Adoption was an expensive agreement for the childless family and quality had to be ensured.

These orphans were subsequently given to childless military families to adopt.

There, childless families often purchased babies, since fortunes went to state coffers if not passed from father to child.

(Excess surviving children could among other things, be sent to childless families to provide labour there, reducing upkeep demands at home.)

The children were taken away from their mothers at birth and then adopted by childless military families.

All other daughters had only a life interest in their dowry, which reverted to their family if childless or went to their children if they had any.

It has helped many childless families to overcome their problem.

Eggs harvested from donor women are being sold on the Internet to childless families.

Late that evening the weary old man bade good night to a childless family among his own people who had taken the infant.