legitimation

adjective | \ lə-ˈji-tə-mət \ | le·git·i·mate

1. : conceived or born of parents lawfully married to each other or having been made through legal procedure equal in status to one so conceived or born; also : having rights and obligations under the law as the child of such birth : having rights and obligations under the law as the child of such birth

2. : being neither spurious nor false a legitimate grievance

3. : being in accordance with law or with established legal forms and requirements a legitimate government

4. : conforming to recognized principles or accepted rules and standards a legitimate claim of entitlement a legitimate business reason

transitive verb | \ lə-ˈji-tə-ˌmāt \ | le·git·i·mate

1. a : to give legal status or authorization to

   b : to show or affirm to be justified or have merit

   c : to put (an illegitimate child) in the state of a child born of married parents before the law by legal means — compare filiate