As a judicial act, adoption changes the ___ status of the individual.

Adoption is a legal process that results in a change in the legal status of an individual, particularly in regard to their familial relationships. When a person is adopted, they gain new legal parents and, thus, acquire rights and responsibilities associated with that new familial connection. This includes inheritance rights, responsibilities for support, and a legal recognition of the relationship that did not exist prior to the adoption.

The legal status is crucial because it encompasses the official recognition of one's identity within a family unit, affecting aspects such as custody, guardianship, and the legal rights derived from being part of that family. Therefore, the correct answer highlights the fundamental transformation that occurs due to the judicial act of adoption in the realm of legal identity and familial relationships.