. In many countries, it is a form of child abandonment and is illegal when the child is a minor. A disowned child might no longer be welcome in their former familys home or be allowed to attend major family events, or be allowed to know about such events taking place on social media.ĭisownment is often taboo. Among other things, it implies no responsibility for future care, making it similar to divorce or repudiation (of a spouse), meaning that the disowned child would have to find another residence to call home and be cared for.ĭisownment may entail disinheritance, familial exile, or shunning, and often all three. Different from giving a child up for adoption, it is a social and interpersonal act and usually takes place later in the childs life, which means that the disowned child would have to make their own arrangements for future care. Disownment occurs when a parent renounces or no longer accepts a child as a family member, usually due to actions perceived as reprehensible, leading to serious emotional consequences.
