[Sidenote: Consent of parents or officer.]

In order thereto, the consent of both parents if living and not divorced
or separated, and if divorced or separated, or, if unmarried, the
consent of the parent lawfully having the care and providing for the
wants of the child, or if either parent is dead, then the consent of the
survivor, or if both parents be dead, or the child shall have been and
remain abandoned by them, then the consent of the mayor of the city
where the child is living, or if not in a city, then the clerk of the
district court of the county where the child is living, shall be given
to such adoption, by an instrument in writing signed by the parties or
party consenting, and stating the names of the parents, if known, the
name of the child, if known, the name of the person adopting such child,
and the residence of all, if known, and declaring the name by which such
child is hereafter to be called and known, and stating also that such
child is to be given to the person adopting, for the purpose of adoption
as his own child. [§3499]

[Sidenote: Instrument acknowledged and recorded.]

Such instrument in writing shall be also signed by the person adopting
and shall be acknowledged by all parties thereto in the same manner as
deeds affecting real estate are required to be acknowledged; and shall
be recorded in the recorder's office in the county where the person
adopting resides, and shall be indexed with the name of the parents by
adoption as grantors and the child as grantee, in its original name if
stated in the instrument, [§3500.] A strict compliance in every
particular with the provisions of the statutes is essential to
constitute a legal adoption and to confer upon the adopted child rights
of inheritance. If a minor child has a guardian his consent must be