However, there were many examples of having adopted children to succeed the family during the Edo period and it did not matter whether someone was higher rank or lower rank, there were three examples of Imperial Family members being adopted to a Regent family who did not have any successors (Kobetsu regent family).
もっとも、江戸時代は身分の上下を問わず家を存続させるための養子が頻繁に行われており、嗣子の絶えた摂家を継ぐため皇族が養子に入った例が3例ある（皇別摂家）。