legitime
legitime (lej-[schwa]-tim), n. Civil law. The part of a testator’s property that his or her children (and occasionally other heirs) are legally entitled to regardless of the will’s terms. La. Civ. Code art. 1494. • The legitime cannot be denied the children without legal cause. In Roman law, the amount of the legitime was one-fourth of the claimant’s share on intestacy. — Also spelled (esp. in Scotland) legitim. — Also termed legal portion; legitimate portion; forced portion. See forced heir under HEIR; (in Scots law) LEGITIM. Cf. PORTIO LEGITIMA. [Cases: Wills 11. C.J.S. Wills §§ 76–87, 381.]
